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AN 

HISTORIC RECORD AND PICTORIAL 

DESCRIPTION l^^ 

OF 

THE TOWN OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT 

AND MEN WHO HAVE MADE IT. 

FROM EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO CLOSE OF ITS FIRST CENTURY OF 

INCORPORATION. 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN 



THE SILVER CITY." 



Issued as the Official Souvenir History iiv Authority of th; 

General Committee at the Centennial Celebration, 

June to to 16, 1906. 



Compiled by C. BANCROFT GILLESPIE. 

Early History by GEORGE MUNSON CURTIS. 



^VITH PROFUSE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE PAST AND PRESENT. 



Journal Puislishing Co., 
meriden, conn. 

1906. 



LIBRARY of congress/ 

, Two Conies Received 

AUG 80 1906 

^Goayriffnt Entry 

CLASS a xxc.no, 
COPY b; 



Copyright, 1906, by 
C. Bancroft Gillespie. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



PART I. 



CHAPTER I. Page. 

Historical Sketch of Colonies of Connecticut and New Haven. First Notices of Ter- 
ritory of Meriden. Disputes between the Two Colonies Relative to Dividing Line- 5 

CHAPTER H. 
Jonathan Gilbert, Meriden's Firs,t Landowner. Meriden Farm. Edward Higbee's In- 
dian Purchase. Andrew and Jonathan Belcher own Meriden Farm. Old Tav- 
ern and Stone House or Fort. . . . . . . -15 

CHAPTER HI. 
New Haven Colony's Purchase of Land of Indians. Rev. John Davenport's Letter to 
Governor John Winthrop. Early Extent of Territory Included Lender Name 
of Meriden. ......... 31 

CHAPTER IV. 
Origin of the Names of Meriden and Pilgrims' Harbor. . . . .42 

CHAPTER V. 
Founding and Settling of Wallingford. Hop Lands. Dogs' Misery, Pilgrims' Harbor, 

Milking Yard, Falls Plain or Hanover, Hanging Hills Woods- . . .52 

CHAPTER VI. 
Northern Half of Meriden. Purchase from Adam Puit, Indian. Dispute with Middle- 
town. Setting otif of Parish of Meriden, 1728. . . . . .67 

CHAPTER VII. 
Grants of Farms to James Bishop and William Jones, Magistrates of Colony of Con- 
necticut. Some Old Meriden Farms. . . -75 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Further Account of Old Meriden Ivarms and Landowners. Capt. Josiah Robinson's 

Tavern. .......... 88 

CHAPTER IX. 
Old Meriden Farms Continued. Rev. Theophilus Hall. .... 105 

CHAPTER X. 
Old Farms of Meriden Continued- ....... 126 



CHAPTER XL Page- 

Building of i*"irst. Second and 'iliird Meeting Houses- Cliurch and ['arish History. i;8 

CHAPTER XH. 
Meeting House Hill and Broad Street Cemeteries. Inscriptions and Epitaphs. . . 159 

CHAPTER XHI. 
Life in Meriden During the Eighteenth Century- Industries. Wallingford and Mer- 

iden Stores and Store Keepers. Taverns- Mining. Early Physicians. . . 209 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Indians. Negro Slaves and Slavery. . - - " - . - . 242 

CHAPTER XV. 
Witchcraft Persecutions in Wallingford. ....... 254 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Meriden and Wallingford in .the Wars. ....... 260 

CHAPTER XVII. 
Tories in Meriden and Wallingford. ....... 290 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
P)angall. L\irther Account of Meriden Earms and Landowners. Wallingford and 
Middletown Boundary Disputes. Mt. Lamentation, Leonard Chester's Adven- 
ture. Beset Mountain. ........ 308 

CHAPTER XIX. 
1806 — Meriden a Town- The Village Streets. ...... Ti;^;^ 

CHAPTER XX. 
Early Struggles of Meriden to Become a Manufacturing Town. Success Crowns the 

Effort. ---....... 346 

CHAPTER XXI. 
Merchants of the Middle of the Nineteenth Century. Hotels. Places of Amusement 
and Resort. Town Hall- ConHagrations- Meriden a City, 1867. Newspapers- 
Early Lawyers. Conclusion. ....... 361 

APPENDIX. 
Lists of Representatives in the General Assembly. State Senators. Town Clerks. 

First Selectmen. Judges of Probate. Mayors of the City. City Clerks. . . 395 

EARLY VITAL STATISTICS- 
Early Vital Statistics. Marriages- Baptisms and Burials. .... 400 



J 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN 



MERIDEN'S EARLY HISTORY. 



BY GEORGE MUNSON CURTIS. 



CHAPTER I. 



ALTHOUGH the history of Meriden as a township certainly does not begin 
until 1806, the year of its incorporation, still the story of its set- 
tlement starts man}- years previous to that date, at a time when historic Ply- 
mouth was only forty-one years old and scarcely twenty-five years had elapsed 
since the founding of Hartford, while New Haven had little more than attained 
its majority. 

When the white man first began to clear the primeval forests that covered the 
land now embraced within the territory of Meriden, Wallingford settlement had 
not even been thought of. It is a fact that the name of the daughter antedates 
that of the mother town on the colonial records by four years, for as early as 1666 
the name of ]\Ieriden appears in the lists of the General Court. In all probability, 
no Indian village was ever located within these borders, and yet the land was 
claimed as his heritage by three different red men who each in turn sold it to 
the white man. In fact, the greater part of Meriden was bought of the aboriginal 
inhabitants five different times. Here the dusky savage came to follow the chase 
cr trap the beaver and many were the hunting parties that roamed these hills and 
valleys. 

All that part of Aleriden lying north of Main street was for many years in 
Hartford county and, in turn, jurisdiction was claimed by the Colonial court, 
Wethersfield, Farmington, Middletown and Wallingford, and records of very early 
purchases of real estate must be searched for hither and thither, one can never 
be sure where. With such an imccrtain lineage and such a complexity of juris- 
diction it would be strange indeed if some stories of the past could not be gleaned 
from the early records that will hold the attention of those in wdiose hearts there 
lurks an aft'ection for the town where so many of us were born, or have placed 
our hearth-stones and built our homes. We may not have a continuous town his- 
tory of mibroken local government, but our homes have been laid in a countr}^ of 
lovely hills and vales, and our eyes are daily confronted by as beautiful a land- 
scape as can be found in Connecticut and those who have not been neglectful of 



6 A CENTURY OF MF.RIDEN. 

the beauties that surround us love ever_v inch of her rugged diffs, brawHng brooks, 
woodland paths and smiling, cultivated meadows, swelling and sinking in ever 
changing vistas of loveliness. 

It will assist one to better understand and appreciate our early annals if, on a 
bright and clear day in summer, a climb is made to the summit of West Peak, 
or better still to the grey tower known as Castle Crag, standing on the verge of 
the dizzy cliff that, like a sentinel, dominates all the landscape to the west of Mer- 
iden. 

In a vast panorama spreads the valley to the north and south, dotted with 
ponds, lakes, meadows, woodland and villages, and checked on the east by moun- 
tains and crags wdiich distance clothes in a purple haze, half veiling the ruggedness 
of grim old Lamentation, Higby and Beseck, torn and rent by the storms and 
frosts of ages. Like a map the country lies below us, for we are more than a 
thousand feet above the sea. Away in the north gleams the gilded dome of the 
Capitol in that gentle depression which holds in its lap Hartford, Windsor and 
Wethersfield, washed on the east by the waters of the Connecticut and swelling 
in the west into the wooded slopes of Talcott Mountain, while further south and 
west the spreading waves of pioneer life extended the colony into the valley of 
the Farmington river. With a strong glass we even fancy we can see the spire 
of the old meeting house in Farmington peeping above the green elm trees of the 
village street ; near at hand, lie New Britain, Berlin, Bristol and Southington, 
all settled by the same movement which drew the pioneers into the lovely Tunxis 
\ alley and all for many years parts of the town of Farmington, 

On the borders of Berlin and Meriden gleams like a spot of burnished silver a 
large lake, or pond, now used by a Hartford Company as an ice reservoir, but in 
those days of long ago, no pond would have met our eyes, but instead a vast mo- 
rass or swamp alive wath beavers and water fowl and curiously called by the old 
Dutch name of the Fly or Vly. Just south of this pond was cleared the first set- 
tlement in the territory of Meriden. Glancing to the east over Meriden and the 
summit of Lamentation we suspect rather than see the ancient town of Middle- 
town, in those early da}'s called Mattabesett, the seat of the great Sachem Sow- 
heag, from whose son, bearing the euphonious name of Montowese, was bought 
by the English of New Haven the land extending northward from its bounds up 
through North Haven and Wallingford as far as where Kensington avenue in 
Meriden winds to the northwest on its way to New Britain. Just at the foot of 
the steep side of the most eastern of the parallel ridges close at hand. Cold Spring 
j.iours forth its ice cold water, now almost forgotten by a generation which re- 
members not the attractions of the place before the Cold Spring Home or poor- 
house had contaminated it by its depressing association. The fame of Cold 
Spring was once so great that it lent its name to localize all the territory for at 
least two miles to the north, east and south. 



EARLY HISTORY. 7 

On the southeast, beyond WalHngford, the range of Lamentation and Beseck 
Mountains stretches the bold front of its trap-rock cHft's into the town of Bran- 
ford, known there as Totoket Mountain ; while towards the south on the horizon 
rise the sharp hills known as East and West Rocks and over their summits we 
catch glimpses of Long Island Sound, indenting the land in a little bay where 
the Ouinnipiac river, winding quietly through this southern valley, finally pours 
its waters, gathered from the hills and meadows of Bristol, Southington, 
Meriden, WalHngford and North Haven. New Haven we cannot see, for East 
Rock, capped by the monument erected in memory of the dead of the Civil war, 
hides and shelters it from the north. 

It is an historic as well as a beautiful panorama on which we are gazing and 
students and historians have many times told the story of Connecticut and New 
Haven colonies and it may seem unnecessary to give in these pages even the 
slightest sketch of this early history, but Meriden's earliest settlement depends so 
largely on the relations of these two rivals that the attempt will be made to re- 
fresh the memory of those who have forgotten. 

In 1635 a little band of Englishmen who had but lately arrived from the mother 
country, began to regret their decision to reside near Boston. Resenting the re- 
ligious and civil intolerance of the lately settled towns in eastern Massachusetts 
and longing to found a commonwealth on a more liberal basis, they gathered up 
their possessions and turned their faces towards the Connecticut river at Hartford. 
Driving their cattle and herds before them they traversed on foot the long and 
tedious journey and by 1636 they had founded the three towns of Hartford, Wind- 
sor and Wethersfield. Here, under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Hooker, the}^ 
laid the foundation of constitutional government in this country, for it was in 
Hartford that was drawn up the first written constitution of which history gives 
us any record.^ Hartford was the birthplace of American democracy. . These 
three river towns were the nucleus of the colony of Connecticut and hardly an 
event in the settlement of America was of more importance than the cornerstone 
of free government laid by these early pioneers, for here grew up the theory of 
government "of the people, by the people, for the people,"^ that American idea 
of a free and equal government where every freeman in good standing is entitled 
to the ballot and can register his approval or disapproval of men and measures. 

In 1638 another company of Englishmen landed in Boston, the most opulent 
of any of these early migrations across the sea. Led by the London merchant, 
Theophilus Eaton and the Rev. John Davenport, they were not satisfied by the con- 
ditions they found in the towns around Massachusetts Bay, and, in spite of in- 
ducements to settle in the neighborhood where they had landed, they sought for 
a virgin field where they could establish the religious and political ideas they had 



1 Johnston's Conn. Am. Commonwealth series, p. 63. 

2 Idem, p. 70 



8 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 

brought with them. They finally decided on the meadows near the mouth of the 
Quinnii)iac river as the place where they could safely try their experiment in civil 
government. Called at first Quinnipiac, after the tribe of Indians from whom 
the land was bought, the name was soon changed to New Haven. Other bands 
of pilgrims soon arrived and ]\lilford, Branford and Guilford were founded and 
these four towns were soon welded into the colony of New Haven. 

The methods of government were very different from those of the colony of 
Connecticut at the north. In New Haven the Bible was the constitution and no 
one was entitled to the ballot who was not a church member in good standing. 
In other words, the colony was governed by w'hat may be called a church oligar- 
chy. It may readily be imagined that the commonwealth with a center at Hart- 
ford was speedily to become much more popular than the one located on the 
Sound. It grew more rapidly in territory and numbers and soon embraced 
the newly settled towns of Stratford, wSaybrook, New London, Farming- 
ton, Fairfield and Norwalk, while New Haven never extended its original bounds 
except to settle and absorb the town of Stamford. 

Flere, then, were two rival colonies only thirty-six miles apart, but as widely 
separated as the poles in methods and theories of government. Just half way 
between was the territory of Meriden, a buffer as it were between two rival push- 
ing bands of land-hungry Englishmen. 

Without doubt the oldest highway of any length in the state of Connecticut 
is the Old Colony road, leading from Hartford to New Haven and still bearing 
this descriptive name as it passes through Meriden and Wallingford. Probably 
there was an Indian trail occupying the same general position before the white 
man's advent, for, according to credible tradition and written records the Indians, 
although never inhabiting the valley between Lamentation and Hanging Hills, 
resorted hither from the vicinity of Hartford and New Haven to follow the chase. 
Although travel between the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven could not 
have been very frequent during the first few years, still the old records preserve 
evidences of communication between the two colonies. In 1639 letters from 
Quinnipiac were demanding the attention of the General Court in Hartford^ and 
the same year it was thought best to send to Quinnipiac counsels relative to de- 
fense against the Indians and Mr. Webster and Mr. Willis were dispatched on 
the errand. 2 

A few weeks later Edward Hopkins, of Hartford, set out from that town for 
Stratford with a drove of cattle and passed through New Haven^ and afterwards 
he confesses to frequent journeys over the same road when he writes 'T remember 
with what pleasure he (Gov. Theop. Eaton) would come down the street that 



1 Conn. Col. Rec, Vol. I., p. 2S. 

2 Idem, p. 32. 

3 Idem, p. 35. 



EARLY HISTORY. 9 

he might meet me when I came from Hartford unto New Haven. "^ In 1640 word 
was sent to Xew Haven of Indian depredations^ and in 1645 the New Haven 
court ordered a bridge built over "East River in the way to Connecticott."^ On 
September 13, 1649. the Connecticut Court directed Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Tayle- 
coat (Talcott) to ride to New Haven to-morrow to confer with Air. Eaton relative 
to the Indians. "* In 1653 the New Haven court passed the following vote "for hire 
of horses the owner shall have from New Haven to Connecticote tenn shillings."^ 
These extracts show that there must have been more or less communication be- 
tween the two colonies which grew as the years went by and population increased. 
Doubtless, Rev. Mr. Hooker, of Hartford, Rev. Mr. Davenport, of New Haven, 
and Rev. Mr. Whitfield, of Guilford, who had been intimate friends in England, 
sometimes visited each other to discuss the many problems which vexed them and 
to devise means to overcome the wiles of the Devil, wdio in this new country of 
unbroken wilderness and terrible solitudes was cunningly devising new tempta- 
tions to draw the souls of the faithful from the straight and narrow way. 

Consequently, the country in the vicinity of Meriden soon became familiar to 
many of the colonists in Hartford and New Haven and other towns. If these 
ancient worthies had time and inclination to admire the beauties of nature they 
must have been impressed as they entered the valley between Lamentation Moun- 
tain on the east and the gently rising Hanging Hills on the west, which, gradu- 
ally climbing higher and higher, with here and there great spaces of rock, grey 
with the frosts of ages, drop precipitously into the plain extending to the Sound. 
No other place on their weary journey could have compared in beauty and pic- 
turesqueness with this little valley. But even the beauty of hill and dale can hardly 
have repaid them for the hardships endured during the long and weary thirty-six 
miles which lay between Hartford and New Haven, with hardly a house to break 
the monotony of the journey. There were only two methods of overcoming this 
distance: one must travel afoot or on horseback over a path without bridges and 
with the directions blazed on the trees of the primeval forest. 

The necessity for caution in following this road through the wilderness may 
be judged by the following extract from a letter written by Rev. John Daven- 
port, of New Haven, to Gov. Winthrop at Hartford, dated 6 month, 1660: 

'T received a former letter from you by Mr. Bishop who, in his return from 
your parts hitherward, tooke a wrong path twise and was so bewildered that he 
lost his way from \\>thersfield and lay in the woods in a very cold night and 
came not to us til the last day of the weeke towards noone."*' 



1 Mather's Magnalia, Ed. 1820, Vol. I, p. 134. 

2 Conn. Col. Rec, Vol. I, p. 58. 

3 N. H. Col. Rec, Vol. I, p. 188. 

4 Conn. Col. Rec, Vol. I., p. 197. 

5 N. H. Col. Rec, Vol. 11., p. 3. 

6 Mass. His. Soc Col., 8rd Series, Vol. X, p. 37. 



lO A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



I 



Even as late as 1672 the Governor of New York in his instructions to post 
riders from that colony to Boston states, "You are principally to apply yourselfe 
to the Governors especially Governor Winthrop (at Hartford) from whom you 
shall receive the best directions how to form ye best Poast Road. When you 
think it requisite you are to marke some Trees that shall direct Passengers the best 
way."i "The Indian paths were good though only two or three feet wide and in 
many places the savages kept the woods clear from underbrush by burning over 
large tracts," and doubtless the colonists followed the same method. "Thus the 
'blazes' stood out clear and white in the dark shadows of the forests like welcome 
guide-posts, showing the traveler his way."^ And yet, always haunting one, like 
a ghost that will not be exorcised, was the fear of the lurking savage and wild 
beast ; and at any sudden noise there was a tenser strain of the nerves and a tight- 
ening grasp of the trusty rifle, that constant "vade mecum" of the sturdy colonist. 
The Rev. John Davenport, in a letter to Governor Winthrop, dated April 2, 1660, 
gives us a little story which illustrates the perils of the journey and which for 
dearth of other material may well be inserted : 

"Honored Sir — I received yours by Brother Benham, whom God preserved 
from being drowned in his journey homeward. The river by Mr. Yale's farm 
was swollen high ; his wife was fearful of riding through it. God provided an 
help for her at the instant by a passenger who traveled from Windsor to Bran- 
ford to Mr. Crane's, whose daughter he had married. He helped Sister Benham 
over a tree. But her husband, adventuring to ride through, a foot of his horse 
slipped, so he fell into the water, and his horse, as he thinketh, fell upon him or 
struck him with his foot, for he had a blow on his head. But through the mercy 
of God he is now well." * * * This was doubtless at the crossing of Pil- 
grims' Harbor Brook, for no one could cross the Ouinnipiac River when swollen, 
by means of a tree or log. 

But they were a brave and undaunted people and notwithstanding the hidden 
terrors of the wilderness slowly but relentlessly the van of the settlements was 
constantly advancing, and as the numbers increased the question of a dividing line 
between the sister governments of Connecticut and New Haven began to attract 
attention. It is easy to imagine that, when bounds had been described only in 
deeds from the Indians, drawn up when limits were not considered of moment, 
accuracy in tracing these bounds would cause much friction. At last New Haven 
determined to leave no room for doubt as to the extent of her territory, and at a 
General Court held April 23, 1660, "the Governor desired that the bounds of a 
p'cel of land towards Connecticote might be sett out for the prevention of future 
differences that might otherwise arise betwixt us w'ch motion was approved and 
thereupon it was ordered yt Mr. Yale, Wm. Andrews, John Cowper, John Brock- 



1 N. Y. Evening Post, Feb. 18, 1899. 

2 Earle's Home Life in Colonial Days, p. 330. 



EARLY HISTORY. II 

itt, Nathaniel Alerriman with the help of jMantowees, an Indian ye late pprietor 
shall set out the bounds wth lasting marks wch is to be done wth the first con- 
venyence/'^ 

It is interesting to note that two of these men were leaders in the settlement 
of Wallingford ten years later, and probably their first acquaintance with that 
vicinity was made during their service on the committee to execute this vote of 
the General Court. 

As soon as spring has really come we may in fancy see these men, clad in 
leathern doublet and breeches, accompanied by the dusky warrior, Montowese, 
striding along the road leading to "Connecticote," crossing the bridge lately built 
over the Quinnipiac, and setting their faces towards the north where in the hazy 
distance can be traced the dim outlines of the Hanging Hills. First, we note the 
sturdy form of Nathaniel Merriman, a veteran of the Pequot War of 1636 and 
destined later, as captain of dragoons and accompanied by his son, Nathaniel, Jr., 
to play his part in the great swamp fort fight of King Philip's War ; where, alas ! 
many of the flower of Connecticut's young manhood perished, Nathaniel, Jr., 
among the rest. Our veteran as he firmly strides along is now in the prime of 
life; born in 1614, the son of George Merriman of London, who died there in 
1656,2 he early cast his lot among the New Haven planters, and when Wallingford 
was settled in 1670 he was one of the pioneers and until his death in 1694 was 
conspicuous and honored in that community. He is still represented among us 
by worthy and respected descendants. 

Next we see Thomas Yale who came to New Haven a youth in charge of Gov. 
Theophilus Eaton, who had married his widowed mother, the daughter of Thomas 
Morton, Bishop of Chester, England. He evidently was fond of pioneer life, for 
when New Haven had grown to be a larger town he settled in North Haven ; he 
also has left many descendants among us who still maintain the prestige of his 
name. Then comes John Brockett, who also served in King Philip's War; he 
was frequently employed as a surveyor and many of the early roads in New Ha- 
ven County were laid out under his direction ; after him comes Wm. Andrews 
who accompanied Gov. Eaton to New Haven at the first settlement and was for 
many years the keeper of the only inn in that town ; and last of all is John Cooper, 
a prominent man in the community, for many years manager of the iron works 
and frequently a representative at the General Court. 

In December, 1638, Theophilus Eaton and John Davenport had bought of 
Montowese, the son of the sachem at Middletown, a tract of land ten miles long, 
lying north of a purchase previously made of an Indian sachem named Momau- 
gin. This purchase was added to by a subsequent deed in 1645 which has been 
lost. Our committee, intent on carrying out the instructions of the General Court, 



1 N. H. Col. Rec, Vol. II, p. 409. 

2 X. E. His. aud Gen. Reg., Vol. LIII., p. 21. 



12 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

following' the lead of ]\Ionto\vese. pass up the road through what was later \\^al- 
lingford and over the hill by Walnut Grove cemetery until they come to Pilgrims' 
Harbor. Here, we fancy, some little time was consumed in crossing the brook 
where Lyon & Billard's office now stands, and in picking their way through the 
swamp which formerly made this locality almost impassable. On they went up 
what is now Colony street until quite to the present junction of that street and 
Kensington avenue. 

As far as this Montowese claimed his domains had extended and here they 
placed "lasting marks" which would define the boundaries between Connecticut 
and New Haven colonies. Their work done, doubtless, they leisurely proceeded 
home, possibly lingering a little while on the hill where the future Wallingford 
was to lie. 

It was not long before the General Court at Hartford had been informed of 
New Haven's action and although no record of debate or action appears on the 
minutes, we know that a protest was sent and that the action of New Haven was 
not suffered to pass without comment or opposition. Rev. Mr. Davenport's letter 
of October 30th, 1660, to Governor Winthrop was unquestionably an answer to 
some complaint from Hartford colony and it is well to quote those passages relat- 
ing to the question in dispute "Concerning the matter of the Indians, I hope Mr. 
Gilbert hath or will give a clear account." Nor will there be anything done by 
any of ours to hinder your Indians in theyre hunting. But for the purchase it 
was made above 20 yeares past without any seeking, on our part, upon an offer 
made to our Governour & Co. It was of Montoweeze that the land was bought 
whereby N. H. bounds extended neare unto the Cold Spring beyond Pilgrims 
Harbour."! 

This latter throws a flood of light upon the condition, at that time, of the ter- 
ritory now embraced in Aleriden. It shows that it had been used by the Indians 
as a hunting ground and it indicates about where the New Haven committee had 
placed the "lasting marks.'' This action of New Haven in accurately marking 
the bounds between the two colonies was one of the earliest acts in that drama, 
the closing scene of which was the absorption of New Haven colony by Connecti- 
cut in 1665. 

The General Court at Hartford apparently did not formally present a protest 
until 1661. At a General Court held in New Haven May 29, 1661, the follow^ing 
vote was passed : "It was alsoe ordered that a committee be chosen by this court 
for the treating with and issueing of any seeming diff'erance betwixt Connecticot 
Colony and this, in reference to the dividing bounds betwixt them and of some 
seeming right to this jurisdiction which they pretend in a letter sent to this Gen'll 
Court." The letter in question was from Sec'y Clark of Hartford and read in part 



1 Mass. His. Soc. Col., 1th Series, Vol. VII., pp. 517-519. 



EARLY HISTORY. I3 

as Inllows: "This Court having" receaved information not only 1)y what appeares 
in one of yor La\ves respect ; the purchase of land from ye Indians wherein there 
is a sceminge challeng of very large intrests of lands and likewise by what intel- 
lio-ence we have had of yor strechting yor bounds up towards us by markeing 
trees on this side Pilgroomes Harbour wch things as ye intrench upon or intrest 
soe they are not satisfying or contentful, "^ etc., etc. 

^Meanwhile Connecticut did not content herself by letter writing only. She 
was determined to forestall any attempt on the part of New Haven to absorb the 
territory north of Pilgrims' Harbor. On Aug. 28, 1661, she granted to Jonathan 
Gilbert, of Hartford, "a farm to ye number of 300 acres of upland and 50 acres 
of meadow,"^ which he immediately proceeded to take up, at Cold Spring, in the 
northern limits of our town, for on Alay 15, 1662, he is granted permission "to 
keep an ordinary, or inn, at his house at Cold Spring.'"^ And on Oct. 15, 1664, 
Edward Higbee, of Connecticut, bought of a Hartford Indian the land between 
]\Ir. Gilbert's farm called Merideen and Pilgrims Harbour River or Brook. ^ Thus 
in a somewhat high-handed way Connecticut had secured possession of all the 
territorv of ]\Ieriden north of Harbor Brook, notwithstanding that Rev. Mr. Dav- 
enport had asserted in 1660 that Xew Haven had bought the same land of Alon- 
towese about 1638. 

The rival claims to this territory resulted in an anomalous situation. For 
manv A'cars the land was a part of no township. It formed a sort of buiTer be- 
tween Wallingford and Farmington, although it was a part of Hartford County 
until some time in the next century. In 1686 the General Court in anticipation 
of the possible loss of the charter through the action of Sir Edmund Andros (of 
Charter Oak fame), took such steps as would secure the colony against the fu- 
ture exactions of an arbitrary governor. The court was empowered to dispose 
of all vacant lands. It granted "to Wethersfield, ^liddletown and Farmington all 
those vacant lands between Wallingford bounds and the bounds of those planta- 
tions to make a village therein." 

It must not be forgotten that when the limits of Wallingford were assigned at 
its planting in 1670 its northern bounds ended at a line drawn east and west at 
about where Colony street crosses Plarbor Brook. In 1683 Wallingford bought 
of John Talcott, of Hartford, all the land between this east and west line and Gil- 
bert's farm called ^Meriden who, in turn, had bought it of Adam Puit, an Indian 
of Podunk -^ so that the action of the court in assigning the lands to Wethersfield, 
iMiddletown and Farmington was clearly illegal. These lands were for many 
vears called Wallingford Purchase Lands and its anomalous position did not 



1 N. H. Col. Rec. Vol. II., p. 409. 

2 Conn. Col. Rec, Vol. I., p 372. 

3 Idem, p. 382 (and soon called Meriden). 

4 Perkins' Historical Sketches of Meriden, p. 104. 
o Idem, p. 105. 



14 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



cease until it was finally set oft' to Wallingford about 1728 as a parish by the 
name of A'leriden. It is interesting to note that practically all the land between 
the Colony street crossing of Harbor Brook and the Belcher, or Meriden, farm 
was bought of the Indians three separate times ; first by New Haven of Monto- 
w^ese in 1638, then of Seaukeet by Edward Higbee in 1664, and lastly by John 
Talcott of Adam Puit in 1683. There were also two other deeds confirmatory 
of previous grants. 




EARLY HISTORY. 1 5 



CHAPTER II. 

Whether Connecticut's protest sent to New Haven against the action of the 
latter colony in placing "lasting marks" or bounds in this vicinity was brought 
about by a belief that the lands in question were commercially valuable or simply 
by a desire to push back any attempt at further expansion by New Haven, of 
course we cannot tell. But the action of the General Court in granting a farm 
of 350 acres to Jonathan Gilbert perhaps shows that the wilderness about Meriden 
was of value in one way at least. For many years after the colony was settled 
there was a considerable trade in furs and the immediate locality of Gilbert's 
farm certainly abounded in beavers and other fur-bearing animals at one time. He 
built across the river from Hartford a warehouse whence he shipped to Boston 
furs and other produce of the country. Just north of his farm was the old "Fly" 
already mentioned. This word is of Dutch origin and is in common use in those 
parts of New York and New Jersey first settled by the Dutch.^ The original 
form of the word was Vly or Vley ; then corrupted into Fly^ and was the Dutch 
expression for a swamp or morass. From time out of mind the old swamp now 
named the Peat Works Pond was called The Fly and the Old Fly, and so far as 
the writer can learn this locality is the only place in Central Connecticut that 
bears such a name, although the word is sometimes met with in the extreme west- 
ern part of this state. Are we to believe from this use of the word in Meriden 
that the locality was known to the Dutch who erected the Good Hope Fort at 
Hartford before the arrival of the English and that they were in the habit of re-. 
sorting hither to trap the beaver ? Albert Norton, of Berlin, the owner of a large 
part of the old Meriden Farm, says that when the disastrous attempt was made by 
the Aetna Peat Works to manufacture marketable peat at the "Fly" many years 
ago, in several places excavations were made at least fifteen feet in depth and in 
each instance trunks of trees were frequently found even at the bottom of the holes, 
so perfectly preserved that they still bore the marks of the teeth of beavers made 
centuries ago. The Dutch knew Central Connecticut well and one of their early 
maps indicates the mountains at Meriden as well as East and West Rocks at New 
Haven which they called Rodenberg (Red Mts).^ The vote of the General Court 
of Connecticut which granted to Mr. Gilbert the right to keep an inn at his farm 
in Meriden reads as follows, under date of May 15, 1662: "This colony grants. 



1 A point in illu.stration is the Fly Market in N. Y. City where there was formerly a swamp. 

2 Century Dictionary. 

3 Narrative and Crit. Hist, of America, Vol.. IV., p. 43S. 



l6 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

liberty to ye jMarsliall Jonathan Gilbert to keep an ordinary at his house at Cold 
Spring for releiving of travellers according to their needs," showing that, although 
the farm had been granted to him August 28, 1661, he had already built a house 
on it the following May, hardly time enough to have erected a stone house which 
later records show was standing there subsequently. This farm as first laid out 
was on the west side of Colony road and extended from the laneway just south 
of the house of Albert Norton in Berlin, southerly to a line a little south of the 
house now occupied by L. Michaelis, but formerly owned by James Bartlett and 
known to most ^leriden people as the Belcher farm. It was bounded on the east 
by Colony road and on the west by a stone wall still standing about three thousand 
feet west of the railroad track and running parallel to it. The old house proba- 
bly stood between the Michaelis house and that of Mrs. E. H. Yale, a little to 
the north. As Meriden's settlement originated with this farm it does not seem in- 
appropriate to devote some space to it and to Meriden's first land owner, Mr. 
Gilbert. The fact that this farm was originally granted to Mr. Gilbert seemed 
to have been entirely forgotten until Dr. Davis brought the fact to light in his 
History of Wallingford and Meriden. Dr. Perkins, in his interesting Historical 
Sketches of Meriden, saysr^ 'Tt appears that one Mr. Belcher very early, but how 
early we cannot precisely ascertain, had a grant of a large tract of land on our 
present northern border. Whether this was a colonial grant or a royal grant we 
do not know for no trace of deed or grant can be found in the state records or 
town records." This seems even now to be the generally received opinion and 
yet it is entirely erroneous and it is singular that a man so discriminating and 
painstaking as Dr. Perkins was should have utterly overlooked records that were in 
the Capitol at Hartford. The first white man to own land within the present 
limits of the town of Meriden was Jonathan Gilbert. 

(Facsimile of signature taken from his will.) 

He was one of the earliest settlers at Hartford and a man of marked influence 
in that community and at his death left a large estate. At one time he was em- 
ployed as interpreter in negotiations by the colonial government with the Indians, 
indicating that he had mixed much with the savages. His profession was that of 
inn keeper at Hartford, a position at that time of much respectability. He was 
also marshal of the colony and frequently a member of the General Court. He 
was engaged also in the fur trade with Boston, as already mentioned. The produce 



1 Page 13. 



EARLY HISTORY. I7 

of tlie country he sold was carried in the ships of his son-in-law, Andrew 
Belcher. In all his undertakings he appears to have been a man of energy and 
push. Mr. Gilbert died December lo, 1682. Some idea of his wealth may be 
gained by noting that his inventory among other things contained two gold rings, 
gold shoe buckles, gold toothpicks, gold shirt buttons and one hundred and forty 
ounces of plate. His house in Hartford was a large and commodious one and 
his total inventory amounted to £2484-17-9 — a large fortune for those days. 
After Mr. Gilbert had acquired his farm at Cold Spring he put in charge of it, 
apparently, Edward Higbee, who seems to have been of a singularly roaming 
disposition, for he was located at difterent times in New London, Stratford, Mid- 
dletown, Meriden and Jamaica, L. I. He probably died at this latter place. One 
of his sons did not accompany him but settled in Middletown near Higby Moun- 
tain, and his descendants are hereabouts to this day. So far as we can learn 
Edward Higbee (or Higby as spelled now) was the first white man to take up 
his permanent abode in Meriden. Savage, in his Genealogical Dictionary, says 
he was an inn keeper in ^liddletown in 1674. That he lived on Mr. Gilbert's 
farm is certain from the contents of a deposition made by his son, John Higbee, 
in 1683, in which he says "* '■' * when my father, Edward Higbe Sen. lived 
at Mr. Jonathan Gilbord's farme called Meriden. "^ We know that Mr. Higbee 
was in this vicinity very shortly after Mr. Gilbert accjuired his farm, for Mr. Per- 
kins in his Historical Sketches of Meriden,^ copied a deed from Seaukett, Indian, 
to Edward Higbee conveying all the land between Mr. Gilbert's ]\Ieriden Farm 
and Pilgrims" Harbor Brook. Seaukett was an Indian whose name appears in 
Windsor documents. It is variously spelled Seoket and Seacet. Dr. Stiles in his 
History of Windsor says he was one of the Poquonnock Indians. The deed is as 
follows." 

Oct. 14, 1664. 
Know all men by these presents that I Seaukett Indian ( abiding in or about 
Hartford on Conec't) Sachem owner and true proprietor of a large tract of land 
in the woods towards New Haven att and about the lands now in possession of 
Mr. Jonathan Gilbert entitled and known by the name Merideen doe sell unto Ed- 
ward Higby on parcell of land adjoining to the lands of Jonathan Gilbert afore- 
said — Hills, Rocks, Swamps and all other appurtenances bounded and formerly 
(formally) defined by marked trees and by the land of say'd Jonathan Gilbert 
and Pilgrims' Harber Brook or River — all which say'd parcell of land with all 
prerogatives, ])riviledges and any kind of appurtenances thereon and thereunto 
belonging, it shall be Lawful for the say'd Edward Higbey, his heirs and assigns 
to improve, possess, enjoy and that forever as fully and as freely as the said Sea- 



1 Volume called Private Controversies in the State Library in the Capitol at Hartford. 

2 Page 104. 



my name. 

The mark of V^ • 7 Seaukeet 



l8 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

ket ever did or might have done in witness whereof by these presents I bind my- 
self, my heirs and assigns, quietly and peaceably to leave in the full possession 
of all the premises the say'd Edward Higbey never to be molested by me the say'd 
Seaket my heirs or any other Indian or Indians whatsoever and so subscribe 

O 

In presence and witness of Bryan Rossetter and Mary Gilbert. 

Mr. Rossetter was a man of prominence and a physician and lived at Guilford 
and his son John afterwards married Mr. Gilbert's daughter. In this deed is the 
first recorded use of the name Meriden. After Mr. Higbee had acquired the In- 
dian title to the land in question he was confirmed in it by the action of the General 
Court October 12, 1665. On the Middletown land records under date of July 15, 
1668,1 is a further description of the property which is considerably contracted from 
that of the Indian deed just quoted. It is somewhat difficult from the certainly inac- 
curate survey and description to locate the precise limits of the tract of land. But 
from later deeds when the land was sold and divided one would say that the 
boundaries were about as follows : Beginning at the Center street crossing of Har- 
bor Brook draw a line west one mile long, thence north another mile, then east 
half a mile ; thence southeast to about where Broad street crosses Harbor Brook 
thence to the starting point at Center street. Just where his house stood we can- 
not positively state but it was probably on the south side of the junction of Ken- 
sington avenue and Colony street. This deed takes us back to a time when there 
were, in all probability, only two houses in Meriden, one Mr. Higbee's and the 
other the inn of Mr. Gilbert, and our township was almost an unbroken wilder- 
ness. Some idea of the amount of travel between Hartford and New Haven may 
be gained by the following extract from the Conn. Col. Records under date of 
Oct. II, 1666. 

"This Court orders that Edward Higbey for makeing and maintaining the 
way over Pilgrooms Harbour passable for man and horse shal have his estate and 
farme free of countrey [Rates] for this yeare and next he maintaineing the way 
soe longe as aforesaid."^ One who remembers the condition of the "Corner" 
many years ago will confess that Mr. Higbee fully earned his exemption from 
taxes. It probably involved much more than building a bridge 
over the brook which is not mentioned. Nothing would have made the way 
passable except a corduroy or log foundation. How long Mr. Hig- 
bee continued to live in Meriden we do not know ; but Middletown records tell 
us that in 1673 he sold his "housing and land near Pilgrims' Harbor" to Henry 
Cole, of Middletown, and shortly after removed to Jamaica, L. I. 

1 Middletown Land Records, Vol. I., p. 111. 

2 Conn. Col. Records, Vol. II.. p. 52. 



EARLY HISTORY. I9 

But to return to Jonathan Gilbert and his farm. Shortly after he 
had obtained it he built his inn. Mr. E. H. Yale many years ago 
in digging a well just south of his house, unearthed the remains of 
the ancient foundation. The inn was doubtless a famous place and 
many an interesting tale must have been told around its hospitable hearth of 
witches and goblins and hairbreadth escapes from the savage Indians. Nothing 
now is left but a name and a few facts gleaned from musty records. Could these 
sturdy pioneers return again to this spot and in the dusk of a summer evening 
watch the ghost-like bicycles and automobiles fleeting by on the smooth macadam 
road which now skirts the farm, what tales of wonder and mystery they would 
tell — of how witches have discarded the awkward broomsticks and now bestride 
the back of an iron goblin, or, borne by a snorting, flaming dragon, they pass one 
like a breath of wind to their nocturnal orgies ; while the roar and rumble of a 
train on the other side of the farm would certainly convince them that the 
powers of hell were waxing strong indeed. But those old days are gone never 
to return and so utterly are they forgotten that the few facts we can save from 
oblivion merely sketch like a wisp of mist events we would fain see more clearly. 
It should be constantly kept in mind that at this time the name of Meriden was 
applied solely to Mr. Gilbert's farm. It was not until many years later that the 
name was used to describe the whole territory we now know as Meriden. What 
to-day we call colloquially the "Corner" was then known as Pilgrims' Harbor and 
the brook acquired its name because it flowed through the locality. After Mr. 
Gilbert's death in 1682 there followed a bitter controversy among the heirs which 
resulted in probably one of the first, if not the first, contested will case in Con- 
necticut. The documents in the case are on file in The State Library in the Cap- 
itol at Hartford in the volumes known as Private Controversies, and they give 
an interesting picture of the times. Mr. Gilbert left nine children and a widow. 
The eldest child, Jonathan, Jr., born of a previous wife, was cut off by the terms 
of the will with a small portion of his father's estate. He had been wild in his 
youth and evidently always a ne'er-do-well who had caused his father much dis- 
tress, about which he had conversed with Edward Higbee at Meriden Farm. Th; 
will, which was dated in 1674, had left Meriden Farm to a son, Nathaniel, but as 
this son died before his father, the farm became the joint inheritance of all the 
surviving children. The contested will case was finally settled by Jonathan, Jr. tak- 
ing some land on the "East side of the great River in Haddum" in settlement of 
his claim and the widow, Mary, bought his interest in the Meriden Farm on January 
9, 1684. On September 6, 1686, all the other children sold their right in this 
farm to Andrew Belcher, of Charleston, New England, mariner, stating in the 
deed that the place was commonly called Alerriden Farme and that it was then, 
in whole or in part, in the occupation of Samuel Elmor. The date of Elmor's be- 



20 A CENTURY OF MRRIDEN. 

coming a tenant is not known ; he was from \Mndsor and his father, Edward, was 
killed in King" Philips war in 1676. The Belcher connection with the farm made 
such an impression that to this day the locality is known as the Belcher farm and 
the Belchers, father and son, were men of such importance in New England that 
these facts ought to create in us a romantic interest in their person- 
ality and ownership of this farm. 

Captain Andrew Belcher had married ^Ir. Gilbert's daughter Sarah 
July I, 1670. He was born in Cambridge, Mass., January i, 1648, 
and was son of Andrew Belcher, inn-keeper, who emigrated from Dan- 
burv, Essex Co., England.' We know of .Vndrew, Jr., first as a 
mariner plying between Boston and Hartford and his name occurs frequently 
in the Colonial Records and he evidently amassed a considerable fortune in his 
ventures, for he finally achieved the reputation of being the most opulent mer- 
chant in New England. He was shrewd and energetic and evidently was capa- 
ble of driving a hard bargain. While he was one of the counsellors of Massa- 
chusetts the selectmen of Boston, having objected to his sending corn to Cura- 
coa in the Dutch West Indies on account of a scarcity of that article in New- 
England he tartly replied, "The hardest ftnd ofi:' : if you stop my vessels I will 
hinder the coming in of three times as much."- He was in trouble in 1682 for 
breaking the navigation laws and his vessel was seized at Boston,'^ and in 1688 
he was accused of trading with a "pyrate" for hides and elephants' teeth. ^ After 
the terrible swamp fort fight at South Kingston in R. I. Dec. 19, 1675, in King 
Philips war, the hardy soldiers were in great distress for lack of provisions, but 
that very night "it mercifully came to pass that Captain Andrew Belcher arrived 
at ^Ir. Smith's with a vessel laden with provisions for the army which must oth- 
erwise have perishcsd for want."' Whether the merciful appearance of Captain 
Belcher's vessel was caused by his love of gain or by patriotism, let whom will 
decifle. His success in life w-as pronounced and evidently atoned for some short- 
comings for after his death he is described as "a man of integrity and honor, a 
friend to reli(.:;ion and learning."*' He certainly was an illustrious example of a 
"free trader" for he seems to have traded wdiere he listed without fear of laws 
or conseciuences. His son Jonathan wrote a letter to Mr. Prince, giving an es- 
timate of his father's character as follows : "Sir "^^ * * What you desire re- 
specting my deceas'd Father and myself is a difficult Task and I know^ not when 
1 shall be able to imdertake it. For altho' this be a little Government [Xew Jer- 
sey] yet it calls for much attention and attendance for the King's honour and for 



1 N. E. Hist, and Gen. Reg., Vol. XXVII., pp. 239-240. 

2 Sewall's Diary, May 20, 1713. 

3 Wheedon's Econ. and Sceial His. N. E., Vol. I., p. 239. 

4 Idem. Vol. I., p 342. 

5 Hutohinson's Hi.'t. Ma.ss., Ed. 1795, Vol. I., p. 272. 

6 N. E. Hist, and Gen. Reg., Vol. XXVIII., p. 230. 



EARLY lIISTom'. 21 

seeking the good and welfare of the people and my large correspondence to New 
England and larger than heretofore to Great Jjritain, keeps me in fnll employe. 
These things, notwithstanding. If yon would tell me your Design and State any 
questions to me I would Indeavour to answer them. My father was as great a 
Genius as his Country could boast of but wanted an Education to Improve and 
polish it. (Gov. Dudley) who was a good Judge used to say j\Ir. Comissary Bel- 
cher would make a good Minister of State to any Prince in Europe, Especially 
in the Article of Finances. His late Farewell and Blessing of me show'd his 
strong thoughts and great modesty. Its fresh in my Memory and will be till the 
Frost of Age seals up that Faculty ; he called me to his Bedside, took me by the 
hand and said — Son you may expect me to bless you in a better manner and 
ityle than T am able to do for God did not put it into your Grand Father's ]:)Owcr 
to give me the Education he Inabled me to give you, but remember my Last Words 
to you are — May the Blessing of the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and 
the God of Jacob rest upon you and your seed forever. Amen. Farewell. Neith- 
er the Patriarchs nor Apostles could have done it better. Just as he was Ex- 
piring the Blanket w^as offensive to His Face so he rais'd himself a little from his 
Pillow and said to the Late Madam Sewall who watcht with him, give me the 
sheet for it is my winding sheet ; then he unroll'd his arms in it and said I will 
lay me down and dye in Peace and Expir'd in a minute. I should not have Troubled 
A'ou with this Ace' but as it may make some Little part of an Answer to what vou 
have desired * * * I thank you for the Sermon preacht upon the death of 
my Late dear and Excellent Sister which has given me much pleasure in rcadg. 
Rev. and Worthy Sir 

Very much your Friend and servant. 

J. BELCHER. 
Burlington, June 7, 1748.^ 

Why Capt. Belcher should have desired to own ]\Ieriden Farm we cannot 
certainly know. It is probable that the returns from the farm at this time were 
considerable. It was an important place evidently and possibly the proceeds from 
beavers in the vicinity were considerable. But beyond any apparent returns from 
the surface there was always the alluring possibility of hidden wealth in the ground. 
Our Puritan forefathers were always chasing a will o' the wnsp of this sort. ]\Iany 
of the old deeds bear witness to the truth of this statement and the mountains in 
the vicinity of Aleriden seem to have excited the expectation that some day the 
diligent searcher would be handsomely rewarded. On the hills west of the farm 
there are still to be seen places where excavations were made in the hope of find- 
ing iron or copper or even gold. "Many of the adventurers to North America 



1 X. E. Hist, and Gen. Reg., Vol. XXVII., pp. 240-241. 



22 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

were strongly possessed with an idea of the riches of North as well as of South 
America. They conceived that its mountains and hills abounded with precious 
metals and minerals ; and that, however rich the soil might be, yet that the bowels 
of the earth would afford them much greater wealth. Much pains were, there- 
fore, bestowed on various parts of the country to discover these sources of 
wealth. "1 A man of Capt. Belcher's wealth and widely extended business ven- 
tures could not have spent very much of his time on the farm ; still he kept in 
touch with its needs and possibilities and he certainly expended considerable sums 
in improving the property. On June i8, 1700, he bought of the widow, Mary Gil- 
bert her interest in the farm^ and in October, 1703, the Colonial Court, in con- 
sideration of the "amount of money Mr. Belcher hath expended in improving- 




(Facsimile of signature taken from a letter in possession of tiie writer.) 

the land and building tennantable houses and settling tennants therein and other 
improvements which are like to be a publick as well as private benefitt the said 
tenements being conveniently situate for the relief of travailers in their journeying 
from place to place, for his incouragement to goe forward with his improvements 
doe see cause to grant his petition and doe now give and grant unto the said An- 
drew Belcher all the said four hundred and seventie acres" he had bought of the 
Gilbert heirs^ and the following May gave him in addition the land from the 
East Side of the farm to the top of Lamentation Mt., "consisting of steep rocky 
hills and very stoney land, judged to be very mean and of little value. "^ Mr. Bel- 
cher's farm was now a very large one and with other purchases he had made ad- 
joining, contained about twelve hundred acres and he now called it "My ]\Ieriden 
Manor." It is probable that Capt. Belcher built the stone house that made the 
farm noteworthy. But it disappeared many years ago, no one knows how or 
when. There arc many traditions still extant, for the personality of the Belchers 
impressed itself strongly on the locality. Of the wall which bounded the farm 
on the west the following story is told by Mr. Kendall in his Travels Through the 
Northern Parts of the United States in 1807-8.1 



1 Trumbull's Hist of Conn., Vol. II., p. 40. 

2 Records : Office Secretary of State. 

3 Col. Records, Vol. IV., pp. 450-451. 

4 Idem, p. 475. 
1 Vol. I„ p. 122. 



EARLY HISTORY. 23 

When Mr. Belcher owned the farm "the Indians were at this time trouble- 
some ; and mention is made of a wall built b}' Mr. Belcher as if for purposes of 
defence. In this way, however, it could be of no use ; for it was of more than a 
mile in circuit and formed of uncen]ented stones, raised only four feet high, like 
the walls at present common in the country. This wall, however, had some ex- 
traordinary personages among its builders. It is current in tradition, that four- 
teen or fifteen settlers came into Mr. Belcher's neighborhood, from the town of 
Farmington, of whom the wdiole band possessed unusual strength and stature. 
Two were of the name of Hart. Of these one, whose son at the age of seventy 
years is still alive, is said to have had bones so large that an Indian, who, with 
others, was passing through the settlement, stopped and examined him with sur- 
prise. Mr. Hart and his fellow' giants were employed by Mr. Belcher on his wall." 
This stone wall skirted the then road to Kensington which long since ceased 
to be used, but it is still possible to trace this old road, once the usual route of 
travel to that parish. If one starts at the old Way place now ow'ned by Mr. E. H. 
Higginson and follows the road running west over the railroad track, within per- 
haps a quarter mile a point is reached where the road turns at right angle and runs 
south to Colony street, reaching it just below the old Malleable Iron Co. factory, 
now owned by The IMeriden Fire Arms Co. If, instead of turning south at the 
right angle mentioned, one keeps on to the west the lane is soon found turning 
gradually to the north and soon one has the ancient Meriden Farm on the right. 
At times the traces of this ancient highway are difficult to follow ; but per- 
severance, after a while, brings one to where it is again a well traveled road. 

There was another road to Kensington which began where Kensington avenue 
leaves Colony street and followed the present line of the avenue as far as the 
present trotting park (there was then no road through Cat Hole Pass). Here it 
turned toward the north and finally climbed the steep sides of the mountain, com- 
ing out near Botsford's or Corrigan's corner. All that is now left of this road is 
the old Bailey road, skirting the west side of the trotting park. There was a road 
branching from it which joined the one already described as bordering Meriden 
Farm, on the west. Over these old roads now neglected and almost lost to sight 
in a tangle of briar bog and forest our great grandparents plodded their way on 
foot, or in saddle or pillion on horseback were carried over these weary miles to 
Kensington Parish or Farmington Village. The southern limits of Farmington 
at this time were bounded by the laneway just south of Albert Norton's house in 
Berlin, so that none of Meriden Farm was in the town of Farmington. 

For some years after the colony had confirmed Capt. Belcher's title to the 
farm and enlarged its bounds we learn nothing to add to our annals. It is proba- 
ble that the caj^tain frequently visited the farm and gave careful attention to its 
needs and with his tenants made frequent search for the minerals which the rocky 



24 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



sides of Lamentation had seemed to promise, but evidently without success. On 
Oct. 22, 1707, he deeded to "My son Jonathan my mannor or farme of Meriden 
near to a place called Cold Spring now in tennance and occupation of Joseph Hop- 
kins, Sam'l Peck and Samuel Hubbard, their under tenants or assigns" and hence- 
forth his connection with Aleriden Farm ceases ; he died Oct. 31, 1717. 

And now enters a character, the most famous in our early annals. In his day 
the most distinguished of the sons of New England ; charming in his manners, 
delightfid in his vanity ; picturesque in his lordly way of dispensing hospitality 
and alwa}s conscious that he was his majesty's most imposing representative in 
these i'uritan commonwealths. 




(Fat'simile of signature taken from document in possession of writer.) 

son of Captain Andrew and Sarah (Gilbert) Belcher, w^as born in Boston Jan. 8, 
1682-3. He graduated at Harvard college in the class of 1699 and then spent 
some time in traveling in England and on the continent to prepare himself for 
the large inheritance his father was to leave him. He had an honorable reception 
at the Court of the Elector of Hanover and that of St. James in England. Re- 
turning home he followed in his father's steps as merchant, representative in the 
General Court of jMassachusetts and member of the Council. In person he was 
graceful and attractive ; he had a cheerful countenance, a hearty voice, a demon- 
strative gesticulation and an habitually afifable address ; altogether he was a man 
of society and of the world. ^ An heir to a large fortune, he had been accvistomed 
to dispense it in ways to draw attention and give him consequence. His acquaint- 
ance with Connecticut people was wide and in 1729 he acted as agent for this 
colony in England. While there he threw out intimations in high quarters that 
the view he once held regarding the king's prerogative had undergone a change.^ 
Returning he was appointed royal governor of Massachusetts, which position he 
held until 1741. His administration, while considered by some a fairly good one, 
has ])een accused by others as honeycombed by political corruption. He had the 
usual troubles with the colonial court ; and his character, prone to small resentments 
and foolishly irritable, did not tend to smooth matters. He was not troubled like 
his differently constituted and differently trained predecessor by pride and obsti- 
nacy abouts points of honor. He loved intrigue and underhanded methods. 

1 Palfrey's Hist, of X. E., Vol. IV., p. .530. 

2 Nar. and Crit, Kist. of Am.. Vol. V., pp. l.'il-1.32. 



EARLY lIISrOKV. 25 

The wavs of thinking' of liis early training' kept their hold on his experienced mind. 
He hrougiit into politics some habits of trade. When finally removed from his 
position in 1741 he was appointed governor of New Jersey, where he governed 
with success and satisfaction to himself and the people for sixteen years. The 
following anecdote illustrates the governor's vanity to perfection. He lived in 
grand style in a mansion he had built at Milton, Mass., which was surrounded 
by large grounds, modelled on the style of an English estate ; and he had many 




GOVERNOR BELCHER.i 

servants and equipages. In laying out the avenue to his proposed mansion he 
told his architect that he wished it executed with such precision "that friends and 
visitors on their first entrance upon the avenue nfight see the gleaming of his 
gold kneebuckles as he stood on the distant piazza." This house was burned 
in 1776. Governor Belcher, as stated before, acquired the title to ]\Ieriden Earm 
< )ct. 21, 1707. Eor some years his ownership left no impress on our records. But 
he doubtless was familiar with the property and frequently visited it for his ac- 
quaintance with people in central Connecticut was considerable. He kept a book 
in which were preserved drafts of all his letters so that we have a record of a 
great deal of his correspondence which has been printed in the Massachusetts 
Historical Society collections. It has already been stated that the elder I'elcher 
was probably induced to buy iMeriden Earm by the alluring prospect of hidden 



1 This cut taken from Memorial History of Boston follows a portrait painted in 1729 by Leopold!. It 
hangs in the gallery of Mass. Hist. Soc. 



26 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Stores of copper and other minerals in the rocky sides of the nearby hills and had 
left the still visible traces of diligent prospecting at different points. But in 1712 
there ap])cars in the records of the General Court^ the first positive evidence that 
the Belcher family had at last discovered sufficient traces of this hidden wealth 
to warrant an actual investment of pounds, shillings and pence to bring it forth 
to the light of day, and from that time on for many years Jonathan Belcher and 
his partners poured forth a steady stream of good colonial money in the vain 
endeavor to mine copper in sufficient quantities to make the investment a profitable 
one. In the western parts of Wallingford and in Granby the mines were located 
and miners were imported from Germany and other places. Not only was Jon- 
athan Belcher a loser in these ventures but the craze infected all classes and the 
records of Wallingford abound in mining leases to men and w^omen in Boston, 
New York and Wallingford. Some were ruined and lost their all in this mad hunt 
for wealth, among others Adam Winthrop, a great-grandson of the first governor 
of Massachusetts. The venture was an unfortunate one for Governor Belcher, and 
his losses were very large for the operations were carried on for many years. But 
this is not the place to tell the story of copper mining in Connecticut. Governor 
Belcher muet have spent much time at his Meriden Farm during the copper min- 
ing venture, for his correspondence book contains many items relating to people 
m this part of Connecticut. In the year 1720 he placed Eleazer Aspinwall, of 
Brookline, Mass., in charge of his Meriden Farm and thereafter there are con- 
stant references to this farm. Aspinwall, doubtless, kept up the tavern or inn 
and gained what income he could from the soil and paid a rental to the owner 
and so far as we know this arrangement was satisfactory to Mr. Belcher and the 
relation between landlord and tenant was harmonious for many years. But in 
the year 173 1 Mr. Belcher was appointed royal governor of Massachusetts and 
naturally his interest in the far away Connecticut farm began to wane. To add 
to his dissatisfaction the copper mining ventures had proved anything but profita- 
ble. He wrote in 1735 that during about twenty-three years he had disbursed 
upwards of fifteen thousand pounds in this vain quest.- Added to this ^Ir. Aspin- 
wall had become dilatory in paying his rent. Altogether the governor thought it 
high time to dispose of his Meriden Farm. From 1731 to 1735 we find in his 
draft book various letters to Rev. Elisha Williams, rector of Yale college. Rev. 
Samuel Wliittlesey of Wallingford, Joseph Pitkin of Hartford and Rev. Ebenezer 
Williams of Pomfret. All these letters betray great anxiety to sell Meriden 
Farm and the last one of the series says, 'T am content to sell my Meriden Farme 
if you can meet a chap that will give a reasonable price and pay the money down 
when I execute the deed." In Oct., 1732, he sent his son, Andrew, to Connecti- 



1 Col. Records Conn.. Vol. \., pp. 323 and 455. 

2 Phelps Hist, of Simsbury, Granby and Canton, p. 115. 



EARLY HISTORY. 2/ 

cut to look after his interests there and his letters to Aspinwall about his unpaid 
rent became quite peremptory. Whether it was ever paid we do not know, but the 
disgust of the governor now became so great that he determined to get rid of 
the farm at any cost and the only victim he seems to have been able to find was 
his son, Andrew ; perhaps on the theory that adversity is a good teacher and that 
if his son could make an income out of the farm he would acquire a talent and 
genius for business that would make him a rival to his grandfather. Governor 
Belcher during his ownership had spent much money on the farm, and had evi- 
dently tried to make it an attractive "Manor." The pond which now spreads 
over seventy-five acres of its meadows, due to the dam built by the Hartford Ice 
Company, had a predecessor, for the governor during the days of his pride in 
the estate had also built one about three hundred feet north of the present 
one and the remains of this old dam now shaded by lordly old oaks and hickories 
are very easily traced.^ On a recent summer day the writer followed the brook 
as it wanders through the meadows, murmuring and gurgling as it did in the days 
of the beavers and the aristocratic old governor. He paused at the gap between 
high banks where his excellency had once caused the dike to be built, and he sud- 
denly found himself confronted by four genuine knights of the road. Three were 
fast asleep on the grassy bank, their dirty and peaceful faces shaded by the sun- 
flecked shadows cast by a sturdy old oak. The fourth, wide awake, and absorbed 
in a copy of the New York Journal, looked up and asked "looking for anything, 
boss." "Yes," was the answer, "a dam that used to be here." "Well, boss," said 
the tramp, "this has been one of our resting places for fifteen years and I never 
seen no dam here." He proved to be a philosophical knight for after a short 
talk he said, "purty here, isn't it, and handy to the railroad? I'm better off than 
you, boss, for you want to stay and have got to go, but I can stay until I'm tired 
of it and then go to another place just as purty." A parting glimpse from a dis- 
tance showed the tramp busy hanging a can of water over a fire, preparing a re- 
past of one knows not what concoction. We have followed the career of the gov- 
ernor through many years and it would not be displaying proper respect to leave 
him here. A few brief facts will be added to this sketch and then we will say 
good bye to him when he enters "the undiscover'd country from whose bourne no 
traveler returns." He was twice married ; first to Alary, the daughter of Gov- 
ernor Partridge, of New Hampshire. She died in 1736, and her funeral was on 
so magnificent a scale that the streets and housetops were packed with sight- 
seers as the cortege passed through the streets of Boston. His second wife was 
a Miss Teal, of New Jersey. Of his children, it is only necessary to mention 
two — Andrew, to whom Meriden Farm was deeded, and Jonathan. Jr., who be- 



1 Farmington Records Aug. 17, 1714 : Samuel Newell sold to Jonathan Belcher the right to drown 
or flood his lands by any dam or dams not exceeding 12 foot high from bottom of work. 



28 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

came Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. They were both the cause of much 
anno}-ance to their father on account of their idleness and extravagance. Andrew, 
in particular, did not aspire to the rank which his father's ambition had marked 
out for him. The event in his life which is most interesting to us is that when 
Bishop Berkeley sent his library to Yale college in 1733, the gift was consigned 
to Andrew Belcher.^ The governor died Aug. 31, 1757, at Elizabethtown, N. J. 
We learn from the Boston Nczcs Letter of Dec. i, 1757, "The corpse of his excel- 
lency, Jonathan Belcher, Esq., late Gov. of New Jersey, was brought hither last 
week from New York and deposited in a new tomb built for that purpose at Cam- 
bridge agreeable to the desire of his Excell'y before his death." In a funeral 
sermon preached by Rev. Aaron Burr, president of the college of New Jersey, it 
is stated, "His father was the Famous Andrew B., Lst]., one of his Majesty's Coun- 
cil in the Province of Mass. Bay, justly esteemed an ornament and blessing to his 
country. (The Governor's) excellent endowments of mind (learning and travel) 
were set off by a peculiar beauty and gracefulness of person, in which he was 
excelled b}' no man of his day. There was a dignity in his mien and deportment 
which commanded respect. This joined with the frank, open and generous man- 
ner in which he treated his friends, his polite and easy behaviour towards strangers 
rendered him the delight of the one and the admiration of the other. The schol- 
ar, the accomplished gentleman and the true Christian were seldom ever more 
hap])ily and thoroughly united than in him." Gov. Hutchinson, in his History 
of Massachusetts, states that Belcher was the victim of political intrigues while 
governor of that province and his view of his character does not at all agree with 
the slurring remarks of more modern historians. On the W'allingford land rec- 
ords^ under date June 9, 1741, Andrew Belcher, of Boston, sold to Jedediah Nor- 
ton and John Yale of Wallingford for £1950 "all that tract of land contain- 
ing by estimation 670 acres, being that part of Meriden Farm, so called, lying 
westof the Country Road leading from Hartford to New Haven." To this day much 
of the old farm still remains in the hands of the Yale and Norton families. On 
March 4, 1742, Andrew Belcher sold to Samuel Peck, Nathaniel Edwards and 
Zebulon Peck, all of Middletown for £1925, "all that farm of land called 
Meriden, lying eastward of Country Road and containing 350 acres, bounded 
easterly on top of Lamentation Mt.," etc.^ Thus came to an end all connection 
•of the Belcher family with our Meriden Farm ; a connection so noteworthy that 
to this day the property is still frequently called the Belcher Farm. 

Since the foregoing chapter was put in print the writer has gained some addi- 
tional information relative to Meriden Farm, which he thinks of sufficient im- 
portance to add in the form of a note or appendix. 



1 N. H. Col. Hist. Soc. Collections, Vol. I., p. 162. 

2 Wallingford Land Records, Vol. IX., pp. 18-19. 
•3 Idem, pp. 30-31. 



EARLY HISTORY. 29 

A careful study of the Wallingford records has couvinced hiui that the 
southern boundary of the farm extended to the road or laneway running west 
from the old Eh Way place on X'orth Colony road, now owned by Mr. E. H. 
Higginson. This road was the ancient highway to Kensington, which has al- 
ready been described. It is full}- a quarter of a mile south of what the writer 
had previously believed to be the southern boundary of the farm. 

From ]\Irs. Hiram Richmond (a daughter of Selden JMerriam and grand- 
daughter of Sidney Alerriam who came into possession of the tavern or inn and 
many acres adjoining about the year 1812) has been gained the fact, that in 1833 
the old building was moved to the rear for a wood shed and carriage house, and 
the present house was erected on the ancient site, now occupied by Air. 
-Michaelis. Between this house and that of Mrs. E. H. Yale to the north, stood 
what Airs. Richmond had supposed was a stone fort which disappeared long be- 
fore the Alerriams accjuired the property. The reason for believing this building 
to have been a fort was the existence of subterranean stone chambers in the rear 
that were called powder magazines, which were filled in probably fifty years since. 
This old stone building was doubtless erected for purposes of defense and was 
really a fort, but it must have had the general outlines of a house for the old rec- 
ords refer to the old building as "stone house." The entries relating to stone 
house farm are many and are always used in connection with this particular part 
of Meriden or Belcher Farm. Had the building been in shape like a fort the rec- 
ords would have called it stone fort farm. 

Nearly sixty years ago, the late Henry S. Wilcox, then a boy of ten, wrote a 
composition on the early history of Meriden. There was no history of the town 
then in existence. There are so many early dates and facts given in this article 
that are corroborated by recent examination of the early records that there is 
the strongest evidence that the boy got his data from some one who knew many 
facts long since forgotten, and who had seen the old stone house. From this 
boy's composition, we learn that the building was well constructed to withstand 
an Indian attack, for the door was filled so full of spikes that a bullet could not 
be shot through it, and instead of windows there were port holes, through which 
one inside could use his rifle with deadly eflrect. 

The probable ex})lanation of this stone house seems to the writer to be this: 
viz, that the building was erected during the troublous times of 1675 and 1676 
when all Xew England was in great apprehension on account of the war of ex- 
termination begun b}- the Indians, \vhich is commonly called King I'hilips ^\'ar. 
Wallingford was so alarmed b\' the outlook that armed guards or pickets were 
constantly maintained and the village fortified, ^\'hat more natural than that 
the owner or occujiant of a farm un])rotecte(l and alone in the wilderness, should 
erect a stone Imilding adjoining his ordinar\- hal)itation. for refuge is case of last 



30 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



resort? It was doubtless built hastily, and therefore did not last as long as the 
wooden building adjoining, built much more leisurely. This wooden house was 
very old when removed to the rear and has long since disappeared ; it was prob- 
ably the building erected by Mr. Gilbert when the farm was granted to him in 
i66i, and was consequently 172 years old when abandoned as a dwelling. 




(Facsimile of book plate used by Andrew Belcher, Sr. 
From original in possession of writer.) 



EARLY HISTORY. 3 1 



CHAPTER III. 

Copies of land deeds and documents relating to the purchase of lands to the 
northward showing the basis for the statement that the planters of New Haven 
made purchases of land from the Indians extending from New Haven harbor 
northwardly as far as the junction of Kensington avenue and Colony street or one 
mile north of where Colony street crosses Pilgrims' Harbor brook. 

INDIAN DEEDS 

OF 

THE PLANTATION OF NEW HAVEN. 

Articles of agreement betweene Theophilus Eaton & John Davenport & others, 
English planters att Quinopiocke on the one partye & Momaugin y® Indian Sa- 
chem of Quinopiocke & Sugcogisin, Quesaquauch, Caroughood, Wesaucucke, & 
others of his counsell on the other partye, made & concluded the 24^^^ of Novem- 
b^ 1638. Thomas Stanton being interpreter. 

That hee y® s*^ sachem, his counsell & company doe jointly profess, affirme & 
coven*^, [th]at he y® s*^^ Momaugin is the sole sachem of Quinopiocke, & hath an 
absolute and independant power to give, alien, dispose or sell, all or any part of 
the lands in Quinopiocke, & that though he have a son now absent, yet neither 
his s'^ son, nor any other pson whatsoever hath any right title or interest in any 
part of the s*^ lands, soe that whatsoever he, y® forenamed sachem, his counsell 
& y® rest of y® Indians present doe & conclude, shall stand firme & inviolable 
against all claimes & psons whatsoever. — 

Secondly y® s*^ sachem, his counsell & company, amongst which there was a 
squaw sachem called Shampishuh sister to y® sachem, whoe either had or p^'tend- 
ed some interest in some part of y® land, remembring and acknowledging the 
heavy taxes & eminent dangers w^'^ they lately felt & feared from y® Pequotts, 
Mohaucks & other Indians, in regard of which they durst not stay in their country, 
but were forced to fiie, & to seeke shelter under the English at Conecticutt, and ob- 
serving y® safety & ease y*^ other Indians enjoy neare y® English, of which benefitt 
they have had a comfortable tast already since the English began to build & plant 
at Quinopiocke, which w^^ all thankfullnes they now acknowledged. They jointly 
& freely gave & yeilded up all y'' right, title & interest to all y® land, rivers & 



32 



A CENTURY OF INIERIDEX. 



ponds, trees with all >'=' libertyes & appurtenances belonging unto y^ same in 
Ouinopiocke to y® utmost of their bounds East, West, Xorth, South unto Theophi- 
lus Eaton, John Davenport & others, the p^'sent English planters there, & to their 
heires & assignes for ever, desiring from y"^ _\-® s^^ English planters to receive 
such a portion of ground on the East side of the Harbour towards y^ fort at 
v*^ mouth of y^ river of Conecticott as might be sufficient for them, being but 
few in number, to plant in ; and yet within these limitts to be hereafter assigned 
to them, they did coven* & freely yeild up unto y® s^^ English all the meadow 
ground being therein, with full liberty to chuse & cut downe what timber they 
please, for any use whatsoever, without any question, licence or consent to be 
asked from them y® s*^^ Indians, and if, after their portion & place be limited & 
set out by the English as above, they y® s*^ Indians shall desire to remove to any 
other place within Ouinopiocke bounds, but wntliout y^ limitts assigned them, 
that thev doe it not without leave, neither setting up any wigwam, nor breaking 
up any ground to plant corne, till first it be sett [ou]t & appointed by y® fore- 
named English planters for them. 

Thirdly y*^ s*^^ sachem, his counsell & company desireing liberty to hunt & 
fish [withi|n the bounds of Ouinopiocke now given and graunted to the English 
as before, doe [hereby] jo[in]tly coven* & bind themselves to sett noe traps neare 
any place where y*^ [ ] whether horses, [ox] en, kine, calves, sheep, goates, 

hoggs or any sort [ 



to take] any fish out of any ware belonging to any English, nor to doe any thing 
neare any such ware as to dis[turb] or affright away any fish to y® p^judice of 
such ware or wares; & that upon discovery of any inconveni[en]cy growing to 
y® English by the Indians disorderly hunting, their hunting shalbe regulated and 
limited for the p^'venting of any inconvenience, & yet with as litle damage to y® 
Indians in their himtiiig as ma}' be. 

I'^jurthly, y'^ s*^ sachem, his counsell & company doe hereby covenant and bind 
themselves y* none of them shall henceforth hanker about any of y*^ English 
houses at any time when the English use to meete about the publique worship of 
God ; nor on ye Lords day henceforward bee scene within y® compass of y*^ English 
towne, beareing any burdens, or oft'ring to truck with y® English for any comodity 
whatsoever, & y* none of y"^ henceforward without leave, open any latch belonging 
to any English mens dore, nor stay in any English house after w^arneing that he 
should leave the same, nor doe any violence, wrong, or injury to y*^ pson of y® 
English whether man, Avoman, or child, upon any p^'tence whatsoever, and if the 
English of this i)lantation, by y'^selves or cattle, doe any wrong or damage to 
y® Indians, upon complaint, just recompence shalbe made by y® English ; and y* 



EARLY HISTORY. 33 

none of y"^ henceforward use or take any English mans boate or canoe of what 
kind soever, from y® place where it was fastened or layd, without leave from the 
owner first had & obtayned, nor y*^ they come into y® English towne w*^'^ bowes 
& arrowes. or any other weapons whatsoever in number above 6 Ind3'ans soe armed 
at a time. 

B'ifthly y*^ s'^ sachem, his counsell & company doe truly covenant & bind 
v'^selves y*^ if any of y'^ shall hereafter kill or hurt any English cattle of w*^ sort 
soever, though casually or negligently, they shall give full satisfaction for the loss 
or damage as the English shall judge equall, But if any of y"^ for any respect, 
wilfully doe kill or hurt any of the English cattle, upon proofe they shall pay y® 
double valew. And if, at anytime, any of them find any of the English cattle 
-t raying or lost in the woods, they shall bring them backe to the English planta- 
tion, & a moderate price or recompence shalbe allowed for their paynes. provided, 
if it can be proved y* any of y"^ drove away an-*' of y® English cattle wheresoever 
they find them, further from y® English plantation to make an incre[ase] or ad- 
vantage, or recompence for his paynes finding or bringing y"^ back, they shall in 
any such case pay damages for such dealings. 

Sixthly, the number of y® Quinopyocke Indyans, me[n] or youth growne to 
stature fit for service being forty seven at p^'sent, they doe covenant and bind 
y'^selves not to receive, or admitt any other Indians amongst them without leave 
first had & obtayned from y® English, & that they will not, at any time hereafter, 
entertaine or harbo^' any that are enemies to y® English, but will p^sently ap^'hend 
such & deliver y'" to y® English, and if they know or heare of any plott by ye In- 
dyans or others against y® English they will forthwith discover & make y® same 
knowne to y™, & in case they doe not, to be accounted as partyes in y® plott, and 
to be proceeded against as such. 

Lastly y® s*^ sachem, his counsell & company doe hereby promise truly & care- 
fully to observe & keepe all & every one of these articles of agreem*, & if any 
of y'" ofifend in any of y® p^'misses, they jointly hereby subject & submitt such of- 
fendo'' or offender's to y® consideration, censure & punishm* of the English mages- 
trate or officers appointed among them for government without expecting y*^ y® 
English should first advise with y"^ about it, yet in any such case of punishm'^ 
if the s^ sachem shall desire to know the reason & equity of such pceedings, hee 
shall truly be informed of the same. 

The former article being read & interp'"ted to y"^, they by way of exposition 
desired v* in v® sixth article it might be added, that if anv of the English cattle 
be killed or hurt casually, or negligently, & proofe made it was done by some 
of the Quinopiock Indyans, they will make satisfaction, or if done by any other 
Indyans in their sight, if they doe not discover it, & if able to bring y® offendo'" 
til y^ English they wilbe accounted & dealt with as guilty. 
3 



34 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



In consideration of all which, they desire from y^ English, that if at any time 
hereafter they be affrighted in their dwellings assigned by the English unto y^ 
as before, they may repayre to the English plantation for shelter, & that y® Eng- 
lish will therein a just cause endeavo^ to defend y™ from wronge, But in any 
quarrell or warres which the}- shall undertake, or have w^'^ other Indyans, upon 
any occasion w^soever they will manage their affaires by y™selves with(3ut ex- 
pecting any ayd from the English. 

And the English planters before mentioned accepting and graunting according 
to V® tenor of the p'mises, doe further of their owne accord, by way of free & 
thankefull retribution, give in [to] y® s*^ sachem, counsell & company of y® Ouin- 
opiocke Indians, twelve coats of Eng'lish trucking cloath, twelve alcumy spoones, 
twelve hatchetts, twelve hoes, two dozen of knives, twelve porengers & foure 
cases of French knives and sizers ; All which being thankfully accepted by y® 
afores*^ & y® agreements in all points perfected ; for rattification & full confirma- 
tion of the same, the Sachem, his counsell & sister, to these p''sents have sett to 
their hands or markes \'® dav & vear above written. 



Momaugin 



Siigcogisin 



Quesaqtiatisli 




his marke. 



Carroiighood 
Weesaucuck 



his marke. 
his mark 



Sliiuinipisluih 



her 
marke 



I, Thomas Stanton, being interpreter in this treaty, doe hereby profess in y® 
p^sence of God, y*^ I have fully ac(|uainted the Indyans with y® substance of every 
article, & truly returned their answer & consent to the same, according to y® ten- 
no'' of the foregoing writeing, the truth of which, if lawfully called, I shall read- 
ily confirme by my oath at any time. 

Thomas Stanton. 



EARLY HISTORY. 35 

Articles of agreem* betwixt Theophiliis Eaton, John Davenport, & sundry oth- 
er EngHsh planters at Ouinnypiock on y*^ one part, and Mantowese sonne of an 
Indvan sachem liveing att Mattabezeck, and nephew to Sequin on y® other part, 
made & concluded the ii^^'' day of Decenib^' 1638. 

First y® s*^ JMantowese in p^'sence & w^'^ allowance and consent of Sawseunck an 
Indyan w'^'^ came in company w*^'^ him, doth profess, affirme and covenant, to & 
^yth ye gd Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport & others above, that y® land on 
both sides the river of Quinnypiock from y® Northerly bounds ofy® land lately 
purchased by the s^ English of y® Quinnypiock Indyans, namely from y*^ pond in 
y^ great meadow, about two miles above y® great hill, to y® head of y® river at 
y® great playne toward y® plantations settled by y*^ English upon y® river of Quin- 
tecutt Southerly, wdiich is about tenn miles in length from north to south, the 
bounds of which land run alsoe eight miles easterly from y® river of Ouinnypiock 
toward y® river of Ouintecutt, and five miles westerly towards Hudsons river, doth 
truely & solely belong to him y® s^ Mantowese in right of his deceased mother, to 
whom y® s*^^ land did appertaine, & from whom it justly descends upon him as his 
inheritance, soe y^ he hath an absolute & independant power to give, alien, dispose 
or sell all or any part of y® s^ land, as he shall think good ; and y^ neither his s*^ 
father, or any other pson whatsoever, have any right, title or interest in any part 
of y® land described and limited as above, whereby he or any other may here- 
after justl}' question what y® s^ Mantowese now doth, or lay any clayme to any 
part of y® s*^ land now disposed of by him. 

Secondly the s*^ Mantowese being fully acquainted w^^^ y® agreem^^ lately 
passed betwixt y® s*^ English planters & y® sachem of Ouinnypiock, his counsell 
& company, did freely, of his o^vne accord, upon full tS: serious deliberation, give, 
grant and yeild up all right, title and interest to all y® land mentioned and bound- 
ed as above, with all the rivers, ponds, trees, and all liberties and appurtenances 
whatsoever belonging to y® same, to the s*^ Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport 
and other English planters att Quinnypiock, and to their heyres & assignes for 
ever, desireing from them, the s*^ English planters, to receive such a small portion 
of land b_\- the rivers side about two miles l)eyond y^ tree over }'' rivtr, in the pas- 
sage from hence towards y® townes at Ouintecutt, as may be sufficient for his 
small company, being but tenn men in number, besides women and children, w'^^ 
portion of land they desire may hereafter, upon a view, be assigned, appointed 
and limited unto them by y^ s^ English planters, rcscrveing alsoe lo himselfe and 
his forenanied company, liberty in fitt seasons & due manner without p''udice to 
y^ English, to hunt, & fish & kill beaver, yet therein alsoe to be regulated by y® 
s*^ English upon discovery of any annoxance. as the Ouinn_\]Mock lnd\;iiis are in 
that case. 

Lastly, the said Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport (Jv:c accepting frnm Manto- 
wese this free gift of his hand as above, doe by way of thankful) retributiou, give 



36 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

unto him eleven coates made of trucking cloth, and one coate for himselfe of Eng- 
lish cloth, made up after the English maner, w^^^ being thankfully accepted by the 
s*^ Mantowese, and the agreements in all points pfected, for ratification, and full 
confirmation of y® same, Mantowese and Sawseunck have hereunto sett their 
hands or markes the dav and vear before written. 



Mantowese ^ 11 lus mrke 




Sawseunck I his mrke 



I, John Clarke, being interpreter in this treatie, doe hereby professe in the 
p^'sence of God that I have fully acquainted the Indyans with the substance of 
every article, to y® w°^^ they have freely agreed, that is to say y* Mantowese have 
given to Mr. Davenport & Mr. Eaton all his land w*^^^ he had by his deceased 
mother, w*^'^ he saith is from y® head of y® great playne to the pond w°^ he professe 
to be his, & promise to make it good to o'' English, & for this hee is satisfyed with 
twelve coats, onely reserve a piece of land by the river for his men which are 10 
and many squaws, to plant in, & when o'' cowes come there what harme their 
doggs doe to o^ cattle, they will satisfye for, and we for what harme o^ hoggs doe 
to them in corne, & as for hunting & fishing, to be free to them as o^'selves, pro- 
vided o"" cattle suffer not by them, & with these particulars they are acquainted, 
& doe freely consent to them, as their marke wittness, the truth of which, if law- 
fully called, I shall readily confirme by my oath at any time. 

per me John Clarke 

We Robert Coggswell, Roger Knapp and James Love, doe hereby renounce all 
right to any & every part of the forementioned land. 



"Wittnes our hands .hereunto 

James Love 



Robert Coggswell 



Roger Knapp ^J his mrke. 



? 



EARLY HISTORY. 37 

Letter from Rev. John Davenport of New Haven Colony to John Winthrop, Jr.,i 

of Connecticut Colony. 

To the Right Worshipfull John Winthrop, Esq''., Governonr of Connectacute, 
these present at Hartford 

Honoured Sir — Scio sapiunt Phryges.- If I had as wel used my Upovoia 3 in 
preparing a letter as T was dilligent in harkening after opportunities for transmit- 
ting it, I had not bene thus surprized, before I had begun my letter. Brother 
Benham just now tells me that his companie is gone before: & he is going to 
Hartford. I blame him for not letting me know last night, but in vaine ; yet I 
urge his stay a very little, that I may write these few lines, while he is buisied 
about making up your Curtaines which had bene with you before now if my wife 
could have procured him or John Thomas to have carryed them. I hope you 
will now receive them by him. Concerning the matter of the Indians, I hope 
Mr. Gilbert hath or will give you a cleare account. If the Indians you are pleased 
to mention should revenge themselves upon ours they will greatly wrong the in- 
nocent: for our Indians had no hand in that buisencs nor have spoken the least 
word for ought I can learne, to animate our men to what is done. And that which 
it seemes bro. Yale & bro. Cooper have spoken to your Indians, I never knew nor 
heard of but by your letter. Nor will there be anything done by any of ours to 
hinder your Indians in theyre hunting. But for the purchase it was made above 
20 yeares past, without any seeking, on our part upon an offer made to our then 
Governour & Co. It was of Mantoweeze that the land was bought, whereby N. 
H. bounds extended neare unto the Cold Spring beyond Pilgrims Harbour. But 
of these things if you desire it our Governour will give you full intelligence 
when he shall be able, which I hope will be shortly, for the wrightings of that 
transaction are in his hands. 

Aly selfe wife and son present our affectionate salutacions to yours. I rest 

Yours exceedingly obliged 

John Davenporte 
New Haven the 30th day of the 8th m. 1660. 

This letter shows that New Haven, in Mr. Davenport's opinion, had bought 
of the Indians, land extending north of Pilgrims' Harbor as far as Cold Spring. 

In Volume I. relating to colonial lands and on file in the office of the secretary 
of state in the capitol at Hartford is a deed from the Indians to the proprietors 

1 Mass. Hist. Society Col., 4th Series, Vol. VII., pp. 517-519. 

2 Equivalent to our saying "a Yankee's wit comes too late." 

3 Forethought. 



38 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

and inhabitants of Wallingford, dated May 24, 1681, a full copy of which ap- 
pears in Dr. Davis' History of Wallingford and Meriden, p. 27. Only a portion 
of this deed is here given, which shows that an Indian deed had been executed in 
1645 extending the grant of 1638 ten miles farther to the north. 

Wheras our predecessors Mantowese Sachem in the year 1638, December the 
eleventh, by a general deed of grant alienated, enfeoffed and sold a tract of land 
to Theophilus Eaton Esq^"., Mr, John Davenporte minister & to other English 
planters of Quinipyog alias New Haven as by an instrument at large doth ap- 
peare, alsoe by a second Grant as by an instrument dated in the year 1645 in the 
moneth May of the sayd year renewed the former grant and tract of Land to run 
from a great pond in New Haven east meadow twenty miles North & to be thir- 
teen miles in breadth East: & West which sayd tract of land was made over unto 
Theophilus Eaton Esq"" & Mr. Stephen Goodyear & Mr. Thomas Gregson Gen- 
tillman, of the aforesayd New Haven" etc., etc. 

This deed of 1645 is probably not now in existence as a very diligent search 
has failed to reveal its whereabouts. The great pond in New Haven East Mead- 
ow is of course Lake Saltonstall and twenty miles north from the "great pond" 
would more than cover the statement of Rev. John Davenport that New Haven 
had purchased of the Indians land extending "neare unto the Cold Spring be- 
yond Pilgrims' Harbour." 

In the Connecticut State Library in the Capitol at Hartford are preserved 
many manuscript documents. Among these archives in Vol. IV., Document 66, 
of "Towns and Lands," in a petition dated October 10, 1722, and signed by sev- 
eral of the inhabitants of Wallingford, praying" to the general court for relief 
in a certain land dispute and controversy, occurs this passage : "Humbly Shew- 
eth That whereas there was a purchase of Land obtained by y® ancient Proprie- 
tors of New Haven in y® year 1638; of one Mantuese an Indian Sachem w"^^^ pur- 
chase extended northward even beyond y® northermost bound of y* w*^ is now y® 
Township of Wallingford ; and Livery of Seisin was made to y® Gentlemen of 
New Haven by y® s^ Indian Sachem of this Tract of Land being eight miles from 
N haven East River eastward and extending into y® north to a certain tree marked 
by y^ said Indian sachem (w° tree is about a mile north of Pilgrims harbour.)" 

Pilgrims Harbour was a territory of considerable extent and deeds early in the 
i8th century locate lands fully half a mile north of where South Colony St. crosses 
Harbor brook (just east of the office of Lyon & Billard Co.) as in Pilgrims Har- 
bor. If the territory was indicated in the above petition rather than the ford or 
crossing, then New Haven's purchase of the Indians must have extended to a 
point a little distance north of where Colony street is crossed by the Meriden, 
Waterbury and Connecticut River railroad. 



EARLY HISTORY. 39 

A few words as to the extent of the territory called by the name of ^leriden. 
.Mr. Alfred Andrews in his Genealogy and Ecclesiastical History of New Britain^ 
j-ays : "This locality at the the 'south eastern boundary of tifarmington' called 
above 'Great Swamp' had an early English name, which seems to have been aban- 
doned for this .of 'Great Swamp,' viz. jMeridun, Meridan or Meridon, a name 
finally given 1725 to the present town of Meriden to take the place of 'Pilgrims 
Harbor.' But to settle the question of the old name to this locality I quote from 
a deed of Captain Daniel Clark, of Windsor, to Jonathan Gilbert, dated 22 April, 
1672, of 300 acres of land (forty of which was to be meadow, by grant of the 
colony to S*^ Clark) lying, situate, and laid out at a place called Moridan where 
Jonathan Gilbert's farm is & bounded partly on the Alattabesick River where it 
may be allowed of the town of Farmington" "This deed is in possession of the 
Gilbert family living 1867 on the same farm said above to be owned by Jonathan 
Gilbert previous to 1644" (1664). 

Now this farm stated to be still in possession of the Gilbert family is about 
one mile northeast of the railroad station in Berlin on wdiat is known as Christian 
Lane. The very ancient brick house is still in existence, built probably by Eben- 
ezer, son of Jonathan Gilbert. The first church of Great Swamp parish was lo- 
cated several hundred feet south of it and this whole locality was known as Great 
Swamp parish. It is fully four miles north of Jonathan Gilbert's "Meriden 
Farm" as we know it. Had he been in possession of these two farms and the 
land between he would have owned several thousand acres in the vicinity when 
he died in 1682. The best judge of what he owned was Mr. Gilbert himself. In 
his will, dated 1674, he says, 'T give to my son Nathaniell Gilbert my farme at 
Meriden with all the houses and land thereto belonging, I give to my son Eben- 
ezer Gilbert & his heires forever all that three hundred acres of land I bought 
of Capt. Daniel Clark in Farmington Bownds with all priviledges thereunto be- 
longing & also that purchase of land I bought of Messaccup, commonly called 
& known by name of Pagon Chaumischaug."^ In the inventory the Meriden 
Farm is valued at £110 and Pagon Chaumischaug at £120. This shows that 
Mr. Gilbert owned two distinct and separate farms — one at or called Meriden, 
and the other on Christian Lane in Berlin where stands the brick house built 
by Ebenezer Gilbert and called by the Indian name. Mr. Andrews was misled by 
the fact that Daniel Clark was conveying two separate tracts of land in the same 
deed, into believing that both tracts were one and bore the name of iMeriden, 
and the luistake was a very natural one. 

That two separate and distinct tracts were granted to Daniel Clark is proved 
by the following extracts from the Colonial Records of Connecticut. On March 



1 Page 17. 

2 Dr. Trumbull was unable to give the meaning of these Indian words. 



40 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 

13, 1661-62 "There is granted to Secy Daniel Clark & John Moor the number 
of 400 acres of land upon y® forementioned ternies whereof 80 acres of meadow 
wch is to be divided between them and if it can not be found together they have 
liberty to seek it out severally." On Oct. 12, 1665, "The secretary hath granted 
unto him an augmentation to his former grant to y® sum of one hundred acres 
of upland and he hath liberty to take it up for his meadow the remainder 
of the meadow that is not taken up at Jonathan Gilbert's farme if it be there to 
be had with an hundred acres of upland adjoyening and the rest to make up his 
former grant at some place upon Mattabeseck River where he can find it free 
from those limitations inserted in his former grant." What Mr. Clark did was 
to take up 120 acres adjoining Mr. Gilbert's Meriden Farm and the balance else- 
where. This is proved by Farmington land records Vol. i, page 50, where it 
reads as follows : "Land .in Farmington belonging to Mr. Jonathan Gilbert & 
to his heires forever in y® jurisdiction of Conecticut and county of Hartford, 
viz. one p'sell which he bought of Captin Daniell Clark Lying and being about 
Cold spring in y® roade from Wethersfield to New Haven containing" sixe score 
acres butting p'tly on Mr. Gilbords owne land given him by y® country and p'tly 
on comon land to y® south, to y® east neare to the roade aforesaid & to y® west 
and the north on comon land." 

"One p'sell more contayning nighne^ score acres which was allso bought of 
Captin Daniell Clarke lying & being about the branches of Metabesit River butting 
to y® north p'tty on comon land & p'tty on p'ticuler lots. To y® south on p'ticuler 
mens lots and to y*^ west on p'ticuler lots now belonging to farmingtowne & to y® 
east on comon land belonging to Farniingtowne." 

That these tracts were not contiguous is proved by the boundaries. 

To put it in modern English,Mr. Gilbert bought of Sec'y Clark 120 acres 
which adjoined his Meriden farm near Cold Spring and 180 acres on the branches 
of the Mattabesitt River — a separate and distinct tract — making 300 acres in all, 
and all conveyed in the one deed which Mr. Andrews said was in the possession 
of the Gilbert family living in Christian Lane in 1867.2 This shows how the con- 
fusion or error arose of thinking that the name of Meriden was used to describe 
the territory afterwards called the Great Swamp. The words Cold Spring iden- 
tify the locality of the first or 120 acres for that name was used some time before 
the recorded use of Meriden to describe the territory within two or three miles 
of our famous spring near the poorhouse. In the deed quoted by Mr. 
Andrews the quantity of land conveyed was mentioned as 300 acres : On 
the Farmington records it is given as "sixe score acres" and "nighne 
score acres" ; exactly the same amount. The writer has deemed it wise 



1 Actual form of the word on the records. 

2 The Gilbert family live there no longer. 



EARLY HISTORY. 4I 

to i:iive this explanation because it cannot be other than an error to say 
that "Meriden" ever went wandering away up into Beriin. The error is 
repeated in the Memorial History of Hartford County,^ and Mr. Camp in his 
interesting work, the History of New Britain,^ says what is equivalent to the 
same thing. As a matter of fact, Capt. Belcher did not buy Meriden Farm of 
Mr. Gilbert, but of the Gilbert heirs on Sept. 6, 1686, when they sold him "Meri- 
den Farme being partly or all neere the comon roadway between Wethersfield 
and ^Vallingford, estimated at 350 acres." The deed is recorded in "Colony Rec- 
ords and Deeds" in Secretary of State's office. Curiously enough, the 120 acres 
adjoining, bought by Sec'y Clark went to Ebenezer Gilbert with Pagon Chaum.is- 
chaug and was sold to Capt. Belcher on June 18, 1700, by Ebenezer as "6 score 
acres being about the Cold Spring bounded partly on Belchers farm & commons 
on south, east neare the Road west & north on commons." In the Connecticut 
Colonial Records^ this distinction of the grants to Sec'y Clark being in two sep- 
arate places is specifically mentioned as "three hundred acres of land for the same 
use, to be taken up partly^ upon the branches of Mattabesitt River and partly 
upon the road from Wethersfield to New Haven at or neare a place called Cold 
Spring on the west side of a ridge of mountainous land comonly called or known 
by the name of the Lamentation Hills." Although it is not distinctly stated, it 
is probable that the 180 acres or "nighne" score acres adjoined the land called 
Pagon Chaumischaug bought by Mr. Gilbert of Messacup, lying in Christian 
Lane in the Great Swamp parish. 

Jonathan Gilbert, in the record just quoted, is also said to have acquired the 
"native (Indian) right of the land adjoining his 470 acres, amounting in the 
whole to one thousand acres." This must have been land east of the 470 acres 
and east of Colony road, for when Andrew Belcher was granted the land from the 
east side of the farm to the top of Lamentation ]\Iountain in 1703, it is stated 
as 280 acres only, whereas the land from the east side of Colony road to the top 
of mountain would have been considerably more than 280 acres. Lastly when 
the farm was sold by Andrew Belcher, Jr., in 1741-2, he conveyed 670 acres to Yale 
& Norton & 350 acres to Peck, Edwards & Peck, and the whole deed is of land in 
W'allingford bounds and is only recorded on Wallingford land records. 

1 Vol. II., pp. 278-279. 

2 p. 27. 

3 Vol. IV., p. 450. 

4 Italics are not in records. 



42 A CENTURY OF MF.RIDEX. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The origin of the name of IMeriden has for years been a subject of more or 
less interest to many of the residents of this town, and several theories have been 
advanced as to the derivation of the word. 

One hypothesis urged, and which seems to be accepted as satisfactory by many, 
is that the old tavern or inn situated in that part of the town which first bore the 
name was a place of so much carousing and merriment that the house soon be- 
came known as the "Merry-den," hence Meriden. This attempt to explain the 
name reminds one of the effort of the school boy to translate the first three words 
of Virgil's Aeneid, "Arma virumque cano," by the astounding rendering "Man 
with a dog in his arms." The boy was able to advance the argument that "Arma" 
means "arms," "virum" is a man, and "cano" is much like "canis," a dog. The 
advocates of this theory also show ignorance of the character of our first Con- 
necticut settlers. A very grave and austere people they were, and had they for 
one moment suspected that a house of entertainment of such repute was within 
their borders, they would have considered it as the headquarters of the Devil, 
and would have proceeded to demolish the house and drive the proprietor out of 
the colony. 

Again, it has been suggested that the name is a corruption of the word "Mer- 
idian." Some time ago one of our local papers printied an extract from Bradley's 
Register for the year 1847, reading as follows: 

"Its name (Meriden) is probably a corruption of the word Meridian, the town- 
ship being equidistant from the two semi-capitals, Hartford and Nev/ Haven — 
from Hartford seventeen miles and from New Haven seventeen miles." 

That meridian means "equidistant" is probably news to all our readers. As 
every one knows, meridian is an astronomical or geographical term ; but when 
used in a non-technical sense it indicates culmination. Moreover, the farm to 
which the name was first applied is not equidistant from Hartford and New Ha- 
ven ; it is about sixteen miles from the former city and twenty miles from the 
latter. This farm, now sometimes called the Belcher Farm, was granted to Jon- 
athan Gilbert, of Hartford, Aug. 28, 1661, and a full account of it has been given 
in a previous chapter. See pages 15-16. 

Just when the name of Meriden was applied to the locality, we do not know. 
The first recorded use of the name was in a deed of land to Edward Higbey, 
dated Oct. F4th, 1664, which has already been given in a previous chapter. It 



EARLY HISTORY. 43 

is a well known fact that almost every township name in New England was taken 
from England. Names of rivers, lakes, and mountains are frequently Indian in 
their origin ; but the names of settlements seldom have but one derivation, and 
that is the mother country of the colonists. Cotton Mather says : 

"For as there are few of our towns but what have their names sake in Eng- 
land, so the reason why most of our towns are called what they are is because 
the chief of the first inhabitants would thus bear up the names of the particular 
places there from wdience they came."^ 

Danbury, Norwich, Hartford, Windsor, Wallingford, Milford, Stratford, Dur- 
ham, and a host of others are all familiar names on the map of England. Meri- 
den also appears on the map of England. In the "History of Wallingford, Mer- 
iden and Cheshire,"^ it is stated : 

"There cannot be a shadow of a doubt but that Mr. Belcher gave the name, 
and that it was taken from Meriden, Warwickshire Co., England. In the parish 
church at Meriden in England are deposited the remains of the Belcher family 
for many generations. The resemblance of the valley in which our town is sit- 
uated, with the stone house or inn, with the town in England and other associa- 
tions doubtless suggested to him the propriety of giving the name to his tract." 

Dr. Perkins, in his Historical Sketches, also suggests the same derivation. 
And, indeed, the inference was a natural one, and without any other facts to guide 
one it would be reasonable to conclude that the matter was settled and that Meri- 
den was surely called after the village of the same name in Warwickshire, England. 

Unfortunately, however, the theory will not stand when a careful investiga- 
tion is made. In the first place, Mr. Belcher did not name the farm. At the time 
of the first recorded use of the name, viz. 1664, he was a boy, living in Cambridge, 
Mass., and it was not until 1670, at the age of 22, that he married Mr. Gilbert's 
daughter, Sarah, and not until 1682 or aft^r the death of Mr. Gilbert did he ac- 
quire an interest in Meriden Farm. Moreover, the Belcher family in c|uestion 
did not come from Aleriden in Warwickshire. The home of the family previous 
to emigration was in London and Danbury, Essex county.^ 

The writer has made a careful search in the parish register of Meriden in 
Warwickshire and not a name can be found in it similar to that of any one of our 
early settlers and there is not a Belcher buried in the parish church ; and there is 
no topographical similarity between our Meriden and the one in Warwickshire 
for the village over the water lies in a flat valley about half a mile wide with gently 
sloping hills around. It is embraced in the territory of the forest of Arden, fa- 
mous as one of the haunts of Robin Hood. 



1 Magnalia, Ed. 1820, Vol. I., p. 83. 

2 pp. 159-160. 

3 N. E. Hist, and Gen. Reg., Vol. XXVII., pp. 239-240. 



44 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

A few years ago, while reading a book called "England, Picturesque and De- 
scriptive," by Joel Cook, the following singular paragraph was noticed. Th( 
Parish Chur«Lh Register of Dorking, Surrey Co., among other curious entries 
records the christening in 1562 of a child, whose fate is stated in these words 

"Who, scoffing at thunder, standing under a beech was stroke to death, hi< 
clothes stinking with a sulphurous stench, being about the age of twenty year* 
or thereabouts, at Mereden House." 

Naturally, it was at once concluded that there must be a locality near Dorkins 
called "Mereden." A resort to the maps failed to show such a place, but latei 
a careful examination of a section of the ordinance survey of Surrey Co., Eng- 
land, with the aid of a strong reading glass, revealed a place about three mile; 
south of Dorking, called Meriden Farm. The coincidence was striking. Hen 
was the very name by which Mr. Gilbert's farm was known two hundred anc 
thirty years ago. This English farm is in the civil parish of Dorking, and lie; 
in a valley of the same name ; it is not a village. It was some time before an) 
definite information could be gained. A search through the pages of Manning 
& Bray's History of Surrey furnished the following" meagre facts. 

"In the Borough and A'Ianer(sic) of Westcote is a vale called Mereden, com- 
mencing between Cold Harbour and Boar Hills, in which is a Farm of the same 
name belonging to Abbotts Hospital in Guildford and in a wood or coppice belong- 
ing to this Farm is a spring called Meg's Well, the water of which is of greai 
beauty and uncommon coldness." 

The writer, when in London a few years ago, easily persuaded himself thai 
it ^vas a duty that he owed to his native town to go down to Dorking and see whai 
sort of a place Meriden Farm was. He had previously corresponded with a Mr 
Alfred Mitchell, in whose charge was the care of this farm, and so on a beautifu 
day in spring, when the hawthorn hedges were bursting into leaf and the tendei 
green of the English meadows was suffused with sunlight and bathed in a gentle 
haze, duty and inclination, assisted by the railway train, soon carried him over the 
twenty miles that separates Dorking and London, and placed him in the care oi 
Mr. Mitchell. The farm is a part of the large estate of Mr. Robert Barclay, i 
wealthy London brewer, and Wx. Mitchell, his father and grandfather have beer 
faithful stewards of the property of the Barclay family during nearly a hundrec 
years; and singularly enough his aunt, Mrs, Arrowsmith (since deceased) was 
an inmate of the Curtis Home in Meriden, Connecticut, and was born on Mr 
Barclay's estate. This fact and his natural courtesy led Mr. Mitchell to do every- 
thing in his power to assist to a thorough acquaintance with Meriden Farm, anc 
a tramp over the hills and through the vale to Cold Harbor just below, gave one r. 
fair knowledge of the lay of the land and the appearance of the country. The 
topography is very similar to the valley in which lies our ]\Ieriden Farm, only i1 



EARLY HISTORY. 45 

is on a smaller scale, and the hills are not so grand and rugged as Lamentation Mt. 
I and Hanging Hills. This valley in England is called by many the most beauti- 
ful in Surrey Co. It lies between parallel ranges of hills running north and 
■ south, that on the west rising gradually to an elevation of nearly one thousand 
feet. From its summit can be had a view over a beautiful country extending to 
I the sea twenty miles away. It is called Leith Hill. There are two stone cottages 
in the valley which is well wooded and now used as a game preserve. A mile to 
. the south beyond Leith Hill lies the hamlet of Cold Harbor. Less than a mile to 
the north lies Wotton House, a fine old estate once the home of John Evelyn, the 
celebrated botanist and diarist of the reign of Charles II. Here he passed many 
years of his life and one of his favorite walks was through Meriden Farm to the 
top of Leith Hill. The estate is still in possession of the Evelyn family. Near 
the entrance to the vale as one comes from Dorking is a small elegant mansion 
once the property of Daniel Malthus, and here was born and lived Thomas Robert 
Malthus, the scientific expounder of the principals of population, and frequently 
called Population Alalthus. In the woods on the side of the hill is a spring that 
is celebrated the country round on account of the great coldness of the water. 
It is called Meg's well, but this is a comparatively recent name as time is counted 
in England ; a century and a half ago it was one of the haunts of a witch-like 
J creature and many curious legends are told of the woman until like Noma in 
j Scott's Pirate the character of Meg is more mythical than real. The Vale of 
Meriden in Dorking cannot boast of a single historical event. During all the 
centuries it has rested in peaceful loveliness ; for a long time the farm was in 
the possession of Abbott's Hospital in Guildford, not many miles away, an endr^w- 
ment gift from Archbishop Abbott, who founded the institution. But about five 
years ago it was bought by Mr. Barclay whose estate quite surrounded it. Dork- 
'' ing itself has had nearly as quiet an existence as the Farm of Meriden and we 
should hardly know of it were it not for the peculiar breed of poultry with five 
claws which originated here, and that Dickens chose it as the scene of some of 
the adventures of the immortal Weller family. Here was located the "Markis of 
Granby" where Mr. Weller, Sr., lived and smoked his pipe and practiced patience, 
, while the "Shepherd" imbibed hot pineapple rum and water until Tony Weller 
I could stand it no longer and the Rev. Stiggins was ignominously kicked out and 
' ducked in the horse trough in front of the inn ; and here the father imparted to 
I Samivel the oracular information that "Vidth and Visdom alvays grows together." 
I About three miles beyond Cold Harbor lies the parish of Ockley. The Rev. Henry 
I Whitfield, who with his flock settled the town of Guilford, Conn., was from 1618 
to 1638 rector of this parish. He was, of course, a clergyman of the Church of 
England at that time, but he had pronounced Puritan sympathies that finally in- 
duced him to leave the church and join the great Puritan migration across the 



46 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

ocean. During his ministry in Ockley his home was a place of refuge for non- 
conformists in their trials and tribulations. The Rev. John Davenport of New- 
Haven, the Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Hartford, and others frequently found 
refuge in his rectory, ^ and two of Mr. Whitfield's parishioners in Ockley came 
with him to Guilford, Conn., and many of his flock in this country were from 
Surrey Co., England. With the many striking resemblances between Meriden 
Farm, lying between Lamentation Mt. and Hanging Hills, and Meriden Farm in 
Surrey Co., England, does it take very much imagination to believe that some one 
of these men saw the likeness and gave the name to our farm ? Both farms lie in 
pronounced valleys. In both cases the name was that of a farm and not of a town ; 
each valley has a spring of uncommon coldness ; each valley is screened by a lofty 
hill whence may be had a glimpse of the sea about twenty miles away. Another 
point of resemblance is that each has at the entrance to the valley a harbor. Ours 
is called Pilgrims' Harbor ; the one in Surrey Co. is called Cold Harbor. Now it 
is a singular fact that these names are interchangeable. They both mean the 
same thing. The Century Dictionary gives the definition of Cold Harbor as "a 
protection at a wayside for travelers who are benighted or benumbed with cold." 
The term is not an uncommon one in England. Now as to the origin of the name 
of our Pilgrim Harbor, one thing is absolutely sure and certain — it was not so 
called because the regicides or judges of King Charles I. found protection and 
shelter on the banks of our stream when pursued by the king's officers. The 
letter from John Davenport to Governor Winthrop dated 30th day of 8th month, 
1660, and printed on page 37 of this book, proves this conclusively, for at that 
date the regicides had not left Boston and did not come to Connecticut until the 
following spring." Moreover it will be observed that the name of Pilgrims Har- 
bor was well known at the date of this letter. It was written to a man in Hart- 
ford by a New Flaven man and there is no attempt to explain its location, so that 
the name must have been in use for some time. Dr. Ezra Stiles, president of 
Yale College for many years, born 1727 and died 1795, was responsible either 
for the preservation or birth of this tradition^ and it is one of those stories that 
will never die no matter how often it is shown to be entirely unsupported by facts. 
Singularly enough Dr. Stiles' diary, lately published, gives a clue to the very fact 
that we are looking for. ' Under date May 7, 1793, he says "Rode to Meriden and 
loged at Capt. Webb's, aet 86, wife 82" ; on the 8th follows, "Tra- 
dition at Meriden and about here (Hartford) Pilgrim's Harbor, so 
named from two men stopt here till they could make a float. After- 
wards Public built a shed for Pilgrims caught here bv high Freshes. 



1 Steiner's Hist, of Guilford, Conn., p. 15. 

2 Palfrey's Hist, of New England, Vol. II., p. 499. or any other history treating of the regicides. 

3 Stiles' Hist, of the Three Judges, p. 108. 



EARLY HISTORY. 47 

I^Ir. ]\Ieriani^ aet say 35 lives at the Bridge — intelligent — tells the common story 
— 2 pilgrims — but nothg of Regicides — rather persons travellg fr. X. H. to Hart- 
fd." The next year (1794) Dr. Stiles' History of the Three Judges was pub- 
lished and so notwithstanding the information he had picked up in Meriden and 
Hartford, he started this story about the Regicides and Pilgrims Harbor Brook — 
a storv that will alwa\s have perennial youth and like the brook will go on for- 
ever. Dr. Stiles tells the story in this way : "there is a tradition of their mak- 
ing a lodgment at Pilgrims Harbor, so called from them, being twenty miles from 
New Haven at a place since called Meriden, half way between New Haven and 
Hartford." The Rev. Mr. Perkins, in his Historical Sketches, repeats the story 
but Dr. Davis in his History of Wallingford show^s that there can be no truth 
to the tradition. Now note the similarity of the meaning of Cold Harbor as given 
in the Century Dictionary and that of Pilgrims Harbor as found existing in Mer- 
iden over a hundred years ago and stated in Dr. Stiles' diary. They both mean 
a refuge for travelers by the wayside — not an inn or a tavern, but simply a shel- 
ter. There must have been other places of like character in Connecticut during 
those days of sparsely settled country, but to one only was the name of Pilgrims 
Harbor given. So is it not fair for the sake of argument to admit that the nam- 
ing of Pilgrims Harbor was, like the naming of Hartford or Windsor — a calling 
of localities by the old names of the mother country, and that the original form was 
Cold Harbor but that it was changed to Pilgrims Harbor to avoid confusion with 
Cold Spring only a couple of miles away? 

From a topographical point of view there are again striking coincidences. 
Cold Harbor, in Surrey Co., lies not far from the entrance to the vale in which is 
nestled Meriden Farm. Pilgrims Harbor here is not far from the entrance to the 
valley in which lies our Meriden Farm. Back of Cold Harbor in Surrey Co. to 
the northwest is an escarpment or steep hill very like the sudden rise to the north- 
west that one would observe standing at the corner of Colony and Main streets 
if the ]\Ieriden House and other buildings did not hide the view of the elevation 
crowned by Prospect and Mt. Pleasant streets and Washington Heights. Two 
or three miles to the west we see the heights of West Peak range ; a mile or two 
to the west of Cold Harbor is the elevation known as Leith Hill. Besides these 
remarkable coincidences of names and topography we have learned that a num- 
ber of people in this colony had lived or visited near Cold Harbor and Meriden 
Farm in Surre\- Co. To the names of Thomas Hooker, John Davenport and 
Henry \\'hittield. we may perhaps add the name of Edward Higbee. whose Indian 
deed, printed or. pages 17-18 of this book, contains the first recorded use of the 
word Meriden in this colony. The records of the parish church in Dorkiug show 



1 Benjamin Merriam, son of Benjamin Merriam. who died in 1807, and owned tlie Meriden House 
corner and east side of Colony street''also. His house stood on site of the Meriden House. 



48 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

that in 1602 a John Higbey was Hving near that town. Savage, in his genealogi- 
cal dictionary, suggests that Edward Higbee was the son of a John Higbee. Of 
course this does not prove that the two men named John Higbee were one and the 
same person, but in this first recorded use of the word, Meriden, it is spelled Mer- 
ideen, which denotes an intimate acquaintance with the correct and early spell- 
ing, as will be seen later, at a time when others in the colony were writing it Mer- 
idin, Meridan and even Meridon. It is very likely that this Indian deed was 
drawn up by Higbee, Mr. Gilbert in his will dated 1676, written by himself, 
wrote the word Meridin — that is he spelled it as he thought it was pronounced. 
Mr. Gilbert was not from Surrey Co. in all probability. With so many individuals 
in this colony who were acquainted with this particular locality in Surrey Co. it 
is not difficult to believe that the resemblance to be seen in Connecticut on the 
highway between Hartford and New Haven was sooner or later recognized. 

Necessarily the question is incapable of an absolute solution. But the coin- 
cidences in names and topography is remarkable and one may surely be par- 
doned for believing or trying to believe that our Meriden Farm took its name from 
Meriden Farm, Surrey Co., England. It is a curious fact that the country folk 
who live around our English namesake, display the same tendency to explain 
the origin of the name by its evident sound as their Yankee cousins in Connecticut. 
The story goes that 200 or 300 years ago there was a cave in the vicinity where 
smugglers were in the habit of resorting with their ill gotten goods to make a 
fair division and to celebrate their exploits by a carousal and hilarious merry- 
making — hence Merry-den. When Mr. Barclay bought the farm he acquired the 
old deeds that went with the property and the earliest one was dated in the twelfth 
century, over seven hundred years ago and the form of the name was then Mer- 
rideen. 

And now it is time to ask the question. Wliat does 'Meriden' mean? What 
is the derivation of the word? Will etymology teach us its primitive signification? 

The naming of towns and localities in England was an entirely dififerent pro- 
cess from that employed in New England. Here, the forefathers borrowed the 
names of Indians, or else they endeavored to quiet the longings of their home- 
sick hearts by using the words made familiar to them in the Mother Country. 
In England, however, names of places were not borrowed ; they were indigenous, 
and grew up with the people, so to speak. In every case a name embodies some 
local peculiarity of physical aspect, or perpetuates some historical fact. DeOuincy 
says^ "they are not inventions of any active faculty, but were passive depositions 
from a real impression upon the mind." Dean Trench has written of words as 
"fossil poetry" and "fossil history," and the comparison is fitting. Almost every 
town name in England illustrates this simile ; thus, Boston, in Lincolnshire, Avas 

1 Essay on Style. 



EARLY HISTORY. 49 

anciently "Botulfeston," or "Botiilphs town," preserving the fact that a monaster}^ 
was hnilt by him in 654, around wfiich a town grew up ; Oxford was "Oxenford," 
and was just what the nanje implies; Windsor, centuries ago was "Windelsora," 
from early English "Windel," to wind and "ora," a shore, — that is, a winding 
shore, referring to the course of the Thames at that point ; Rochester was ages 
ago "Hrofe," a man's name, and "ceaster," a fortified place, — i. e., "Hrofeceaster" ; 
Wallingford, one of the most ancient towils in England, on the Thames a little 
below Oxford, was by the Britons called "Guallhen," that is "Old Fort;" the Sax- 
ons added "ford" to it on account of the crossing of the Thames at that place, and 
it became "Guallhenforde," that is, the Crossing by the Old Fort ; but the curious 
lingual inclination of the Saxons to change a "g" of a Romance tongue to a "w" 
(as perhaps best illustrated in the French "Guillaume" which became "William" in 
the Saxon mouth), corrupted the word to "Wallengaforde," which easily became 
the modern Wallingford. ^ And the illustrations might be extended indefinitely. 

The word "Meriden" is no exception to this general rule, and from it may 
be extracted a little fossil poetry. The prefix, Meri, Merri or Mere is undoubtedly 
a corruption of IMerry or Alerrie. The definition of "Merry" as used to-day is 
sportive, playful, or mirthful, but its early meaning was decidedly different. Per- 
haps the best illustration of the distinction will be found in the following examples : 

In the Psalter of the Book of Common Prayer ( which is the same as the Book 
of Psalms in the Great Bible of Henry VIIL, published about 1541), the second 
verse of the 8ist Psalm reads as follows: 

"Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret, the Jiicrry harp with the lute" ; 
but in the Bible of 161 1. commonly known as the King James Version, the same 
verse is as follows : 

"Take a psalm and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltry." 
During the time between the two translations, the character of "merry" has changed 
and no longer means "pleasant." 

Another example; an early English song runs thus: 

'Wlcrry sung the monks within Ely 
That Cnute King rowed thereby ; 
Row Knights near the land 
And hear we these monks' song." 

A Latin translation of this song made at about the same date renders "Merry" 
as "dulce," and the modern translation of "dulce" is unquestionably "sweetly." 

In 1528 Sir Thomas ^lore wrote his wife as follows: 

"I pray you be with my children and your household merry in God." He un- 
doubtedly wished her to understand him as bidding her be cheerful. No one 



] Camden's Britannia, Gibson's edition, 1695, p. 140. 



50 



A CKNTURY OF MliRIDEN. 



would for an instant think he wished her to be sportive or gay or mirthfnl in God. 

It is difficult to realize to how great an extent our language has changed dur- 
ing the last four or five centuries. Had a man of the time of Chaucer been 
asked to describe a sweet and amiable girl, he would doubtless have spoken of her 
as a "Merry Wench." What self-respecting young maid of to-day would submit 
to such a classification? Illustrations might be added indefinitely, but enough 
have been employed to demonstrate that the early meaning of "Merry" or "Merrie" 
was cheerful, sweet or pleasant. 

The suffix "den" is very common in Surrey, and, indeed, in all parts of Eng- 
land. Not far from the Vale of Meriden are Oakdeane, Morden and Cotmanden. 
A beautiful country seat near Dorking was called, in the time of John Evelyn, Dip- 
den, but the present proprietor has revived the ancient form of the name, and it 
is now Deepdene. The place is appropriately named, for it is surrounded by an 
amphitheatre of hills. This suffix "den" was anciently dene, or dean, and was the 
early English term for valley, or vale. 

With the information we now have, what does Meriden mean? "Meri" pleas- 
ant, "den" vale or valley ; that is, Pleasant Valley. 

There were, or are, several places of this same name in England. In the time 
of Edward I., i. e. the 13th century, there was a village in Shropshire called 
"Meryden."^ Camden, in his "Britannia" written in the i6th century, mentions 
a village called "Merival," north of Coventry, The same book speaks of "Meri- 
field" as a "delightful meadow." There is to-day a "Merrivale" in Devonshire. 
Sir Wm. Dugdale, in his Antiquities of Warwickshire, states that Meriden, near 
Coventry, is derived from Mire-dene, meaning a muddy valley. Even that form 
would not prove his definition correct, for one of the early forms of "merrie" 
was "mirie" or "myrie." We know, however, that etymology in the 17th century 
was anything but a science, and we find that long before his book was written 
the place was recorded as "Meryden," and every one who has visited the place 
describes it as a pleasant valley. ^ Human nature is always the same, and we still 
find evidences of this desire to describe one's residence as attractive. Vermont, 
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and many other states, each 
has its Pleasant Valley which may be found on the map. Did we still use the 
primitive language of our remote forefathers, these places would all be Meridens 
or Merivals. We have learned that "Meriden is the loveliest vale in Surrey," 
and Surrey is one of the fairest of all the counties of England, full of picturesque 
hills and dales. Have we not, then, extracted the fossil poetry from "Meriden," 
and may we not safely conclude that it means Pleasant Valley? 



1 Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica, Vol. I., p. 128. 

2 The writer has a map printed in the 18th century. In which the name appears as Mereden, the 
same form as we find first recorded for Surrey. 



EARLY HISTORY. 5 1 

It may be urged that after all it is not a matter of great moment that we 
should know the origin of the name of Meriden. The writer as gracefully as 
possible acknowledges the force of the criticism. The only apology he has to of- 
fer for the great length to which this chapter has grown is that he is a son of the 
soil, and anything that relates to the early history of Meriden appeals to a particu- 
larly susceptible part of his mental makeup. 

Note — Since this sketch was put in print, the writer has come into possession of a little book en- 
titled "Notes on Staffordshire Place Names," by W. H. Duignan, published in London, 1902. The 
preface states that Rev. Walter William Skeat (professor of Anglo-Saxon in Cambridge university and 
probably the greatest living authority on Early English) and Mr. W. H. Stevenson, Fellow of Exeter 
College, Oxford, are in a measure sponsors for the scholarship of the little book, for their advice and 
suggestions have been constantly sought and given. The arrangement of the work is that of a diction- 
ary, and the author has this to say under the word "Merridale, an ancient estate of 1% m. S. W. of 
Wolverhampton. The mediaeval forms are Miiridene. Meriden, in Warwickshire was Myridene. (Prob- 
ably A. S. Myrige, pleasant, sweet, delightful Merry, and dene valley. This would account for the i in 
Muridene, W. H. S.)" An old meaning of "Merry, was as stated. 'Merry,' England; the 'Merry month of 
May,' mean sweet, pleasant, not jocund or mirthful." 

The initials W. H. S. indicate that the brackets enclose the note of W. H. Stevenson. 

Here then we have another form of Meriden ending in "dale" that has not been mentioned in the 
foregoing pages, and also as good an endorsement as could be asked, for the theory that the writer of 
this chapter advances, viz. that the ancient meaning of Meriden was pleasant valley. 



52 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



CHAPTER V. 

The story of Meriden Farm has now been told and its romantic chapter is 
closed, for the last of the Belchers has shaken its dust from his feet and hence- 
forth its annals deal only with the quiet and uneventful life of families compelled 
to get their living from its soil by the sweat of their brows and an unremitting 
struggle with the rugged conditions of rural life in New England during the 
eighteenth century. To go back in imagination to those days of simple living 
when nature was almost man's master, instead of servant ; to picture to ourselves 
the isolation of life, the lack of communication with the outside world, the dearth 
of incident except the grinding ceaseless toil required to subdue a country of un- 
limited forests and unknown possibilities, require a power that no one possesses 
except in a limited degree. , 

Life could not have been attractive from our point of view. There were few 
amusements and scarcely any inventions to add to the comforts of life, and the 
grinding toil and struggle with a barren soil amid rocky hills left little chance to^ 
cultivate the amenities of social intercourse. 

"The machinery of production showed no radical difference from that famil- 
iar to ages long past. The Saxon families of the eighth century enjoyed most 
of the comforts known to Saxon families of the eighteenth century."^ , 

Life under such conditions is, to us of the twentieth century, almost incon- 
ceivable. But the result, however, was a race of men and women of rugged 
constitution, and indomitable will ; this combination influenced by the religious 
training and belief to which they were accustomed produced a condition of life 
with which we are utterly out of sympathy. They cannot have been an agreeable 
people and many doubtless would be ready to subscribe to the sentiment. "Let us 
thank God for having given us such ancestors ; and let each successive genera- 
tion thank Him not less fervently for being one step from them in the march of 
ages." 

The conditions for telling the story of Meriden are not the most felicitous, 
for until 1806, this territory was only a suburb to Wallingford, second even to 
Cheshire, which was made a separate township in 1780, twenty-six years earlier 
than our successful attempt to go without leading strings. 

It is not proposed to tell the story of Wallingford except so far as may be ab- 
solutely essential to the proper understanding of events in the parish of Meriden. 



1 Henry Adams Hist, of U. S., Vol. I., p. 16. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



53 



The colony of New Haven was absorbed by that of Connecticut in 1665, 
and, although the attempt was made to heal the wounded sensibilities of the peo- 
ple bv making New Haven twin cai)ital with Hartford, the result was received 
by manv of the inhabitants with disgust, and good John Davenport left the town 
ni sorrow and took up his residence in Boston. , 

Bv 1669 many of the first settlers of New Haven were dead and a new gen- 
eration had grown up. In that year began the movement which resulted in the 
settlement of Wallingford, and in 1670 the foundations had been laid and a new 
town had been born in the colony. , 

At a court of election held at Hartford ]\Iay 12th, 1670, the following vote 
was passed : "This court haveing been moved to state the bownds of the New Vil- 
lage that is settled upon the playne as you goe to New Haven, doe grant that their 
bownds shall com from the Brook at the south end of the great playne to the 
northward tenn miles;, and from the said [Brook] sowthward to Brandford 
bownds. and on each side the river five miles ; that is five miles on the east side 
and five miles on the west side the river, provided that the sayd village be car- 
ryed on and made a plantation w*^^^out any relation or subordination to any other 
towne and provided the bownds hereby granted to the sayd village doe not preju- 
dice any bownds formerly granted to any plantation or perticuler person, or doe 
not extend to the north any further then wh[ere] the old road to New Haven 
goeth over Pilgrimes Harbour. The Court orders that the plantation on the playne 
in the Road to New Haven, be called Wallingford." 

Thus at the very birth of Wallingford the old limitation of the northern 
boundary by the Pilgrims' Harbor ford comes up ; the same limitation which had 
been a bone of contention between New Haven and Connecticut Colonies ten 
years previously. It is difficult to understand why Wallingford should not have 
been allowed to extend its bounds up to those of Farmington for this limitation 
left a territory three miles wide, which was not a part of any township. . 

The names of those who subscribed to the plantation agreement of W^alling- 
ford are as follows : 



Samuel Street 
Nathaniel ]\Ierriman 
Abraham Dowlittle 
^\'illiam Johnson 
Benjamin Lewis 
Sam'l Whitehead 
Eliasaph Preston 
Eleazer Holt 
Samuel Andrews 
Daniel Sherman 



Samuel Munson 
John Harriman 
John Alosse 
Jeremiah How 
Daniel Hogge 
Thomas Hall 
Thomas Curtis 
John Beech 
Jehiel Preston 
Samuel Hall 



Eleazer Peck 
Samuel Potter 
John Peck 
Francis Heaton 
John Brockett 
Zachariah How 
John Miles 
Nathaniel How 

Thomas Yale 

John Ives 



John Hall 
Joseph Ives 
Joseph Benham 
Simon Tuttle 
Samuel Browne 
Samuel Cook 
Samuel Miles 
Nathan Andrews 



54 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

All these men with the exception of Thomas Curtis, Thomas Beach and Ben- 
jamin Lewis (who were from Stratford) were residents of New Haven. This 
shows what a distinctively New^ Haven movement was the settlement of Wal- 
lingford and possibly indicates why the court of election inserted in the vote of 
May I2th, the precautionary clause "provided that the sayd village be carryed on 
and made a plantation w'^'^out any relation or subordination to any other towne," 
and explains why it was first proposed to call the new settlement New Haven 
village. 

But when, in the same year, the house lots were assigned, the names of sev- 
eral in the previous list are missing and the record of assignment reads as fol- 
lows : 

A record of y® house lots in y® town of Wallingford as they were first sit- 
uated upon y® hill on y® east side of y® Great Playne commonly called New Ha- 
ven playne and of y® order of place and quantity of acres to each person allotted 

for his house lot by order after some land was left for other use, y® first 

house lot for John Brockett Senior 6 acres ; y® 2^ for John Mosse Senior 6 acres : 
next to that a piece of land was left for a planting field. Next to that y® 3^'*^ 
house lot for Abraham Dowlittle Senior 6 acres ; 4th house lot for Daniel Sher- 
man 6 acres y® 5*^ house lot for James Eaton :^ y® 6*^ house lot for Samuel Street 
6 acres. These 6 lots having some land lieing at y® end of y™ towards Whar- 
tons Brook it is agreed by y® Comitte y* it be distributed to y® aforesaid persons 
as a part of their other outlands, hieways excepted. Next to y® aforesaid 6 house 
lots it is ordered by y® aforesaid first comitte y* there shall be a hieway cross y® 
hill from east to west of 6 rods broad and from these a long hieway of 6 rods 
broad on top y® hill to run northward and on each side of it two ranges of house 
lots at 6 acres to a lot, one range on y® one side eastward and one range on y® 
other side westward and these lots to be distributed to persons as follows : y® 
first lot on y^ east side and y® first lot on y® west side of y® long hieway ; and on 
y® north side of y® aforesaid hieway : each of y"^ 6 acres is by s*^ commite granted 
to NathI Merriman Senior : y® one 6 acres for his house lot y® other 6 acres on y® 
other side with respect to other outlands as to y® other persons before mentioned. 
Next to these on y® east side of y® afores*^ long hieway y® 2*^ house lots to Sam* 
Cooke 2,''^ to Sam^ Hall 4th to Joseph Benham 5*^^ ^q Jq}-,,-, y[^\\ At y^ end of 
these on y® west side of y® aforesaid long hieway 2*^ Nath^ Merriman Jr. 3^^ to 
Sam' ^funson 4th to 5*^^^ y® ministry. 

a hieway a hieway 

on y® east side on y® west side 

6 Eleazur Peck 6 John Harriman 

7 Samuel Potter 7 Samuel Brown 
8 Nathaniel How 8 Nathan Andrews 

1 Perhaps Heaton. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



55 



9 


Zachariali How 


lO 


Joseph Eives 


II 


Jeremiah How 




a hieway 


12 


John Mix 


13 


Daniel Hopper 


1 4 


Samuel Thorp 


15 


Thomas Hall 


16 


David Tuttle 




a hieway 


17 


Xehemiah Rovce 


18 


Samuel Rovce 



9 


Samuel Andrews 


10 


John Miles 


II 


Joseph Peck 




a hieway 


12 


John Eives 


13 


Simon Tuttle 


14 


Thomas Curtis 


15 


Samuel Royce 


16 


Thomas Yale 




a hieway 


17 


Nathaniel Royce 


18 


Benjamin Lewis 



Through the courtesy of Rev. J. E. Wildman, of Wallingford, a map of the 
tillage is here inserted. This map is a copy, not a facsimile, of a very ancient one 




i:<xcK">1ou.Je i.of contcxlns 
fix acres oT LtxnoL . 



HIQK 



COLON>f "RO/*,!) f,om HatX^ord to N' 
Cominon "Fi-elcL 

ajterthc 0. 




WEST 

iginal b^ Perkins . l.itho.jroipky I28rult0n3t. N .\j . 



ie^ 



IjftJt 



§/onm of WafClngjcTcL . 

iZti tfie name oj eotc/k crwnv of fUe IHoitfe ■^ots, as- diftribuTcd by Jiew Jiavrn Committee 
i^ Cmoi^oL frcm Tfiejiecords 



r6 A CENTURV OF MERIDEX. 

brought to Mr. Joseph P. Beach, of Cheshire, by EHhu Yale, in 1852, to be trans- 
ferred to stone and lithographed. Consequentlx' the handwriting is 'Sir. Beach's. 
The two names, Jo. Lines and John Lines should have been Jo. Lives and John 
Lives. The middle name of Air. Beach is Perkins, under which name he was 
then running his lithographing establishment in New York City. The original 
map has disappeared from the office of the town clerk in Wallingford. James 
Laton, Daniel Sherman and David Tuttle did not finall}- join the plantation, their 
lots being taken by John Beach, Llisaph Preston and Lleazer Holt respectively. 
Mr. Beach thinks the words "Old Colony road," "long highway." "cross highway 
the first laid out," "common fields," "wilderness" and "planting field," etc., were 
on the original map, but to the writer this seems doubtful. 

So the town began with all the planters settled in a compact little village with 
home lots of six acres each, arranged on a street at the top of the hill — the pres- 
ent Main street. At the south end were grouped the elderly men. while at the 
northern end were young men, several not then married. We can imagine what 
a busy community it must have been for some time: the building of houses, the 
laying out of streets, the clearing away of forests, the breaking of virgin soil 
under the plow, must have kept every member of the little town thoroughly oc- 
cupied. Material of all kinds and household furniture and supplies were large- 
ly brought from New Haven in boats, for at fhis period the Quinnipiac river con- 
tained much more water than at present, as we will learn by subsequent records. 

The first houses built were probably of very rude construction for none of this 
period have survived the destructive hand of time, wdiile a number built fifty 
years later are still in very good condition and seem capable of lasting many 
years. 

The town government having been organized, the home lots assigned and 
the houses built, the next question to engage the attention of the people was the 
distribution and division of lands for farms. The whole community was agri- 
cultural in its pursuits and the only source of wealth was the produce of the 
farms. The rank of a man in the distributions was proportioned on what he 
was able to pay in taxes, and divisions were made in lots or multiples of four, six 
and eight acres. Naturally, the older men were able to pay larger rates than the 
younger, and generally it will be found that those wdio received the largest al- 
lotments of land were the elder men of the towil. These divisions of land re- 
mind one of the methods of a modern business corporation in distributing its 
surplus earnings among its stockholders. After the first division which assigned 
lands on the banks of New Haven East (now Quinnipiac) river, the planters 
seem to have been privileged to take up their allotments of land where they 
pleased providing they did not conflict with any previous grants or reservations ; 
and the rights seem to have been inherited by descendants of the first planters in 



EAKLV HISTORY. ^"J 

addition to those they held as hving inhabitants or land owners : so that frequently 
these inherited rights were sold to newcomers by those who had removed from 
the town. In other words, the original corporation of the town was kept alive 
by inheritance until all the vacant or unoccupied lands had been distributed, and 
a separate ledger or "original proprietors' book" was kept which gave a strict 
account of all such transactions. But no land owner was allowed to sell his 
land or future rights to a stranger rntil the character of the new comer had been 
thoroughly looked into and approved in town meeting. A man had the right to 
jdin the higher grade and receive a larger allotment of land by expressing his 
willingness to pay a bigger tax. On May 22, 1678, it w^as voted in town meet- 
ing that "a man of lower rank may take a higher rank by paying rates accord- 
ingly for the future, viz. : 20 shillings a year for 7 years provided they decide 
before next town meeting which if they do not 'then ye town will looke att them- 
selves att liberty whether they will grant it or not'." The rate of taxes paid by 
those of the highest were double those of the lowest rank and one-third more than 
those of the middle rank and divisions of lands were based on these proportions. 
Frequently assignments of lands were m.ade to persons who had moved to other 
towns, because they were descendants of the "ancient" or first planters. Some- 
times lands were granted to particular individuals for meritorious service ; as, 
for instance, service in wars ; in other words, a pension. This was a cheap way 
to confer a gift that cost the giver little, and yet was of value to the recipient. 
Allotments were made to the minister simply because he was the minister. This 
added considerable to his income beyond what he received annually from his flock. 
This method of dividing lands seems to have been general throughout the colony 
of Connecticut. The following vote is illuminating and interesting: 

"At a town metting in Wallingford february y® 12 1712 \^oated in town 
nietting that y^ town look upon y® several parsons whos names are upon record 
in several rank viz first 2^ and 3*'"^^ rank »S: thair hairs & assigns recorded in Ranks 
and order in v^ vear 1672 are v® sole proprietors of all y® undivided Lands in 
Wallingford together with such other parsons as have formerly by y® towns 
Leave & consent come into town one or other of these Ranks mentioned in y® 
room of sundry parsons recorded in y*^ above s*^ ranks that went away from y® 
town & lost y^ lots they had taken up ; and tharupon \'^ ]:)roprietors are to take 
y® best methods they can in settling & securing the titels of all those parsons that 
formerly obtained grants or divitions of land from y® town so that they may niver 
be molested and Disturbed in y® possession of such lands when ever such parsons 
desir it." 

The organization of the "Ancient Proprietors" was kept alive until the year 
1803 when it formally released to the town all interest, right and title to the un- 



[^8 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

divided lands, and then ceased to exist. The date was April 25. Probably all 
the land had been, by that time, distributed. 

'"Race suicide" was not popular in those days in W'allingford. or elsewhere, 
and the record of vital statistics teem with the entries of births and marriages, 
and a family with ten children was only moderately large. Naturally the ques- 
tion of farms for the support of the present and the coming generations was one 
to engage the attention of the town, and the allotments of lands soon began to 
be taken up in what is now Meriden ; and Cheshire also, for at that time, Wal- 
lingford bounds stretched not only as far north as where Colony street crosses 
Harbor Brook but extended away over into Prospect on the west, so that more 
than the whole of modern Cheshire was included in the township. 

The first entry on the town records that refers to the territory of Aleriden is 
a vote passed at a town meeting held Sept. 10, 1677, reading as follows: "That 
every planter now in seizin shall have according to their ranks 4 acres. 3 acres, 
2 acres, of the choice land upon the river hopp ground land beginning at Pil- 
grims Harbour and what that place doth not afford they are to please themselves 
elsewheare." On Nov. 17, 1679, the record reads "Town grant to Nath^ Royce, 
David Hall, Thomas Hall, Daniel Mix and Joseph Holt each 3 acres of land ly- 
ing on east side of meadow called Dogs Misery by the southward branch of Pil- 
grims Harbor brook." At a meeting held Nov. 24, 1679, it was "granted to 
Nehemiah Royce, Isaac Curtis each 3 acres and Nathaniel How and Isaac Royce 
each 2 acres and all at dogs misery." 

The question arises, where is Dogs' Misery? It is in the extreme eastern part 
of Meriden, south of the Middletow^n road and half a mile west of Black Pond. 
In going north on Paddock Ave., after passing the home of Rollin S. Ives, one 
comes to a road turning to the right and running northeast.^ This grass-grown 
road is still called Misery Bar road and runs through the very heart of Dogs' 
Misery, a swamp even to this day, almost impenetrable with its growth of alders, 
briars, brambles, and trees. Perhaps not so swampy as it once was, but still an 
extremely unpleasant place for a woodland walk. The southern branch of Pil- 
grims' Harbor brook flowing north from Foster's pond passes through this 
swamp. The eastern branch flows from Black pond and joins the southern 
branch at Baldwin's pond. There is a tradition that when the country was first 
explored this swamp was under water because of the dams that had been built 
by the beavers. The story goes that after the beavers were all killed the dams 
were destroyed and the territory then became a hideous swamp, and a refuge 
for wild animals when pursued by men and dogs. No further explanation of 
the reason for the name is needed. Black pond was also a famous place for 
beavers. Mr. Erwin Beardsley, who lives in the old Crocker place on the Mid- 

1 The Meriden dirtctory has a map which indicates rural i-treets and lanes. 



EARLY HISTORY. 59 

dletown turnpike, almost at the !\Iiddletown line, had occasion when a young- 
man, to work on the shore of the pond and found in the black muck many short 
logs or heavy sticks still preserving the marks of the teeth of the beavers. Mr. 
Perkins also speaks of the beaver-gnawed logs in his Historical Sketches.^ As 
already noted the whole territory of Meriden was famous for its game and was 
used by the Indians as a hunting ground. Many localities still preserve names 
indicative of this fact. Thus we have Cat Hole, in the northwestern part of the 
town; Cat Swamp, south of the junction of Charles street and Parker avenue; 
Deer Hill, now called Meeting House or Buckwheat Hill ; Beaver Dam Brook, flow- 
ing south from the swamp north of the state fair grounds and also draining the 
swamp north of Kensington avenue and west of the railroad track ; this swamp 
was once known as Wolf Swamp. Beaver Dam Brook is now usually called Sodom 
and runs under the Waterbury railroad bridge on West Main street. Then there 
was Cat Swamp on the road to Southington, and Beaver Pond, adjoining the 
Old Fly, on the borders of Berlin. But it was not for game that Meriden's early 
settlers desired these lots in the vicinity of Dogs' Misery. They seem to have 
been considered very choice and valuable bits of real estate and were only distrib- 
uted in lots of two, three or four acres and were called "hopp lots." Every one of 
the planters had his "hopp lot" either in the neighborhood of Dogs' Misery or in 
the lowland bordering Harbor brook, south of West Main street, all the way to 
the Ouinnipiac river. And on Wharton's brook and on other brooks in Walling- 
ford there were "hopp" lots also. Mr. Perkins, so often quoted, says: "This 'hopp 
ground land' was that which produced the material for making hoops [hopps]. 
Such land, though swampy, was then the most valuable in the town. For in the 
dearth of a circulating medium and of means for purchasing all foreign produce, 
these hoops [and staves also] always found a great demand, and a ready sale in 
the West Indies. Of course, our farmers in trading with the New Haven mer- 
chants, found these hoop poles as useful as cash." 

This seems a doubtful explanation for several reasons. First, hoops for bar- 
rels are always made from hickory and hickor\^ does not grow in swamp ground, 
such as Dogs' Misery was and is. Again, those versed in such matters, say they 
do not know of any wood grown in swamp land that could be used for such pur- 
poses. Again, the word in the Wallingford records is invariably "hopp." Here, 
as elsewhere, during these early years the spelling is a fearful and wonderful 
phenomenon and one is prepared for almost any coiubination of letters to mis- 
represent a word. But after 1735 the penmanship in the records is excellent and 
frequently beautiful and the spelling good, and yet this word is still hop or hopp. 
Waterbury and Wethersfield, and doubtless other towns, had their "hopp 
lands" and the use of the word in this same way is found in the C'(tlonial Records 
1 Page n. 



6o A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

of Connecticut. If hoop had been intended, somewhere, somebody would have 
been found to g-ive the right form to the word.^ Consequently, one is forced to 
the belief that the word bore some relation to hops or the hop vine. Hops- must 
have been raised in the early days of the colony, for they are as indispensable in 
the making- of bread as wheat itself, for bread without yeast or something to 
make it rise would have been the last resort of a desperate housewife. England 
for centuries, has been a great consumer of hops, and our early settlers, after using 
what was needed for bread-making and home-brewed beer, would have found a 
ready market for their surplus produce by selling it to New Haven to be shipped 
to England.'' Consequently hop poles were needed and must have been in great 
demand. Hops are not grown in swampy or moist ground but hop poles are. 
A gentleman, now a resident of jMeriden, wdiose boyhood was passed near Dan- 
bury, says that in those days hops were grown in large quantities in that locality 
and that the farmers in winter, when the ground was frozen solidly, invariably 
resorted to the swamps to cut poles for use the next season in supporting the 
hop vines. This then seems the probable use. in the opinion of the writer, to 
which "hoj) land lots" were put. It is not disputed that there was a large business 
in hoop-poles, but the farmers must have resorted to the forests for the source of 
supply. As a matter of fact, timber was exported in large quantities and at last 
became so serious a question that the town took action as follows : 

"At a town meting in Wallingford desember 25th 1705 The town considering 
the great destruction that hath bene of timber by reason of geeting and transport- 
ing of pipstaves^ which to prevent the town voted and agreed to put a stop to 
the same and that no man shall have liberty to transport any staves after the 
tenth day of June next insuing the date hearof on the penalty of the Law in 
that case provided and to afeect that mater the town doth desire at least tow of 
the townsmen to give notis to all the marchants that used to traid in seach waire 
with the peo]:»le of our town that whatsoever staves are shipt on bord or landed on 
shoore side to be shiped for transportation after July next shall be seased ac- 
cording to law also the s^ townsmen shall desire the grand jure men at Newheav- 
en to make search after and present the same." 

That this action did not accomplish what was desired, or else that the trade 
had again started up is evident by another vote. 

1 In 1676 the inventory of Henry Cole dec'd was recorded in tlie Court of Probate in New Haven : 
Cole was a cooper and among articles gcbeduled were casks, barrels and hoops. A few pages beyon'' 
this list the records show the inventory of an individual who owned '^hopp" lots, and the word is spelled 
as it is in the Wallingford records. In both instances Nathaniel Merriman, of Wallingford, was the 
appraiser. This proves conclusively that when Wallingford people wanted to spell lioop they knew how, 

2 Hops are still raised in Meriden in small quantities. 

3 There are many entries in the early probate records of hops in the same category with wheat, rye, 
€tc. 

4 Pipe — A wooden wine measure. 



EARLY HISTORY. 6 1 

"Town niefting Deecember y*^ first 1724 

\'oated : therfor the more effectually preventing unlawful transportation of 
timber out of this town of Wallingford the town considering the great Damage 
that will insue upon the town by gitting & transport great quantitys of stavs & 
other timber y® which to prevent it is enacted by the inhabitants of the town in 
town meting conveined : to witt that for the futer no person shall be allowed to gitt 
or transport out of this town any^ staves of what sort soever or any board plank 
slit work or other timber whatsoever without a lycence first had & obtained ac- 
cording to law ; under the hands of the majoure part of y® selectmen for the time 
being. * * * * that for such butt staves as are already got the persons that 
gott the same coming to the selectmen paying down to them ten shillings money 
p*" thousand for y*^ use of y® town and so pro rater for greater or lesere quantityes, 
may have lycence to transport y® same & in no other manner ; & for hogsed staves 
eight shillings per thousand & for pipe staves seven shillings p*' thousand & for 
barrel staves six shillings p'" thousand ; and for whitewood & cheestnut bords 
seven shillings p'' thousand ; & for oak bords eight shillings per thousand and for 
plank & slitt work ten shillings p'" thousand & so proportionable for greater 
& leser quantity. * * ■" * ''^" 

The vote then proceeds to hedge about the selectmen with fines and penalties 
in case they do not rigidly enforce the town vote. The action shows that the trade 
j in pipcstaves, hogshead staves and general lumber was considerable. It is very 
I likely that the words, "slitt work," was a term used for barrel hoops. 
I But to return to the "hopp lots/'^ they were carefully alloted and recorded 

I and for a number of years there are many entries of distribution and sale of 2, 
[ 3 and 4 acres. The regulation or usual shape of these lots in Dogs' Misery was 5 
I rods by 120 rods, although where adjoining differences in the ground, either in 
I quality or topograph}-, interfered with the breadth of the growth of the shrubs 
I or small trees, away from the brook, the size or shape of the lots varied and ap- 
proximated 10 by 60 rods. The distance along the brook (frequently called Mis- 
ery brook) divided into these long, narrow lots, was considerable. A map of a 
portion of this distance made up from the records is here inserted and explains 
the arrangement at a glance. Each lot was bounded north and south by the lots 
of adjoining owners, one on each side, and on the east and west bv common or 
undivided land. 

By most people a foot is more readily comprehended than a rod ; so that 

1 The thought occurs that as swamp land is frequently or generally full of bogs, and in walking 
across it, one is compelled to jump or hop from one bog to another, that this fact may be the reason 
for the name. Our ancestors were quick to embody some striking peculiarity in their local nomencla- 
ture. Dances for many years have been called hops. 



62 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



when it is said that these "hopp" lots were 1980 feet long (more than a third of 
a mile) by 82^/2 feet wide a better idea of their shape and size is conveyed. 

There seems to have been more than the usual amount of work for the town 
committee or surveyors in laying out these lots and we find the following vote re- 
corded Dec. 16, 1679: "Whereas it was formerly granted that every planter there 
in being should have a proportion of y® hopp ground lands y^ commite are to have 




DOGS MISERY LOTS. 



4'i per acre for theire paynes in laying out y« same." A road ran to the locality 
from Wallingford that the old record in one place says is 20 rods wide — a most 
extraordinary width. Probably because the territory was swampy and if in one 
place the road was impassable it might be comparatively dry in another.^ This 



1 This extraordinary width of highway was not confined to Wallingford. Possibly the explanation is 
that there might be a settlement some day along the street and it would then be a green such as is 
seen in so many New England villages. 



EARLY HISTORY. 63 

road was called .Misery road and the old grass grown Misery Bar road that now 
runs through the heart of the swamp w^as probably constructed at the same time 
for the convenience of the owners to reach their various lots. The name of Dogs' 
Misery was applied to a much larger territory than that covered by the swamp. 
A name had to be employed and our ancestors were not particular as to the eu- 
phony^ of a word providing it expressed the idea intended to be conveyed and 
so we find that those who took up "lands for farms in the district bounded by 
the morntains on the east and Meeting House or Deer Hill (as it was then called) 
on the west, were property owners in Dogs' Misery. It is probable that homes 
were built and settlements made in the neighborhood of Dogs' Misery Swamp as 
early as 1689. With so many property owners in so contracted a quarter and land 
grants so closely joined it is not surprising that disputes arose and appeals were 
made to the courts in New Haven. Capt. Yale and Ensign' Royce became in- 
volved in a bitter quarrel that drew in many of the other lot owners. The im- 
mediate cause was a dispute about a watering place. Appeals were made to the 
town authority and one petition signed by twenty-four different men is a par- 
tial directory of the lot owners. A copy of the petition and names of the signers 
is given in Dr. Davis' history, page 132. Encroachment on a lot by an adjoining 
holder was not uncommon and the evident value of the lots makes it easy to un- 
derstand how easily disputes would arise. Of course, these lot owners were 
constantly buying and selling until there was finally an accumulation in a few 
hands. The li "st house to be built in Dogs Misery was probably that of Daniel 
Hall, which stood not far from the present Julius Hall homestead, now occupied 
by his son 3nd daughters on Murdock avenue. He took up his land grants in 
the vicinity until he had a farm of several hundred acres. 

As already noted, there was a division of '"hopp" lots taking place at the same 
time along Harbor brook, south of West Main street. It was a repetition of the 
allotments in Dogs' Misery, although the lots were not so long, as the configura- 
tion of the land would not admit of it, for the depressions here are more narrow 
and the course of the stream more winding. In this territory was a large tract 
called "town farm" sequestered for public uses and on the Andrew Coe farm in 
South Meriden, a short distance west of the highway and half a mile south of 
the stone "castle" there is a ledge called "Town Rock." Few are aware of its 
existence and fewer still know that it is so called because it marked the western 
side of this town farm. This farm was one hundred and fifty acres in extent and 
was a long narrow lot that extended across Pilgrims' Harbor brook just above its 
junction with the Quinnipiac river, and ran well over toward the hill on which 
Walnut Grove cemetery is situated. It was afterwards granted to Rev. Samuel 
Whittlesey, of Wallingford, and held by him and his descendants for nearly a 

1 Wethersfleld had a swamp called "Hang Dog." 



64 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



hundred years. The name of Pilgrims' Harbor locahzed a territory as far south 
as the junction of Cook and New Hanover avenues, w^est at least to Lewis ave- 
nue, north to Columbia street and perhaps farther, east certainly to the junction 
of East Main and Liberty streets, and deeds have been noticed granting tracts of 
land on Broad street that defined the real estate as in Pilgrims' Harbor. It was 
a name that did not have precise or definite boundaries, and they were shifted ac- 
cording to the notions of the grantor or grantee. But all that portion where 
"hopp lots"' were located was very swampy and very likely just as uninviting in 
appearance as the swamp land of Dogs Misery. Indeed, the early deeds of lands 
in Pilgrims' Harbor speak of it as "ye wilderness" — a term not applied to any 
other part of Meriden, which shows that this central part of the town was en- 
tirely uncleared, with no meadow land — nothing but swamp and an almost impene- 
trable growth of trees and brush. The line of the northern extent of Walling- 
ford at the Colony street crossing of Harbor brook was marked by two "mere" 
stones — so-called in old deeds ; one on each side of the brook. Of course, there 
were "hopp" lots north of this boundary but they were private property and did 
not belong to Wallingford to dispose of ; as we will see later. Another portion of 
Meriden that was attracting the attention of the planters at an early date was that 
south of Walnut Grove cemetery that we now term the Farms District. It was 
known as "Milking Yard." On Dec. i6, 1679, the record reads "town agreed 
and voated that y® land about y® Milking Yard and on y^ north side y® broke at 
y^ head of y^ Little Playne w'^^^ was formerly designed for that end be viewed 
& provision made for settling of planters as they shal appeare." This name seems 
to have been derived from a brook that crosses Colony road a little south of the 
Dr. Archer place. Mr. Perkins says the brook was "so called because cattle were 
of old there driven into a pen to be milked." The land below was a common and 
used as pasturage for the herds of the planters living in Wallingford village, 
with provision for gathering the cattle to a common point at nightfall. As in all 
other towns the live stock was branded with each owner's particular mark which 
was carefully recorded. The following vote seems to show that the tradition 
of the pasturage and milking pen is correct. In 1672 the record reads "no more 
house lots granted except on west side y® river or above y® brook at v^ head of 
y® littel playne called y® tow mile playne ; that all lands from thence downwards 
be for convenence of pastures & towne lands for home lots already granted on 
hill east of y^ gi't playne." This milking yard plain was also called "Little 
playne," to distinguish it from the "Great playne" west of the village, and "Falls 
Playne." This locality seems to have been particularly attractive to the Royces 
and several members of this numerous family took grants of large tracts of land 
in Milking "^'ard and their farms ran up Colony road for nearly a mile, and the 
district was later called Royce's farms. 



EARLY HISTORY. 65 

Xo part of Aleriden seems to have been regarded so favorably by the pioneers 
as the territory now known as Hanover, or South Meriden. It is a beautiful 
spot. As one stands on the hill west of Walnut Grove cemetery and looks down 
on the little village nestled between bold hills and half circled by the waters of 
the Ouinnipiac sweeping from the deep wooded valley known as Oregon, and 
then in the northwest beholds the glorious view of the rugged, serried ranges 
of the Hanging Hills, one admires the judgment of the planters. It is an ideal 
spot for just what seems to have been intended by the action of the town on Feb. 
19, 1689. The ground had been laid out with a two rod street running north 
and south through the middle of the plain and the land on each side staked off 
into sixty-three lots. The street was eighty rods long and the lots ran from it 
to the hill on the west and the river on the east. The vote reads, "At a Lawful 
Towne meeting February ig^^ 1689-90 y® Towne voted that y® Falls Playne shall 
be cast lots for and laid out according to y*^ written platform or map. Y® lots be- 
ing cast each mans lot as followeth," etc., etc. 

The event was considered of such importance that a map was drawn and 
si)read upon the land records — the only map ever thus honored by Wallingford. 
A reproduction on a small scale is shown. The place was called Falls Plain 
until well into the nineteenth century, but there was no attempt to settle on it 
at the time. It will be observed that there is no mention of the place being in- 
tended as a village. Indeed, one can hardly avoid the suspicion that perhaps 
this raffle of lots and laying out of a highway was another case of "hopp lots." 
The long narrow grants look suspiciously like those of Dogs' Misery and it is 
certain that there were constant transfers of hopp lots at Falls Plains thereafter. 
A few of these lots were very narrow — too narrow to have been used as house 
lots ; for instance, lot No. 23, belonging to William Cole, was 80 rods long east 
and west, and 3 rods and 6 feet wide, or 1,320 x 55^/2 feet. That of Joseph Royce 
was 80 rods long and 5 rods and 4 feet wide. 

But there cannot have been swamp land on the plain for it is too sandy to ad- 
mit of it. There was a fall or rapids in the river near and just above the present 
site of the Meriden Cutlery Co., which gave the name to the plain, but there was 
no lake north of the village as that was lacking until the dam was built. 

That part of Meriden north of the Ouinnipiac river and northwest of Falls 
Plain or Hanover, which rises in foot hills extending to the base of Hanging Hills 
was called Hanging Hill woods and early in the next century the land records 
begin to frequently refer to this district. Allen avenue, leading from '"Crow Hol- 
low" on West ]\Iain street to Cheshire street on the other side of the long hill, 
takes one through the heart of Hanging Hill woods. The land was fertile and 
some of the most profitable farms in Meriden were located in this territory. It 
was so called even down to the foot of the hills east of Cheshire street. 



66 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Interest in these outlvins^" districts is not sufficient to warrant further atten- 
tion ; we will return to that part of Meriden north of the Wallingford houndary line 



FALLS Plain 
DIVISION. 



Febriiai-y m 



90 




^^S^ Side 









at Pilgrims' Harbor ford, a large part of which was at the date to which these 
annals carried us in 1676, in the possession of "Hennerie" Cole. 



EARLY HISTORY. 6/ 



CHAPTER VI. 

Almost from the inception of the settlement of Walling-ford the planters 
looked with longing eyes on the forbidden territory north of Pilgrims' Harbor 
ford. They desired it and they intended to get it. A considerable portion of the 
country which the colonial court had granted the town in 1670 was absolutely 
barren and not susceptible of cultivation. To-day one enters this tract in going 
south on the railroad a short distance below the Yalesville station. There are 
places where the sand plains are fully half a mile wide and they extend south in- 
to North Haven. Geologists tell us that the "great playne," as it was called, 
was once the bed of a large river — perhaps the Ouinnipiac, or possibly the Con- 
necticut before it broke through the rocky walls at Middletown. Moreover, they 
saw the enormous extent of Farmington, which at that time included the towns 
of Southington, Bristol, Burlington, Avon, New Britain, and a large part of 
Berlin. Middletown, on the east, was another large town which then included 
Cromwell, Portland, Chatham and Middlefield. There seemed no reason why 
this strip of country, three miles north and south and between five and six miles 
east and west, which was a part of no township, should not be incorporated into 
the town. John Talcott, of Hartford, a great Indian fighter and a man of con- 
sequence, was apparently the friend of some of the Wallingford planters and his 
influence was asked to assist in getting" possession of the coveted land. It was im- 
possible to procure a grant from the general assembly, so, by the aid of John 
Talcott, an Indian title to the land was bought. The experience in this vicinity, 
and doubtless elsewhere, was, that no sooner was a title bought from one In- 
dian than another would present himself, claiming that the first Indian's title 
was "no good," but his was the genuine article. Already New Haven had bought 
the land as far north as Kensington avenue and Edward Higbee had bought the 
right to a large part of Meriden's soil of Seaukctt in 1664 : and now Adam Puit 
of Podunk presented himself with a clear and unsullied title to the land extend- 
ing five miles south from Jonathan Gilbert's "Meriden farm." The deed tells 
its own story : 

"Hartford. August 10, 1684. 

"Know all men whom this may concern, that I, Adam Puit, Indian belonging 
and now resident at Podunk have and doe hereby mortgage all my land lyeing 
upon the roade towards Newhaven beyond and adjoyning to Jonathan Gilbert's 



68 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

farme whicli tract of land being- in length east & west six miles and in bredth 
north and south hve miles with all the swamps rivers and meadow lands lyeing 
within the bownds & limits thereof to John Talcott of Hartford in Conecticutt 
& his heires forever. In case I the sayd Adampewitt do pay for & make full 
sattisfaction for one parcell of trucking cloth in hand received of the sayd John 
Talcott within one full year after the date hereof, & in case we the sayd parties 
agree about the sayd land before the end & terme of one full yeare (to say) for 
the purchase or sale thereof the sayd Adam is to receive foure coates more as 
full sattisfaction for the purchase thereof, the premises not being performed as 
above sayd, I the sayd Adam Puit doe freely & fully resigne & deliver up the 
sayd land to John Tallcot & his heires forever to be theirs to possess & enjoy & 
to hold as their own porcon, as witness my marke the day and year above sayd. 

The mark of Adam -^ J). Puit. 
Witnessed by us 

Samuel Tallcot, Dorothy Tallcot. 

Xesehegan Indian, Cherry Indian & Wenumpa Indian belonging to Tunxis 
& Hartford all appeared at Hartford on this i8th of October & testify & witness 
that Adam i^uit above written in the deed of guift afoarsayd had sole right & 
title in the land above sayd being about six miles east & west & five miles north 
& sowth beyond & next adjoyneing to Jonathan Gilberts farme in the way to New 
Haven which we understand is now sold to Major John Tallcot this we certify 
& know to be true & testify unto y^ yeare & day above written before me, Rob- 
ert Treat, Dep : governor, which three Indians above sayd Nesshegen Wenampis 
& Cherry being examined about the contents of this sayd writing which they tes- 
tify unto, and they all of them Joyntly and severally answered in English that 
they well understood the same & doe witness to the same in all the particulars 
thereof this day & yeare above written bf me Robert Treat Dep :Govr."i 

1 Major Talcott had previously obtained the native deeds from certain Indians of the land granted to 
Wallingford by the General court in 1670 and the names of these Indians are wonderful examples of the 
ability to combine letters into words that are almost impossible to pronounce. The names of the grant- 
ors and witnesses are Nes.samboccome, Manappash, Sunksqua Matoesse. Son Wetautson, Mymesque 
Accanent, Wayashunt, Pettuquatton, Wyashur, Necananip, Nodanuco and Awawoss. 

Major Talcott sent a letter to the Wallingford committee with the deeds which is quaint and in- 
teresting. 

"Worthy Gentillman : After Sallutations presented these may enforme you that I have sent you 
your long waited for Indian deed purchase by my Cousan Sammuell Wakeman : it was finished on the 
second day of the present week. Gentillmen I must confess my many errors by reason of the often 
Blots also at the pening of it : mistake a name or two in the first part but rcovered in the latter part 
so that I hope nothing therein will prove above the nature of a circumstantiall error ; as for the sub- 
stance, it will hold firme and good in law for your security ; the truth is I was shortned for time and 
having but one day after the Court to write in and draw the modell of the deed before the Indians 
were appoynted to be at my house and there came a considerable company, that I could not doe any- 
thing in reference to drawing it over more faire, being willing to gain as many hands and seals as I 



EARLY HISTORY. 69 

John Talcott then gave an assignment of the above deed to Wallingford and 
both docnments are dnly recorded on the town books and also in Deeds and Patents 
to Lands in the office of Secretary of State. 

This deed from Adam Puit conveyed land as far south as Yalesville, notwith- 
standing that all south of Pilgrims' Harbor ford already belonged to Wallingford. 
Five miles south from Jonathan Gilbert's Meriden farm would measure fully to 
that point. This transaction must have convinced the Wallingford planters that 
it was only a question of time before the colony of Connecticut would confimi this 
Indian deed by allowing the town to absorb the land by actual extension of its 
bounds to the southern bounds of Farmington. This Indian grant only put Wal- 
lingford in the position of owning the land just as a private person might, but gave 
the town no right to tax the individuals who were living in the locality. Already 
Henry Cole held an Indian title to the same territory or a good part of it which had 
been given by Seaukett to Edward Higbee and by Higbee to Cole. It would 
have been better for all concerned had the colony decided at once to incorporate 
the land in the township of Wallingford. But instead, in view of the impending 
advent of Sir Edmund Andross to assume the reins of government, the land was 
given to the towns of "Fannington. Wethersfield and Middletown to plant a vil- 
lage in" as has already been told in Chapter II. The act was certainly unjust, but 
it was probably done in the heat of excitement. As we, of course, know, the 
land was ultimately incorporated into Wallingford, but not until bitter land dis- 
putes had been occasioned by the anomalous situation. Not until many years 
later did the territory receive much attention from these favored towns and then 
the struggle to take away whatever rights Wallingford had under her Indian 
grant was carried on mainly by Middletown. The struggle lasted more than 
fifty years. When last our attention was given to this northern territory Henry 
Cole with his family were practically the sole inhabitants, and little attention 
seems to have been paid to it by the four surrounding towns. P>ut on Dec. 20, 



could then ; otherwise it should have been more prepared and presented to vour view : and at time 
of drawing, many people crowding in upon me put me beyond my ordinary pace and the Indian names 
being many and odd were hard and difficult to retaine and distinctly and precisely to enter : and hath 
often been in mv thoughts to have renewed it but have feared that I should not get the Indians to- 
gether to sign ; they lived in such a scattered way and a great distance one from another that another 
year in reason would have been little enough to have brought this matter to pass and thought perhaps 
some might die whose names were in as salers* as was almost the case of the young sunk squa so that 
I thought it to be so tedious a business to adventure upon that which had proved soe troublesome al- 
ready ; some of you Gentillmen may remember what Court it was that the Indians agreed in Mr. Adams 
orchard they would meet at my house at that time. I had but a day as I sayd before me to write and 
draw ; now hoping worthy gentillmen and friends you will excuse me wherin I have fallen short of your 
expectations, granting your favorable acceptance of what I have herewith presented to your view who 
am honord. Gentillmen and friends your reall 

friend and faithfull Servant, 

John T.\i.cott. 



* An obsolete word ; meaning sellers, that is grantors. 



yO A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

1708, this vote was passed in town meeting by both Wethersfield and Middjetown 
"Whereas the Gen^^ assembly of this colony having formerly granted unto the 
townes of Weathersfield Middletown and Farmington all that tract of Land ly- 
ing between Weathersfield Middletowne and Farmington and Wallingford not 
before granted, this town appoints Capt Robt Wells, Capt Joshua Robbins & 
Leut Benja Churchill a committee they or any two of them, fully Impowering \™ 
to do any Lawfull act or acts w^*^ we are able to doe in order to a Survey of the 
said tract & what further they may Judge meet in order to the settling of the 
same with Inhabitants or Its distribution for our use and to make return of what 
they do in this affair to this town as soon as they can perform the trust com- 
mitted to them hereby." These votes were in identical language and passed on 
the same day, which shows that it was concerted action, and an attempt to take 
advantage of the grant by the Colonial government in 1687. That same year a 
Wethersfield man had bought a large part of Henry Coles' farm of his heirs, and 
possibly some action was deemed necessary to protect him in his purchase, for 
Wallingford had insisted that the deed should be recorded in her land records. 
Two years later the latter town made this individual buy her Indian or native 
right to his purchase, held under the deed, from Adam Puit. Nothing further 
transpired to show that Wethersfield and Middletown were giving attention to 
the disputed territory until 1722 and 1723. In those years two petitions were 
"presented to the General Assembly by two groups of Wallingford men, show- 
ing that the dispute over these lands had broken out again. The petitions are in the 
Connecticut State Library among the archives entitled Towns and Lands. ^ The 
first one reads as follows: "To y® Hon^^® The Gov'' & Councill and Representa- 
tives in y® Gen^i Court Assembled at New Haven October ii^h 1722. The Pe- 
tition of Joseph Moss of Derby, Thomas Yale, Nath'^ Yale, John Yale, Hawkins 
Hart, Samuell Hall, Joshua Culver, John Atwater, Thomas Miles, Daniel Tuttle, 
Henry Williams, y*^ heirs of John Moss deceased, Gideon Ives, and Thomas Hall, 
all of Wallingford : and the heirs of John Burroughs deceased : Humbly Shew- 
eth : That whereas there was a purchase of Land obtained by y® ancient Pro- 
prietors of New Haven in y® year 1638; of one Mantuese an Indian Sachem, w*^^ 
purchase extended northward even beyond y® northermost bound of yt w^ is now 
y® Township of Wallingford ; and Livery of Seizin was made to y*^ Gentlemen 
of Newhaven, by y® S*^ Indian Sachem of this Tract of Land being eight miles 
wide from Nhaven Fast River eastward, and extending into y® north to a cer- 
taine tree, marked by y® Said Indian Sachem (w*^ tree is about a mile north of 
Pilgrims harbour). And whereas y« Proprietors of y® Town of NHaven were 
in actual Seizin of these Lands (as all y® Rest of their Township purchas*i of 
y® Natives) for many years before y^ date of Connecticut Charter without Dis- 



1 Vol. IV.. Doe. 66. 



EARLY HISTORY. 7 1 

turbance or Interruptions of any person or persons laying claim thereunto, or any 
part thereof : And Whereas ab^ y® year 1669 some of y® Inhabitans of Nhav'en 
inclining to settle themselves in northern parts of y*^ Lands belonging to Nhaven 
& to make a village or new Town there; The Town of Nhaven (according to 
V® honest and well-meaning customs of those times) did in full Town meetiiig, 
bv vote grant all their Right of Lands, in y® northern part of their purchase, un- 
to such persons as would Inhabit there and Incorporate themselves in a Town or 
Milage Society, for y® Setting up and Supporting y® publique Worship of God 
according to Gospel Institution, etc. : Whereupon Sundry Persons y® Ancestors and 
Proprietors of y® Petitioners Removed thither and Obtained from y® Gen'^ Court 
A Grant of a Township with priviledges of a Town, w*^'^ is now called Walling- 
ford ; but only when Wallingford obtained their Pattent from y*^ Gov'' & Com- 
pany for y® better holding their Lands, their bounds were not extended north- 
ward so far as their just claims from /Vncient purchase and Grant from Nhaven, 
y® Reason of w° was (as our Ancestors have told us) viz y^ Worship'fll Major 
John Talcott Deceased (sometime before Wallingfords Pattent was moved for) 

had obtained a Mortgage from some ■ one Indians of Connecticut River 

of these verv Lands w'^ were y® Northern-most part of Nhaven's purchase of 
IMantuese as abovesaid, and he y® s*^^ Major Talcott being at yt time Walling- 
ford's great Patron for obtaining a settlement from y® Gen^^ Court : therefor 
Wallingford did not earnestly move for y*^ bounds of their Pattent to be ex- 
tended any farther northward than was pleasing to yt s^^ worthy Gentleman, but 
since yt Time y® Town of Wallingford have purchas'd y*^ s'^ mortgage of y® 
abovesaid Major Talcott yt they might have y® good likeing of y*^ above said 
Major Talcott and might be sure to obtain an undoubted Native Right & Title 
by Purchase either from Mantuese as abovesaid or by these latter Indian Claim- 
ers, who mortgage'd to y® abovesaid Major not knowing wt Indians might have 
y« most just claim to those Lands: And Whereas now in y® one or y^ other of 
y« methods abovesaid y® Town of Wallingf'd Supposing that they had obtain'd 
an undoubted honest Native Right above y® bounds of their Township, they did 
thereof in a Lawfull Town-meeting Authorize and Impower Capt Thomas Yale 
and Capt j,, ]-,,-, yierriman and Sergt Tho^ Hall as a committee to sell any of 
those Lands above y® Tow!ishi]i and yet within their Indian ])urchase w^ Buyers 
should appear willing to take of : and to Deposite y® money w'' Should be so ob- 
tain'd into y® Town Treasury: whereupon your Petition.ers (l)eing y*" heirs and 
assigns of some of y*^ Ancient Inhabitants of Wallingford) did severally pur- 
chase of y® above said committee severall parcells of those Lands abovesaid and 
took Deeds from y« s^^ committee as followeth viz Joseph Moss and John Moss 
deceased as partners for 150 Acres. Thos Yale 100 Acres. John Yale 100 Acres, 
Nath" Yale 80 Acres. Hawkins Hart 100 Acres, Samuel Hall 2Q Acres, Joshua 



72 



A CEN'TUKV OF MEKIDEX. 



Culver lOO Acres, John Atwater lOO Acres, Thos Miles 50 Acres, Dan" Tuttle 
80 Acres, Henry Williams 200 Acres : Gideon Ives 20 Acres, and Thomas Hall 
ICK) Acres, John Burroughs 480 Acres: wherefore y^ Prayer of your humble Pe- 
titioners is yt this Hon^'^ Assembly in their Wisdom, Justice and Equity, would 
Grant a confirmation of y® several parcells of Land Specified above unto y^ Persons 
above named for y*^ better holding of those Lands to them and their heirs for- 
ever: according to y® Laws of this Governmt, and y^ Royal Charter of King 
Charles y® Second of blessed memory and y® Petitioners as in Duty bound shall 
ever pray &c 

John Moss &c. 

The year following a like petition was presented by Gideon Ives and Nathan- 
iel Curtis who had each purchased under like circumstances two hundred acres. 
The purchases of the first petitioners had been made in the extreme northern part 
of the disputed tract on the other side of Cat Hole pass and adjoining ; and the sec- 
ond group had bought the land in the extreme northeastern part known as Xotch 
Meadow near Middletown. Both seem to have been test cases ; and each purchaser 
found his land claimed by people in the neighboring towns. The petition while 
it stated the case fairly showed ignorance of the records, for John Talcott did not 
obtain the mortgage from Adam Puit until 1684, fourteen years after the set- 
tlement of Wallingford, and he could not have had a claim to the land when 
the bounds of the town were granted. Moreover New Haven had not been in 
quiet possession of the lands in question '"without disturbance or interruptions 
of any persons lading claim thereunto." But more than 50 years had elapsed since 
the date of the union of the two colonies and the memory of man is short and 
in the main the petition was a just claim. The General Assembly appointed a 
committee to view the land, and set such ])rice on the land as said committee 
should think just and i)roper. Thus the petitioners had to pay another purchase 
price in order to buy the right of the colony to these lands. But the colonial 
government then settled once and for ahva}s. the jurisdiction over the disputed 
territory, for at the October session, 1723, the following resolution was passed: 
"That the polls and rateable estate of all the inhabitants living on a tract of lanrl 
bounding east on Middletown, north on Jonathan iJelcher Esq'" his farm, north- 
westerly on Farmington, south on Wallingford, shall be put into the general list 
of the town of Wallingford ; and the said inhabitants are to give in their lists 
to the listers of the town of Wallingford (upon lawful warning given them by 
said listers) etc., etc:"i At the xMay session, 1725, the following resolution ap- 
pears: "Upon the petition of the north farmers in Wallingford and those inhab- 
iting the land northward of said Wallingford. commonly called Wallingford Pur- 

1 Colonial Rfcords of Conn., Vol. VI., p. 414. 



EARLY HISTORY. J^ 

chase Lands. This Assembly grants that they be a separate society for setting 
up and carrying on the pubhck worship of God among themselves, with all such 
liberties, powers and priviledges. as other such societies in this colony have and 
do by law enjoy ; and that the bounds of said society shall be as followeth viz. : 
all that part of said Wallingford Purchase Lands not already granted to VVal- 
lingford West Society^ or to Farmington South Society,- which lands adjoyn to 
said Wallingford north bounds, and also that part of said Wallingford township 
bounded as followeth, that is to say : that the river shall be the line from the 
bounds of the West Society down the stream unto the south side of Joseph Coles 
farm, and from thence unto the country^ road north of Amos Hall's farm, and 
from thence a straight line unto the highway below Amos Camp's house at the 
east end of said highway, and from thence an east line unto the mountain ■ and 
if these lines shall happen to cross any man's land, the said piece of land shall 
wholly belong unto that society wherein the owner dwells."* 

In the main these bounds are the present boundaries of Meriden, except that 
Jonathan Belcher's farm called Meriden was not included. At the May session, 
1728, "Upon the prayer of the North Society in Wallingford: It is now ordered 
that Merridan farm shall be annexed and the same is hereby annexed to the said 
society ; and that all the lands heretofore ordered by this Assembly to belong to 
said society, together with said farm, is hereby annexed to the town of Wal- 
lingford and to the County of Xew Haven, and that said society shall be called 
and known by the name of Merridan."'' Thus at last the status of the parish 
was established and christened by the name of Meriden, the name heretofore 
borne only by the farm in the northern part.*^ 

The new boundaries gave Meriden parish a straight line on the north and in- 
cluded the territory in modern P.erlin up to the laneway running west, just south 
of the house of Albert Norton, and so it continued until the last years of the eight- 
eenth centurw Those farms lying around what is known as Botsford's Corners, 
beyond Cat Hole pass in Kensington, were then also included in Meriden. lUit 
the disputes about boundaries were not settled even by this action of the General 
Assembly and during many years Wallingford and Middletown were almost an- 
nually involved in controversies that brought out the count}' su.rve\ors. the se- 

1 Cheshire. 

2 Great Swamp Society or Keiit^ington. 

3 Colony Road. 

4 Colonial Records of Conn., Vol. VI., p. 521. 

5 Colonial Records of Conn., Vol. VII., p. 196. 

6 The absorption of this farm into the parish of Meriden was not pleasing to Eleazcr Aspinwall who, 
it will be remembered, was Gov. Belcher's tenant at this time. At the October .session he petitioned 
the General Assembly that he didn't wish to belong to the new parish but to Kensington parish where 
he had attended since the start : but the petition was refused notwithstanding it was fortified by an 
affidavit from Rev. Mr. Burnham, of Kensington, saying that Aspinwall had paid his rates to Kensing- 
ton parish frnni 1717 until 1727. 



74 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



lectmen of both towns and adjoining property owners until it seemed as if the 
matter never would be settled. These troubles will be related later. 

At anv rate much had been accomplished. The long coveted land north of 
Pilgrims' Harbor ford was now a part of the township of Wallingford and a new 
society or parish had been formed out of this newly acquired territory and a por- 
tion of what had been incorporated in the township in 1670, and henceforth 
when one spoke of Meriden the name covered almost identically the same stretch 
of mountain, hill and dale that it does to-dav. 




jVt^n'tVILLIAGE. 



MAP PREPARED P.V lUSEPH P. PEACH OF CPIESHIRE. 



EARLY HISTORY. 75 



CHAPTER VII. 

Before the Indian deed given by Adam Puit had been obtained by WalHng- 
ford through the mediation of Major Talcott, the colony of Connecticut had 
granted two large tracts of land in the territory north of Pilgrims' Harbor ford 
to two prominent men: one James Bishop, the other William Jones, both of New 
Haven. Each gift was probably a pension or reward for valuable services per- 
formed. Both men had been conspicuous in the colony of New Haven before the 
union with Connecticut and both were influential in the councils of the colony 
after the union. 

The name of James Bishop does not appear on the New Haven records until 
1646, so probably he was not one of the original planters. Evidently he was a 
man of ability and high character, and after 1661 he was conspicuous and in- 
fluential. In that year he was elected secretary of the colony and continued in 
that office until the union. In 1668 he was chosen one of the magistrates of Con- 
necticut and was re-chosen annually until 1683 when he was made deputy gover- 
nor. To that office he was re-elected each year until his death on June 22, 1691. 

William Jones, ^ who had been a lawyer in London, came to America in the 
same ship which brought the regicides Whalley and Gofife in 1660. He had mar- 
ried in London, Hannah, the youngest daughter of Governor Theophilus Eaton. 
of New Haven. The governor had died in 1658 and Mr. Jones came to New 
Haven to look after his wife's estate and there he made his home. He was a man 
of good talents and the fact was soon recognized, for in 1662 he was chosen one 
of the magistrates of the colony of New Haven. In 1664 he was elected deputy 
governor. Upon the union in 1665 he was elected a magistrate of Connecticut 
and was annually re-elected until the death of James Bishop in 1691 when he w^as 
elected deputy governor to succeed him. He was each year re-chosen until 1698 
when he refused to continue in the office longer as he was then 74 \ears old. He 
died Oct. 17, 1706, at the age of 82, and the General Assembly which was 
then sitting in New Haven voted to give him a public funeral and appropriated 
the funds to defray the expense. The most interesting fact in his life was his 
connection with the two judges, Whalley and Goffe. While they were hiding in 
New Haven, Mr. Jones' house was their place of refuge for eleven days, and he 
seems to have shared the honors with Rev. John Davenport during this exciting 
episode in the historv of New Haven.- 



1 His father was executed as one of the judges of King Charles 1st; see Palfrey's History of N. 
B., Vol. 11., p. 504. 

2 Connecticut Magazine ; year 190.5, p. .539. 



76 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

At the October session of the General Assembly, 1669, the following vote was 
recorded: "This court grants Mr. James Bishop three hundred acres of land, pro- 
vided he takes it up where it does not prejudice any former grant," and the fol- 
lowing year the "Court appoynts ]\lr. John Mosse and Mr. James Brockett to 
lay out to the Hon^<^ * * * * jyjj. j^mes Bishop that land that was for- 
merly granted by this court." The farm or grant laid out for Mr. Bishop was 
in the very heart of Meriden. and although we cannot locate the exact bounds we 
can approximate it very closely. 

Start at the bridge over Harbor brook, just east of the office of Lyon & Bil- 
lard Co. — the southwest corner, and follow the west bank of the brook until we 
reach the northwest corner of the Center street bridge over Harbor brook. Then 
draw a straight line westward to the intersection of Springdale and Capitol ave- 
nues ; thence due south to Main street, and then by a straight line to the starting 
point. The northern line of this land grant crosses Colony street a 
little north of Foster street and the south line runs just back of or through all 
the business blocks on the south side of West Main street. The Meriden Bri- 
tannia Co. factories and all the business blocks on West Main street and nearly 
all on North Colony street are in the Bishop farm, and it includes within its 
bounds the most valuable part of Meriden's business center. But at the time the 
grant was made, it was what may well be termed a "howling wilderness." Just 
what use Mr. Bishop made of it we cannot tell. Doubtless he sold timber which 
was floated down Harbor brook and Ouinnipiac river, and perhaps, after part of 
the land was cleared he put some one in charge to till the land and raise crops. In 
an inventory of his estate made after his death in 1691 this farm was valued at 
£40, or say $200. Of course this sum is ridiculous when compared with the valua- 
tion that two hundred years of settlement and progress have added to it. 

Capt. John Prout, a mariner of New Haven, and a man of large wealth, mar- 
ried one of ^Ir. Bishop's daughters and eventually gained possession of the farm. 
There is no record of the boundaries until it was sold by Capt. Prout and 
his wife, Mary, for £305, to John Merriam on Nov. 3, 1716. In this deed it is 
described as "300 acres in the wilderness at Pilgrims Harbour, butting south on 
Wallingford old line, north on Cole farm, east on a brook formerly Mr. William 
Jones, west on land lately laid out to sundry persons by the town of Walling- 
ford." The phrase "south on Wallingford old line." is the key by which we 
are enabled to roughly locate all the ancient farms in Meriden that were in Pil- 
grims' Harl)or. It should be mentioned here that there never was an attempt to 
establish a village in Meriden. The land was granted in large tracts scattered 
here and there, and they were solely for farming purposes. That a village was 
finally formed was due wholly to unconscious gravitation towards a convenient cen- 
ter. In other words it was a form of evolution. 



EARLY HISTORY. "77 

In the description of the Bishop farm, the eastern boundary is given as butting 
Dn a brook or Mr. William Jones. Mr. Jones' farm was laid out in 1680 by vote 
3f the General Assembly and two additions were granted him at a later date by 
Wallingford and the colony so that eventually he had 550 acres. The description 
jf the first or colonial grant is as follows,^ "beginning by Wallingford Bound 
stake on the south (or east) side of Pilgrims Harbor River and from thence east- 
ward by the line of Wallingford bounds a mile in length to a walnut tree marked 
VV. I., from thence a line varying from a perpendicular eastward trianglewise to 
a white oak standing upon the land of the aforesaid river marked W. I., and from 
thence the mavne branch of the aforesaid river to the forementioned stake by the 
sayd river in the old road from New Haven to Hartford." This grant is very 
easy to trace on a modern map except that the eastern line is a trifle indefinite. 
Start at the southeast corner of the Colony street bridge over Harbor brook just 
east of the ofiice of Lyon & Billard Co. and draw a straight line eastward running 
through the Main Street Baptist church and then up Liberty street until 
'Orient street is reached, or a spot just a mile from our starting point; then by a 
straight line running northeast to the southeast shore of Baldwin's pond ; then 
back to our starting point, following the bank of the pond and Harbor brook. 
This was the first grant and contained 300 acres. The second grant was wholly 
in Wallingford territory and contained 150 acres and is dated in 1680. The 
boundaries are as follows: Start at the southeast corner of the bridge where first 
Igrant started and then by a line south to the intersection of Colony and Olive 
streets, thence eastward by a line parallel to Liberty street to a point due south 
from the junction of that street and Orient street; then northerly to that junction 
and thence westward by the south boundary of the first grant or Liberty street 
t*) our original starting point. The third grant contained 100 acres and was made 
Ml 1687 to "Debity" governor Jones, by the colony, acting by the hand of her 
iduly accredited agent Mr. Thomas Yale, not only by the delivery of a deed, but 
also by an old English custom dating from time immemorial, viz : the delivery of 
'turf and twig."- It was w-holly east of the first grant of 300 acres. Its south- 
I ;rn boundary was simply an extension of the same line which began at South 
oolony street bridge and ran up Liberty street to Orient, mentioned in the first 
^rant. It was extended now until it reached the brook^ on the east and then 
:he line ran down the brook northerly to the northeast corner of the first grant 



1 Volume entitled Deeds and Patents of Lands, Vol. II., p. 14S in the office of secretary of state, 
artford. 
1 2 This method of taking possession was formerly required by English law. Its origin antedates the 
[ise of written documents ; a twig broken from a tree and a sod cut from the turf of the property sym- 
ollzed the transfer. The later written deed simply took the place of this symbol. See Andrew's 
liver Towns of Conn. Johns Hopkins University Studies, p. 41. 

3 Some call this Willow Hill Brook : The ancient name was South Branch of Pilgrims' Harbor 
Irook. 



78 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

by Baldwin's pond. Consequently this third grant and the first gave him all the 
country bounded on the east, north and west by the brook and on the south by 
the straight line mentioned. Here then were two great farms given to Messrs. 
Bishop and Jones that really embraced a very great part of the business center 
of modern Meriden. 

It almost seems as if these gentlemen had a prophetic vision of what the fu- 
ture was to be when choosing their grants in territory that was to contain so large 
a part of Meriden's business activity. 

It is now time to describe the "northern bound line of Walling- 
ford" or "Wallingford old bounds," which has been mentioned in the 
foregoing descriptions. Its location was as much of a puzzle in the 
early days as it is to-day. The one point already located — its intersection with 
Colony street at Harbor Brook bridge is easy to remember. As land transfers be- 
gan to increase the selectmen found it necessary to locate this line in a way that 
could not be mistaken. It was particularly necessary for this reason. All grants 
south of this line were given by the town of Wallingford — the town was, there- 
fore, the fountain source. But land north of the line had been granted by the 
colonial government or the "Country," as the old records express it, and was 
governed and taxed by it. Wallingford had nothing to do with these north farms 
previous to 1723, except that she held the Indian or native right after 1684 through 
the purchase from Adam Puit, and made some grants under it. The re- 
sult is interesting. The northern territory was settled almost wholly by people 
from Wethersfield, Middletown, Farmington, Durham and Massachusetts, while 
the southern or Wallingford section was settled by the inhabitants of that town. 
This rule was not invariable, but it was general. A lack of knowledge of the lo- 
cation of the northern boundary line made it easy for one man to encroach on an- 
other's property. It is anticipating events somewhat to describe how this boun- 
dary line was marked for we have to jump from the year 1687 to 1721 — a year 
when the Jones farm had begun to be broken up into smaller holdings. In Oc- 
tober, 1 72 1, the town committee or selectmen laid out a "two rod highway be- 
ginning at Pilgrims Harbor brook at the Country road to follow the town line to 
Middletown bounds. "^ Later deeds show the exact location of this road and it 
is a straight line the whole distance to Middletown. The Rev. Theophilus Hall 
and Aaron Lyman acquired the southern part or second grant of the Jones farm, 
and their northern bounds both from their own frequent descriptions and from 
tradition were on Liberty street. The old Brenton Hall farm in the extreme 
eastern part of Meriden, originally granted to Rev. Samuel Hall, of Cheshire, 
was also bounded on the north by this old town line or highway. Imagine Liberty 
street extending westerlv until it reaches the Colonv street bridg-e over Harbor 



1 Wallingford Land Records, Vol. III., p. 520. 



EARLY HISTORY. 79 

Brook and also easttrlw running- in a straight line on its present course, and it will 
give us the highway laid out by the selectmen in 1721. In order to picture it 
as it was, it is necessary to obliterate, in our minds, East Main street from Colony 
street to the Center Congregational church, as that street was laid out at a much 
later date.^ One's mind is so dominated by this more important street that this 
ancient layout cannot be understood until we imagine or picture Liberty street 
as the one highway running from what is now the center of the town to the east. 
This old road, as it ran east from Harbor Brook bridge, passed just south of the 
middle of the present location of the Main Street Baptist church and came out at 
the northern end of what is now Willow street, and it will be readily seen that 
this is on the line of Liberty street. This old section, now obliterated, was in 
existence within the memory of people still living. Mrs. Breckenridge in her 
"Recollections of a New England Town," mentions it.^ This old Liberty street 
(as we may call it) can still be traced at many points. If one stands on Preston 
avenue where the old Booth place formerly stood in the extreme eastern part of 
Meriden and looks west, one can see the old grass grown road bordered by old 
stone walls and running through the meadows until the hill hides it from view, 
and on the horizon in the same line one will perceive on a clear day the old "Bill" 
Johnson place in the extreme western part of the town. It is easy to follow the 
road on foot for a long distance, but here and there the traces are lost because the 
ground has been cultivated. The John Yeamans place, built over a hundred and 
seventy years ago. seems to front only on the meadows until one discovers that 
it faced this old highway, which has been closed since 1786, at which time the 
relectmen sold to John Yeamans 1,200 feet of it west of his house. ^ The sit- 
uation of the Brenton or Caspar Hall place is not intelligible until one has in one's 
mind the fact that the old highway running in front of it was once the onlv road 
from Pilgrims' Harbor running east. One hundred years ago Brenton Hall was 
probably the most prominent man in Meriden and when his house^ was built at an 



1 Main Street from Broad Street to Liberty Street was laid out in 1782 and from Liberty to Colony 
Street in 1812. 

2 P. 105. 

3 Wallingford Land Records, Vol. XXIV., p. 84. 

4 This old house was torn down a year ago. If one rides to the end of the electric car line 
in East Meriden and then walks up the road running to the north, one is on Preston Avenue. At the 
top of the hill, about an eighth of a mile from the car tracks, one reaches this old highway running 
east and west. That part of the highway east of Preston Avenue is still in use and climbs a hill, at 
the top of which on the south side of the road stood the old Casper or Brenton Hall place. From this 
point the view is beautiful ; in the south extends the range of Besett or Beseck Mountains with Black 
Pond at the foot mirroring the rugged cliffs in its sombre waters, while in the west a charming stretch 
of meadow, wood and vale ends with the grand range of the Hanging Hills. About half a mile to the 
west on the same old highway stands the John Yeamans house with its old stone chimney still undis- 
turbed (taken down since this was written). This house was built by Daniel Baldwin about 1730. 
Chimney Hill derives its name from the old stone chimneys of two or three old houses, left standing 
after the houses had disappeared. These houses also faced this road. Several old houses once stood 
on this street that have completely disappeared. 



8o A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

early date bv Rev. Samuel Hall of Cheshire, it was on the main thoroughfare and 
the present Middletown and Meriden turnpike was not in existence. In the year 
1744 (twenty years after Wallingford had acquired the northern half of Meriden) 
bitter disputes about land boundaries were agitating the farmers, and it was 
deemed wise to define and lay out the western half of the ancient Wallingford 
north line. Therefore, on Jan. 25, 1744-45, the selectmen engaged the services 
of the New Haven county surveyor, John Hitchcock, to run it. He ran "the old 
north line beginning at northwest corner by Farmington bounds" (now Southing- 
ton) down to the "white wood stub by west end of Pilgrims Harbor bridge" and 
stakes were driven every eighty rods the whole distance to define it. Then the 
selectmen laid out a highway just south of this line beginning at Farmington line 
and running to the "road that goes west through John Merriam's farm." 

In 1735 John jMerriam had sequestered land for a road running through his 
farm, 2 rods wide, beginning at the Country road just north of his house and 
running west past Beaver Dam brook now known as Sodom brook ; this was the 
first lay out of West Main street. What was done by the selectmen was to run 
the road now known as Johnson avenue (down the steep Johnson hill just south 
of the Parker Clock Co. shop) until it came to West Main street, a short distance 
west of Capitol avenue. ^ The extreme western part of Johnson avenue begins 
at Southington line and is skirted for half a mile on the north by that town ( 1745 
Farmington). If one is fortunate enough to own a copy of the 1851 map of !Mer- 
iden (one of the most accurate maps of Meriden ever made and particularly val- 
uable because it delineates the whole township) and will take a long ruler and 
place one end on Johnson avenue and the other end on the bit of road running 
in front of the Brenton Hall place in the extreme eastern part of Meriden. the 
ruler will show the ancient northern boundary of Wallingford and one will find 
this line coming down Johnson avenue and thence running very closely to the 
line of West Main street until it reaches Butler street when the line cuts down 
through the buildings on the south side of West Main street, coming out in front 
of L}-on & Billard Co.'s office, over the bridge and through the south part of the 
Baptist church, up Liberty street, and so on until it runs in front of the Brenton 
Hall place to Middletown, just as it was laid out by the selectmen so long ago, to 
show the farmers the northern boundaries of what had been the jurisdiction of 
Wallingford until 1723. The coast survey map of the Meriden district published 
by the state will also give this line accurately. Thus the ancient Wallingford 
boundary line cuts the town into two nearly equal parts. 

Mention has been made of the Country road. It was thus that our forefathers 
called Colony street, meaning, not that it was in the country, but that it belonged 
to the country or colonial government of Connecticut. This is proved conclu- 

1 Wallingford Land Records, Vol. XI., p. 498. 



EARLY HISTORY. ol 

sively bv a vote of the General Assembly passed at the May session in 1760.^ 
A committee reported '"that upon viewing the road thro' Wallingford Plain they 
found the same too narrow, and the passing of travellers greatly hindered and 
obstructed by gates, bars and fences being made and erected across said highway 
and that they are of opinion that said gates, fences and obstructions should be 
runoved and a highway of four rods wide at least laid open, etc. 

"It is, therefore, resolved by this Assembly, That said gates, bars and fences 
be removed, and the highway thro' Wallingford Plain be laid open at least 
four rods wide, and the town of Wallingford is hereby recjuired to remove said 
obstructions and lay open said w^ay accordingly," etc., etc. Had the road not 
been a government highway the Assembly would not have given the town of 
Wallingford directions regarding it. It was invariably called Country road 
until about the year 1800. After that date it was called the Old road until our 
modern name of Colony street was adopted, which has exactly the same signifi- 
cance as the early name. They were conveying precisely the same meaning as 
when we speak of a highway as the state road. There was another Country road 
leading from Farmington to Wallingford that passed just west of Meriden ter- 
ritory. There was only one other in Meriden that had a name in those 
early days, and that was ^Misery road or path leading from Wallingford village 
to Dogs' Misery. 

John Merriam bought the Bishop farm in 1716 and may have found the house 
in existence or built it ; we cannot tell which, for no mention is made of it in the 
deed. It stood on the west side of the Country road, the north end extending 
north as far as the West Main street car tracks, while the south end of the house 
would, if now in existence, jut into the store of Victor Schmelzer, No. 6 West 
Main street, possibly touching Griswold, Richmond & Clock and Church & Morse, 
adjoining. The well was on the north side of the house and will be remembered 
by many as the old well that once was located in the junction of Colony and Main 
streets, and which w^as filled up more than thirty years ago. The old house had 
probably disappeared before the turnpike (now known as East and West Main 
streets) was cut through in 1812. The extra width of Main street west of the 
junction with Colony street is due to the addition of the turnpike to the road two 
rods wide north of his house opened by Mr. Merriam in 1735. He made this 
road so as to reach his saw mill, located a little west of where the Waterbury rail- 
road station stands. North Colony street where it intersects Main street was 
once much narrower than it is to-day. In 1831 Dr. Isaac I. Hough and Major 
Elisha A. Cowles conveyed to the town for highway purposes a strip of land 
twenty feet wide on the west side of Colony where it joins Main and extending 
north about 300 feet. This was in front of the present location of the Meriden 

1 Colonial Records of Conn., Vol. XI.. pp. 480-481. 
6 



82 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

House, Home National Bank and the Wilcox block. The western side of the 
street before that date was about where the west car track lies. It was as narrow 
as South Colony street where it enters Main street between the Rogers block and 
the store of Griswold, Richmond & Clock. Would that some generous soul had 
made a like gift at that point ! To properly understand the situation of John Mer- 
riam's house as first built one must divorce from one's mind East and West Main 
street. The house stood in a wilderness fronting Colony or the Country road 
that passed through Pilgrims' Harbor, and turned a little at this point, so as to 
cross the brook. It faced the east and there was no change until Mr. 
Merriam laid out the narrow road just north of his well. His barn stood on the 
other side of the Country road, in what he called his Harbor Meadow, and judg- 
ing from inference only, the Rogers block must stand on part of its site. His ap- 
ple orchard occupied the meadow northwest of the house and ran up the hill where 
the Corner school stands and back of the First Congregational church.^ To prop- 
erly understand the ancient layout of this, the most central and active business 
point of Meriden, a sketch has been prepared which will show at a glance what can- 
not be so clearly explained by words. 

It is evident that the encroachment on Colony street had been nearly as great 
here as on the plain in Wallingford. But it took place long before any one now 
living was born. 

We will not leave John Merriam- (the ancestor of all the r^Ieriden families of 
that name) until we have given a few more facts concerning his career. He was 
born in Lynn, Mass., April 25, 1671, the son of William, of that place. He and 
his brother William (three years older) came to Connecticut in 1716. John bought 
the Bishop farm, as already told, while William settled in Cheshire in the vicinity 
of Roaring Brook or "West Rocks," as it was then called. John brought with him 
his half grown family consisting of four boys, Nathaniel, John, William and Jo- 
seph, and four daughters, Rebecca, Ruth, Abigail and Susanna. The family took 
a prominent place in the community and the sons, when they came of age, built 
their homes in Meriden, near or on their father's farm, and here they lived and 
brought up their families and their bodies lie buried in the old cemeteries on Meet- 
ing House hill and Broad street. There are four of the old Merriam houses still 
standing in jMeriden: Nathaniel, the oldest son, in 1730 bought thirty acres of the 
Jones farm, lying east of his father's home and probably about the same time built 
his home which until about the year 1866 stood on the present site of St. Andrew's 
church. Here Captain Nathaniel lived and died, and his descendants after him ; 



1 An enormous apple tree, thirty-otie inches in diameter tlirough the trunk, four feet from the 
ground, stands back of the First Congregational church and just south of the residence of Mrs. George 
R. Curtis. It is not a modern named species and the fruit is worthless. It is perhaps one of those 
set out by John Merriam nearly 175 years ago ; it certainly is very ancient. 

2 The Merriam family is an entirely distinct and separate family from that of the Merrimans. 



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Drawn by James A. Toner, of City Engineei-'s office, from notes furnished by writer. 

ANCIENT ROADS AND BUILDINGS OUTLINED IN HEAVY BLACK LINES. 
MODERN BUILDINGS AND STREETS REPRESENTED BY DOTTED LINES. 



84 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



until they moved away in 1800, when the house became the property of the Barnes 
family, and after them it was occupied by Cornelius Hull, until finally it was moved 
around to Miller street where it stands opposite the office of Manning, Bowman 
&Co. 

The gambrel roof proclaims its age, but its shape alone is about all of the ex- 
terior that is old. The old stone chimney of giant proportions on the great hearths 
of which once blazed the fires that warmed and cheered Capt. Nathaniel, has long 
since disappeared and m its place stands a pigmy substitute for its great predeces- 
sor. But the sturdy rafters that Capt. Nathaniel put in place still support the 











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CAPT. NATHANIEL MERRIAM S HOUSE. 



roof, and the great hewn beams and joists are yet doing the duty they began 175 
years ago. 

The second Merriam house still standing is a very ancient one to all appear- 
ances, and was certainly built as early as 1744 and doubtless earlier. Age is de- 
picted in every angle and line, but the great oaken beams and rafters are still as 
sound as the day they were cut and hewn in the surrounding forests, and bid fair 
to last another hundred years without any diminution of strength. The old stone 
chimney adds dignity and strength, and its massive base covers fifteen feet square 
in the cellar and the capacious old fireplaces have blazed with logs that would 
blush with shame if crowded into one of our modern fireplaces, were it possible 
to do so. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



This house was built by Joseph, the youngest son, and is still occupied by a 
descendant — Edward M. Alerriam, a great-great-grandson. It stands on Johnson 
avenue, perhaps half a mile west of the junction with West Main street, and 
it is necessary to climb a very steep hill before one can gaze on this venerable old 
monument of early days. The writer has explored it in all its ramifications and 
it bears the appearance of being in almost the original condition in which it was 
left when the last nail was driven by the carpenters of colonial days. 

The third Merriam house has drifted from its ancient moorings and is now 
stranded on Camp street. No. 94, near the office of the H. T. Smith Express Co., 




JOSEPH MERRIAM S HOUSE. 

moved there bv the late Horace T. Smith. It is so changed from its original ap- 
pearance that one would never know it. William, the third son, lived in this 
house and it stood where the Home Club house is now located, at the corner of 
Colony and Foster streets. His father, John, presented the house to him with five 
and one-halt acres of land on March 28, 1735. It is unquestionably the original 
house, for before its removal and alteration it bore every mark of antiquity, and 
manv will remember its venerable appearance. Asaph, the grandson of William, 
here lived and reared his family and his sons. Selden, Sidney, Lauren^ and Noah, 
were the ancestors of most of the Merriams of modern Meriden. 



1 Lauren was the father of Lauren and Nelson and built a house that formerly .=tood near the house 
of the late George W. Lyrn, 138 Colony Street. Hi« farm extended west and included a large part of 
Grove Street. It was of him that so many Irishmen bought their building lots. 



86 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



The founh house, built by John, Jr., is in a condition that would distress its 
builder could he see it as it stands fronting the street — its joists and beams, like 
the ribs of some vertebrate monster of prehistoric days, exposed ; and showing 
through them the interior is revealed to him who looks. 

The old house is certainly a wreck and as it is now would be much better de- 
cently buried. It stands on the west side of South Colony street a short distance 
south of the plant of The Meriden Electric Light Co. The lot was bought by 
John, Jr., in 1/3/, of Stephen Atwater, and doubtless he built the house soon 
after. He lived there for several vears, but after his father's death he sold it 




JOHN MERRIAINI, TR. S HOUSE. 



and it went through a succession of hands, finally becoming the home of Christo- 
pher Atwater. Early in the last century the property was acquired by Capt. Lit- 
tle. Of him children used to tell mysterious stories with bated breath. After- 
wards it 1 ec:'r. e tl"e propertv of Alfred Snow. Then Florence \A'. Shelly was the 
owner and Liter it became the home of Kate McGlynn. It is now owned by John 
W. Coe and Emma L. Cook. 

A fifth i\Terriam house was standing until within a }"ear or two at the west side 
of the junction of Capitol avenue and West ]\Iain street. It was built probably 
about 1760 by Joseph, Jr., the son of the first Joseph. By people of the last cen- 
tury it was known as the Asahel Merriam place. He died many years ago and of 
late vears the house had been deserted. 



EARLY HISTORY. 8/ 

The question may arise, how can we be certain that these houses are the ones 
actually built and occupied by these different men? Of course there is no way to 
absolutely prove it. We have only probability to guide us. When an ancient 
house occupies what is known to be the site of the original one. the inference is 
that the present one is the original, without it can be shown that the first one 
was destroyed by fire or was grossly neglected. There is no reason why one of 
these old houses should not last indefinitely providing it has good care. The main 
cause of the destruction of old dw^ellings w'as that frequently there was no ven- 
tilation in the cellar. This caused the floor beams to decay and took the life from 
the foundation walls. In many cases the floor beams and sills have been 
replaced bv new ones and the foundation walls reconstructed and recemented. One 
house in town, almost positively known to have been erected as early as 1740, 
is in the best state of preservation of any ancient dwelling in Aleriden. This is be- 
cause it has always had the best of care. With proper attention one of these old 
homes ought to last 500 years. The reason they do not get such care is because 
people want new homes, and the old ones have been sold to those who have not 
been able to expend much money in their preservation. There are houses in Hart- 
ford, Farmington, New London and other places that are known to have been 
built 250 years ago. and they are still capable of lasting much longer. There is one 
feature about the ancient dwellings of Meriden that makes it hard to form an esti- 
mate of their age. In the towns mentioned mud or clay mortar in foundation walls 
and chimneys is a sign of a very early building, ^ but in Meriden this method of con- 
struction was followed up to the beginning of the last century. 



1 See page 186, •'Early Connecticut Houtes,"' by Irham and Erowu : two Rhode Island architects, who 
have made an exhaustive study of the subject. 



88 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



CHAPTER \'III. 

In the story of Meriden Farm, related in Chapter II., we learned that Edward 
Higbee made a purchase of a large tract of land of Seaukett, Indian. This was in 
the year 1664 while he was probably a tenant on Mr. Gilbert's farm. In 1668 the 
colony contirmed this purchase by a grant that was much contracted from the 
boundaries given by Seaukett ; but still Mr. Higbee and his successor, Mr. Cole, 
who bought the title in 1673, were in actual possession of at least 800 acres not- 
withstanding the colonial grant of only 257 acres. In other words, while in ac- 
tual legal control of the colonial grant they were squatters on the rest of the farm.^ 
Apparently no house was standing on Mr. Higbee's farm in 1668 but when he 
sold it to Henry Cole in 1673 ^^^ deed included "housing." 

The Meriden boy's- composition written nearly sixty years ago, already quoted, 
said that the house of Hiram Foster was built in 1669. As the first Meriden an- 
cestor of Mr. Foster acquired a large part of this old Cole or Higbee farm, and 
was the first purchaser to buy any portion of it. we may safely take it for granted 
that the house occupied by Hiram Foster, which stood on Colony street south of 
the junction with Kensington avenue, at what is now No. 464, was the one built 
by Edward Higbee about 1669 ; the date given in the composition fits in exactly 
with the records and is another proof of the accuracy of the schoolboy's informa- 
tion. This old house was no longer in existence when the composition was writ- 
ten and the present Foster house occupies the same site. 

The residence of Mr. Cole on this farm made no impression on the records 
until his death on Alay 12, 1676. In that year the inventory of his estate was 
filed in the court of probate in New Haven. Although the owner of so large a 
farm his wealth was not large, for the land had probably been only slightly im- 
proved and land was worth but little until it had been cleared of forests and broken 
under the plough and until there was sufficient population to make a demand for 
farms. The inventory is curious and interesting for it shows how simple was the 
life of these early pioneers and how few of the comforts of life were in their 
possession. 

1 There were undoubtedly many cases of this kind in the Colony. When the 'New Haven Committee 
in 1638 bought of Montowei-e "ten miles in length from North to South" they found whites already 
in possession of a portion of this territory and probably for a consideration the following clause was 
added at the end of the deed : "We, Robert Coggswell, Roger Knapp and James Love, doe hereby re- 
nounce all right to any and every part of the forementioned land :" this was duly signed by these 
men. See N. H. Colonial Records, Vol. I., p. 7. 

2 The late Henry S. Wilcox. 



EARLY HISTORY. 89 

AX INVENTORY OF YE ESTATE OF HENRY COLE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 

MAY 12, 1676: 

40 acres of land in jMiddletown bounds 20 lb: the farme by y^ Road to Hartford 

20 lb : 40 :oo :oo 

6 bush of indyan corne & some bedding 01 :i2 :oo 

2 oxen 12 lb: 3 cows 12 lb: one 3 yeare old heifer 3 lb : a bull 4 yeares old 3 lb : a 2 

3-eare old steare 2 lb : 32 :oo :go 

3 calves 30S : 7 swine at 5 lb 5s : 3 lesser swine 12s : a mare 30s : a two yeare old 

calf I lb: 09:17 :oo 

A yeare old colt 15s: a feather bed, bolsters & the blanketts 4 lb 6s 05:01:00 

3 blanketts 2 lb : a beare skin & deare skin 3s : bacon I lb : an iron pot i lb : an 

iron pot 15s : 04:18:00 

A brass kettle i lb 2S : a brass skillettl 6s : In pewter 15s : 5 piggins2 gs : a can 

& wood bottle 3s : 02 :i5 :oo 

A frying pan 5s : a payre of tongs tramells^ & pot hooks 6s : 00 :ii :oo 

In porke 2 lb 3 bushs of wheat 13s 6d : 5 bushs & peck of Rye i lb 2S : 10 bu'ihs 

Indyan Corn 30s : 05 :o5 :o6 

A meate barrell 3s : a runlett^ 2S : 13 dry caske i lb : a beare barrel 2S : 6*3 : 01 :07 :o6 

2 spinning wheels 8s : 2 chayrs 4s : a chest 8s : by wearing cloaths 2 lb : 03:00:00 

2 payre of sheets 2 lb: homespun cloath 7 lb 7s : a bible 5s a payre of cards^ 2s : . . 05:14:00 

Cart, hoops, boxes, i lb i6s ; chayne plow irons, span shakle i lb los : 03 :oC) :oo 

2 guns 2 lb : powder & shott i8s : 2 swords 12s : 2 stubbing hoes & 4 hoes I2» : . . . . 04 :02 :oo 

2 broad hoes 8s : a saw 5s : 2 axes 5s : coopers tools 3 lb los : 04 :o8 :oo 



127:17 :oo 
taken by us 

JNathI'I' ^NIerriman. 
Elisaph Preston. 

Henry Cole was a cooper, which accounts for the tools and large number of 
boxes, barrels, casks, etc. It is interesting to notice that there is no mention of 
a bedstead and that the total value of this large farm of at least 800 acres was 
only £20. The low valuation of the bear and deer skins show that "Hennerie" 
(as the old records sometimes quaintly called him) did not wander far from his 
door to obtain them. The mother with her ten children continued, probably, to 
reside on the farm until they were old enough to marry and move away. She 
then resided in Saybrook where she died in 1687. In that year a document was 
drawn up and signed by the various heirs, which appears on the probate records 
in New Haven in 1692, 



1 A pan with feet and long handle. 

2 Wooden dipper. 

3 Implement in firephu-e en which to hang cv.linary vessels. 

4 Eighteen gallon barrel. 

5 For carding wool. 



90 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

"Wethersfield Jan y® 2^ 1687 

Whereas there is a certaine estate in land & other personal estate formerly of 
Rig'ht belonging unto our hond^''*^ father Henry Cole sometyme since dec^^ at 
Wallingford in y® late^ colony of Connecticut in New England left in p* in y® 
possession of our hon'"'^ mother lately alsoe deceased at Saybrook w*-"'^ s*^ estate 
had never vet orderly distribution between theire children. We therefore y*^ 
children of y® s*^ Henry Cole & his wife dec"^ whose names are hereunto subscribed 
in order to a loving yssue of y*^ matter have mutually & unanimously agreed that 
y® s^ estate shall be divided between all y® s"^ children in equall proportions. And 
to y^ end have alsoe agreed to desire & Impower two of our Beloved Brethren 
with our trusty & beloved friend Nath^ Royse of Wallingford afore^*^ to settle 
& distribute the same accordingly. And alsoe to make sale of a certaine parcell 
lying within y® Bounds of Middletown belonging to us containing by estimation 
twenty acres be it more or less. And having soe don to distribute _\® effects 
unto us y® s^ children 

In wittness hereof that this is our unanimous agreement we have hereunto 
set o'' hands or marks this 23'"^ day of January Ano Dom one thousand six hrn- 
dred eighty & seven 

Samuell Cole Hannah Coie 
Aron Goofe the mark of 

his mark James Cole 

Rebekah Cole Wm Cole 

her mark Samuel Taylor 

John Stevens Rich^ Goodale" 

The husbands signed this document in place of those daughters who were 
married. 

The two Beloved Brethren mentioned in the above document were James and 
William Cole, who continued to reside in this locality, James for a while in the 
homestead, while William took a farm on Clapboard Hill, south of the present 
residence of J. Hobart Yale on Yale avenue. John became a school teacher in 
Boston and Samuel lived in Wethersfield. 

A curious question arises when considering the southern boundary of the Cole 
or Higbee farm. The colonial grant to Edward Higbee, which is recorded on 
the Middletown land records, says, "257 acres more or less abutting on Pillgrims 
Harbour River south till it comes to the way which goeth to Xew Haven & from 

1 The word late refers of course to the usurpation of the Colonial government bv Sir Edmond Andross 
at this time. 



EAKLV HISTORY. 9 1 

thence straight to a river at the end of the mountain which lyeth west." This 
would naturally lead one to believe that one side of the boundary was positively 
deterniined. On the other hand, when the General Court or Assembly granted a 
farm to James Bishop the following year his southern boundary was on a line 
running west from where "Pillgrims Harbor River comes to the way which goeth 
to New Haven." The natural inference would seem that James Bishop had 
bought up Higbee's claim to that particular tract, at least, for the southern boun- 
daries cannot be the same for two distmct farms. But, unfortunately for this 
theory, we iind that when Higbee sells his farm to Cole in 1673, he gives iden- 
tically the same boundaries that are mentioned in his grant from the colony. 
Were there tw^o crossings that might each be considered the "way that goeth to 
New Haven?" There were, if the following records can be interpreted in that 
wa>', and there seems to be no alternative. As already mentioned, the reason for 
staking the old north bounds of Wallingford in 1744 was because disputes had 
arisen between the farmers relative to land divisions. These contentions lasted 
some time, and in the year 1748 it w^as found necessary to take the deposition of 
Robert Royce who lived in what is now known as the Dr. Archer place in South 
Farms, then called Milking Yard or Royce's Farms. The fight had been carried 
to the General Assembly and Deacon Royce w^as either summoned to appear or 
else a special agent was sent to see him. The deposition now in the State Library 
at Hartford reads as follows : 

"Robert Royce of Wallingford in y*^ county of New Haven of full age Testi- 
fies and Sa}s that he is now and hath been weW acquainted for sixty years last 
past with the north line of the town of Wallingford as it was shown to him sev- 
crall Times by Old Mr. Yale who Informed him he was with y^ Committee that 
Laid out the Township of Wallingford and that he hath been Severall Times 
appointed with old Capt Yale to Perambulate the line or lines of y® Towniship, 
that the North West Corner, Something in Farmington, Bounds the line 
[* * * '"] down to Pilgrims Harbour to a wdiite wood stubb near wdiere the 
Bridge now Stands which Stubb is the South West Corner of Jones's farm and 
so continues down to y^ South East Corner of Streets farm where Daniel Balding 
now Lives! and the Town farms were always laid south, up to the Said Described 
Line and that y® Country farms that lay north of said Line were all bounded 
South on Said Line and that he is well knowing to y*^ Improvement & Bounds 
of the farms both Country & Town Bounding on Said Line, and hath had Severall 
of them y® Said Farms Committed to his Watch & Care and that the other sup- 
posed Road over the Harboiu" was nothing otherwise than a Road laid out bv 



1 John Yeamans place on Bfe Lane 



52 A CENTUin- UK MliRIDEN. 

Old Capt. Yale to accommodate Mr. Cole to go to Meeting and went by the name 
of Cole's path and this I often heard old Capt. Yale say, and further the Said 
Royce Saith not 

Taken in l'erj)etuam rei Memoriam 

Robert Roys 

Wallingford Feby 23''*^ 1747-48 

Robert Roys personally appeared and made oath to the truth of the foregoing 
evidence before me 

Xath*^ Stanly Assistant" 

This document shows that there was another road that was considered by some 
as the "Way that Goeth to New Haven." James Cole is probably referred to 
and his home was at the corner of Colony street and Kensington avenue. To go 
to meeting for him meant to go to Wallingford for there was no church in Meriden 
until long after that early date. If he was looking for a short cut or a way to avoid 
the swamp and muck and mire that formerly existed at the Colony street cross- 
ing of Harbor Brook and to escape the sand flats beyond Yalesville, the natural 
way to go would lie somewhere near the present line of Center street, and after 
the summit of the hill was gained then down Broad^ and Curtis streets, and so on 
to Wallingford. When what is now called Curtis street was laid out in 1721, the 
records state that it "goes as the road now goes up Pole Hill''^ and is 6 rods wide, 
and runs north to the end of the bounds, or "Wallingford North bounds." In 
other words the selectmen were following an ancient road and were merely adopt- 
ing it as one of the town highways ; and when Rev. Theophilus Hall laid out 
Broad street from Curtis street to the new meeting house in 1752, which he was 
then building, he simply sequestered this same path or road that led just west of 
the church and then down to Liberty street — the Wallingford north bounds. 
Could this path from North Colony street down Center, Broad and Curtis streets 
have been in existence before Capt. Yale marked it out for Mr. Cole to go to 
meeting? if he laid it out, he was laying out in the Center street part a path in ter- 
ritory that did not belong to Wallingford until nearly fifty years later.^ If he 
was marking out a highway that had already been in existence he was merely 
performing the part of a surveyor, which position he held. Now there was a road 
other than Colony street, evidently at an earlier date, that is mentioned in the 
ancient recorrls. 



1 Broad Street Forth r{ the iunetion with Curtis Strfpt was net laid out then. 

2 The hill down which the southern narts of Curtis and Broad Streets descend was called Pole Hill. 

3 Laying out a road or path in those early days in many locations meant simply to "blaze" and cut 
out a few trees and hushes. One could not easily follow such a path through the trackless forests with- 
out some one constantly renewed these marks and "blazes." 



EARLY HISTORY. 93 

At a General Court for New Haven ]\Iarch 12, 1654-55, "Mr. Goodyear was 
desired when he goes to Conecticote to go the new way & take notice of it and 
let the Court understand how he finds it & that if they see cause they may send 
t(>rt\- n.on to mark it ort." The southern boundary of the Cole farm was cer- 
tainly almost, if not quite, on a line drawn due west from Center street bridge. 
It is a problem that is not now possible to solve. But certainly the evidence looks 
as if Air. Higbee thought that about where Center street bridge is now located was 
where the "way that goeth to New Haven" was located. 

The beloved brethren and trusty friend, Nathaniel Royce, did not soon find 
customers 01 purchasers for the Cole farm. The power of attorney authorizing 
them to sell the farm was executed in 1687 and not until January 29, 1707-8 did 
they sell a rood. On that date they sold to Bartholomew Foster, of Wethersfield, 
ship carpenter, "2-10 of that howle farm known as Cools Farme set on Country 
road near South side of Ijelcher's Farme." Mr. h^oster was originally from 
Gloucester, Mass., where he was born about 1649. ^^^'^ where he remained until 
1696: he was engaged in the ship building business. Then he came to 
Wethersfield and made a purchase of John Curtis of a piece of land with a "Man- 
sion house" on it. There he probably made the acquaintance of some of the Cole 
family and was persuaded to buy a part of the farm in Meriden.^ He bought 
more during the two or three years following. Bartholomew Foster came to Mer- 
iden with his two sons, Thomas and Timothy, and the family has always been 
prominent and influential. When the church was formed Bartholomew was ac- 
tive and conspicuous in the negotiations and served on various committees, such 
as purchasing a farm for the new^ minister, etc. When considering these two ad- 
joining farms of the Fosters and Merriams and their neighbors the thought strikes 
one that the name of a prominent manufacturing company of to-day applies with 
peculiar descriptive force to the community on Colony or Country road in those 
early days, viz. Foster, Merriarn & Co. 

Meantime, an agreement appeared on the Wallingford records under date of 
March 12, 1708, whereby the Cole heirs divided the farm into ten parts, five 
parts on each side of the Country road. It would be tedious to follow up the 
different transfers but w-e will notice one or two items relating to the farm that 
are curious: One of the heirs was Samuel Taylor, of Wethersfield, who had mar- 
ried a daughter of Mr. Cole. His share of i-io was 80 acres and it lay in the 
southern part adjoining the Merriam farm on the south. ]Mr. Taylor died in 
February, 1711-12, and his portion of the Cole farm was inventoried as "Farm 



1 None of these ancient Foster houses are now in existence. Thomas, by the terms of his father's 
will, got the house standing at the corner of Colony Street and Kensington Avenue previous to 1S48, 
while the house of Timothy stood probably on what is now the property of the State School for Boys 
where it fronts on Colony Street. 



94 



A CENTURY OF MEKIDICX. 



in the woods called Cole's farm, 80 acres, £20." It is on file in the records of 
the court ot jjrobate, Hartford, and there is no location given other than that 
quoted. Aaron Goffe, of Wethersfield, who had married another of Mr. Cole's 
daughters, had an inventory which mentioned his 100 acres near Pilgrims" Harbor 
as worth four shillings. 

For nearly a hundred years if there was a transfer of any part of this great 
farm of Henry Cole's the deed always mentioned that the land was a part of Cole 
farm. By the year 1725, after two or three transfers, that part of the Cole farm 
that had belonged to Samuel Taylor became the property of Josiah Robinson. 




CAPT. JOSIAH ROBINSON S HOUSE FROM S. W. 
Note condition of Colony Street in 1876. 



He bought some adjoining land until he had a farm of more than lOO acres. 
It fronted along Colony street, beginning at about where the Meriden Silver Plate 
Co. factory now stands and running up to, perhaps, where the residence of Arthur 
S. Lane is located. No. 341. Mr. Robinson's house was located where now stands 
the home of Mr. E. J. Doolittle, No. 285. The farm stretched ofif towards the 
east across Harbor Brook and nearly to Hobart street line. There is evidence 
that he built his home shortly after he bought the farm, and it continued to stand 
there until 1876, when Mr. Doolittle bought the house and lot and demolished 
the building. From its enormous chimney, which was a regular quarry, he was 



EARLY HISTORY. 



95 



able to IniiM the whole foinulati(>n of his present house and wall up the brook on 
both sides, that flows in the rear, and had a quantity of stone left to sell. Of all 
the ancient houses in Meriden, it was the largest so far as we know. 

Mr. Robinson^ was an important man in the community and for those times 
had considerable wealth. He was captain of the train band and was always 
called Capt. Robinson, and in 1750 was one of the delegates to the General As- 
sembly for the town of Wallingford. For many years his house was the tavern of 
the parish.- He had five slaves at the time of his death named Phoebe, Lemmon, 
Rose, Primus and Jennie, who probably helped take care of the farm or waited on 
guests in the inn. The house in its day must have been a fine one and its size made 
it imposing even in age. The addition in the rear was perhaps made by General 
Walter Booth who owned and lived in the house from 1816 to 1843. It was 
doubtless a tin shop as he, in his younger days, was engaged in that business. 




CAPT. JOSIAU k( i|;l XSOX S llol'SI': IK(iM N. W 



The first notice we find that Capt. Josiah Robinson's house was an inn appears 
in the record? of New Haven county court in 1751. At the April session each 
year licenses were issued and duly recorded. In 1763 Ames' Almanac began to 
give a list of the diiTerent post roads and towns between New York and Boston 
with the names of the best taverns. 

Robinson's is the only name given for Meriden and it continues so until the 
year 181 1. It is the onlv one mentioned in Meriden b\- Green's "State 



1 Captain Robinson probably came here from Dorchester, Jlass., perhaps through the influence of 
Bartholomew Foster. 

2 There is a tradition that Gtneral Washington s-topped at this iun.- Perhaps he did: but if we are 
to believe all the traditions relating to the hou.ses in New England, that are said to have been honored 
by the presence of General Washington at one time or another, we are forced to the conclusion that 
Instead of attending to the military atl'airs of the Colonies and later assuming the duties of Chief Mag- 
istrate of the Nation he was spending his time in haunting the hostelries and was better fitted to 



g6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Register." an accurate and reliable publication full of statistics relat- 
ing to Connecticut. Capt. Robinson died in 1766 and left an estate 
valued at £1636. He owned 261 acres of land, but not in a connected tract. 
He had a law library containing eleven volumes, so that he probably occiipied 
somewhat the position of a legal luminary among his neighbors. Back of the 
house, which was valued at £165, stood a barn, a horse house, a Dutch barn^ 
and a malt house. The inn was continued by his son, Josiah, until 1771 when he 
died also. He had evidently lived a rapid pace or been unfortunate in his in- 
vestments, for his estate was found to be insolvent and a list of his creditors 
contained the name of almost every man in the parish. The two widows (the 
elder being the daughter of John Merriam) continued the tavern for some time. 
It then went into a succession of hands who all ran it under the 
name of "Robinson's ;" among them Caleb Bull, Seth D'Wolf and Giles 
Foster. Finally Jotham Mitchell owned and lived in it until his son- 
in-law. General Walter Booth, bought it in 1816. Then its fame as 
an inn ceased and it was used by General Booth only as a residence 
until 1843, when he sold it to Deacon Elah Camp. He sold it and one acre of 
land to Keyes S. Hathaway in 1852. Mr. Hathaway lived there until 1876 and 
then sold it to E. J. Doolittle. who pulled it down. Xorth of Capt. Robinson's 
farm was a strip of land belonging to Bartholomew Foster, which ran up to the 
road that is now called Britannia street. North of this was a tract of some 140 
acres which was taken by Aaron Goffe, of Wethersfield, in the settlement of the 
Cole estate. Nothing was done with the land until Solomon Goffe bought his 
brothers' interest in,, the property in 171 1 after his father's death. The deed, re- 
corded only in Wethersfield, reads that the farm is in the woods and bounds west 
on the Country road and extends north, east and south. Truly a somewhat 
indefinite description. Mr. Goffe moved to Meriden and built his house in 171 1, 
that is still on the east side of Colony street a little north of the Griswold street 
junction and is now known as the Samuel Clark place. It is undoubtedly the 
oldest house in Meriden and certainly has a venerable appearance. We know noth- 
ing about Mr. Goffe except that he lived here ten years, married a Wallingford girl, 
Mary Doolittle, and the birth of one child is recorded. In 1721 he sold the place to 
Thomas Andrews, of Wallingford, who, apparently, lived there until 1729, when 
he sold it to Jonathan Collins, of Middletown. The old house was enlarged, perhaps 
soon after Mr. Collins bought it, for the addition looks as old as the rest, but 

write a guide book to New England, giving the names of the best taverns than to be called the father 
of his country. He may have stopped here to get a bite or quench his thirst but there is no record 
of the fact, notwithstanding that an itinerary of his travels has been published. When journeying 
to Boston in 1775 to take charge of the armies (his first trip through New England) he left New 
Haven in the morning arid reached Springfield that night. The larger towns of Hartford and New 
Haven were so near that it is very doubtful if he ever stopped at Robinson's. 
2 A hay house with no sides, but with a roof supported by four corner posts. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



97 



that there has been an addition is plain to be seen. The dormer windows in the 
old gambrel roof are probably a later addition, and there have been apparently 
some changes in the interior. That the house is the one built by Solomon Goffe 
will be apparent to any one who will examine the old rafters and the huge floor 
ueams. The chimneys in the cellar are enormous and the stones were cemented 
with clay mixed with straw as were the foundation walls, a sure sign of an early 
house ; another indication of age is the split laths, used in very early houses. 
The Collins family continued to own the house until 1796 when a son, Jonathan, 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



JONATHAN COLLINS' HOUSE. 



Jr.,1 sold it to Samuel Taylor of Chatham. Mr. Taylor doubtless lived in it until 
1806 when he sold it to his son-in-law, Partrick Clark. The Clark family own 
the house and farm to this day although they no longer live in it. It is now 
rented to a German named Charles Hackbarth. 

Jonathan Collins was the son of Robert, of Middletown, and the father came 
to Meriden two vears earlier than the son. 



1 This Jonathan Collins removed to Turin, N. Y., where he became very prominent 
7 



98 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In the settlement of Henry Cole's estate the son, John, who was a school teach- 
er in Boston, took 350 acres on the west side of Country road just opposite the 
Solomon Goffe farm. It had a frontage on the road of 2,270 feet, and extended 
south nearly to the ]Meriden Firearms plant and ran north quite a ways be- 
yond the Waterbury railroad crossing. It extended in the west quite to Cat 
Hole mountain. In 1721 Mr. Cole sold the farm to Samuel Butler and Dr. Eben- 
ezer Cooper, and these gentlemen apparently built a house on it and probably 
lived in it. Dr. Cooper was so far as we can learn the first physician to live in 
Meriden. The deed calls him a "phititian."" He afterwards lived in the south- 
eastern part of Aleriden and on December 30, 1739, Rev. Theophilus Hall bap- 
tized his son Thomas. Beyond these three entries we know nothing about him. 
In 1727 Butler and Cooper sold the farm to Robert Collins,^ of Middletown. 
He came here with his two younger sons, Robert and Edward. The house he 
bought with the farm was late in the century sold to Joseph Twiss, of Cheshire, 
the ancestor of the Twiss family in Meriden. It stood near the northern limits 
of the farm close to the Country road and this part of the farm was some years 
since the links of the Meriden Golf Club. The old house was destroyed by fire a 
great many }xars ago. 

In 1737 Robert Collins gave to his son, Edward, a tract of land containing 
100 acres, iti the southern part of the farm, and probably very soon after Edward 
built his house, for on Aug. 29, 1738, he married Susannah Peck, of Walling- 
ford, and his home was in the house now occupied by Junius S. Norton, at 
596 Colony street. 

The house is a very ancient one, unquestionably, although it has been greatly 
altered. The picture show^s it as it was some twenty years ago. Even then it 
had been greatly changed from its original condition. The front door was at 
first in the middle of the street side, but at the date of the picture was on the 
south side. The old house is in somewhat the condition of the boy's jack knife: 
a new blade and a new handle, but still the same old knife. The great chimney, 
cemented by clay mortar, and the old split laths still to be seen in the attic, are 
unquestionable evidences of its age. Here was born on February 16, 1741, Dan 
Collins, afterwards known as Capt. Dan, wdio w^as a very prominent figure in 
Meriden early in the last century. He married in 1774 Susannah, the daughter 
of Esq. Aaron Lyman, and lived in the old Lyman home that stood on East 
Main street, east of Broad street, and was pulled down many years ago. That 
farm is still Collins property. The Edward Collins house had a number of own- 
ers before it came into the possession of Mr. Norton. It was sold late in the 
eighteenth century to Reuben Stocking and bv him in a few vears to Ira Yale. 



1 He was born in Branford in 166S. 



EARLY HISTORY, 



99 



It later became the home of a y\r. Tennant and Mr. Xorton bought it of the late 
Eli Btttler. North of the Collins farm on the same side of the road was another 
large tract of land reaching to the road or laneway that runs west from the resi- 
dence of Edward Higginson, already described as the southern boundary of the 
Belcher or Meriden Farm. It contained 400 acres and extended west 400 rods, 
or 6,600 feet, and had a frontage on Colony street of 150 rods or 2,475 ^^^t- 

The Cole heirs sold it in 17 10 to John Burroughs, of Stratfield, a grandson 
of Edward Higbee, a previous owner. Burroughs' son, Edward, sold to 
Richard Hubbell 120 acres of this land — the south part — and he to John 




EDWARD COLLINS HOUSE. 



Dcnnie, a rich Boston nierchant in 1734, and ^Ir. Dennic immediately built a 
house that is still standing, once called the Stephen Bailey place, but by many 
known as the Grimes house. It stands about a quarter of a mile north of the 
Waterbury railroad crossing on the west side of Colony street on a high bank 
with a stone wall in front, and is shaded by several large maple trees. That 'Sir. 
Dennie never lived here is certain, and he must have leased the farm to some one 
in Meriden. The house does not look as old as it is, for it has been newly clap- 
boarded and painted. But let any one examine it from cellar to attic as the writer 
has done, and he will soon be convinced of its age. 



lOO 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In some respects it is the oldest appearing house in Meriden. It is very prim- 
itive in its construction, and on the second floor only one room has been done 
off and that is on the south side. On the north side an addition has been built, 
very roughly, in such a way that the ancient oak clapboards are part of the inside 
finish. The inside walls are mostly boarded over and around the mantels there 
is some paneling. There was originally no ventilation in the cellar and as a re- 
sult the huge oak sills and many of the floor beams decayed and have had to be 
replaced by new ones. Late in the eighteeenth century the farm was bought by 
Stephen Bailey (1795), and remained in that family for many years. It 
is now the property of William Nelson and is occupied by a Dane named James 
Rasmersson. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



STEPHEN BAILEY S HOUSE. 



The northern part of this 400 acre tract, belonging to John Burroughs origi- 
nally, eventually became the property of the Yales and was by them sold to the 
Edwards family of Middletown, On the old road described as running west 
from the old Eli Way, or now Edward Higginson farm, stands a poor, forlorn 
old house, bereft of its sides and looking the picture of desolation. It stands 
about three hundred feet west from Colony road and is on the north side of the 
old road or laneway. It is shaded by large maple trees and has a forbidding 
and sinister aspect, as if its old walls had once hidden some mystery. It is a 
very old house and was built by one of the Belchers, probably by the governor, 



EARLY HISTORY. 



roi 



and thus dates previous to 174 1. It was standing when the farm was bought 
by John Yale. 

Here hved the Jonathan Edwards family for many years, and their interests 
seem to have been more closely identified with Middletown than with Meriden 
parish. At the end of the eighteenth century the farm was bought by James 
Avery Hough, and the old house was identified with that family for many years. 
In the middle of the last century it was the home of Cyrenus Booth. For several 
years now the house has been abandoned and it is only a question of time 
before it will follow the way of all the earth. 

On Colony street stood, until some ten or fifteen years ago, an old house 
known as the Eli Way place, which has been mentioned many times as opposite 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. JOSEPH EDWARDS* HOUSE. 



the old Kensington road. In the division of the Cole estate a tract of 50 acres 
was sold to Thomas Miles, blacksmith, in 1713. In every case when the Cole 
heirs sold a portion of their farm it was necessary for the purchaser to pay toll 
to Wallingford by buying her Indian right acquired from Adam Puit, so that 
the Cole title was not considered valid without buying Wallingford's title. Gen- 
erally this secondary charge was paid by the Cole heirs. Thomas Miles was no 
exception to the rule and we find him buying or at least acquiring a secondary 



102 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

deed from W'allingford's commissioners. His north line abutted on the Belcher 
estate and the farm was on the Country road on the east side and the old Way 
house stood on this tract. That he lived on the farm is not probable for when 
he disposed of it in 1724 to James Scovill, of Aliddletown, no house is mentioned 
in the deed. But when J\Ir. Scovill sold the farm to Eden Burroughs in 1733, 
a dwelling house was included. As the Way house was very ancient in appear- 
ance it is possibly the one built by Mr. Scovill. The farm was sold in 1742 to Asa 
Yale and by him in 1745 to Samuel Yale. Without stopping to give all the trans- 
fers we will state that in 1796 it was sold to Elisha Cowles, the father of Major 
Elisha A. and Roswell Cowles. 

Mr. Cowles was a mason by trade and probably made many of the old grave- 
stones in the Broad street cemetery and doubtless many of the old chimneys and 
foundations in Meriden were the results of his labors. North of this house on 
the west side of the road there is a ledge which looks as if much stone had been 
quarried from it. After his death the house and farm was sold by the heirs to 
John B. Douglass and it did not become a Way place until sold to Eli by xA-very 
Hough in 1823. To the writer it seems probable that the house was built by 
Elisha Cowles, the old one having disappeared in the description in one deed. 

Just south of the Jonathan Collins farm, now the Samuel Clark place, and 
north of the strip owned by Josiah Robinson, was a small farm of thirty acres 
belonging to Jacob Pars'ons ; it fronted west on Colony street and there was a 
house on it that disappeared long ago. Parsons bought it of Thomas Andrews 
in 1722, who at that time was the owner of the farm that he later sold to Jon- 
athan Collins. 

In the northern part of the Burroughs tract of 400 acres on the west side of 
the Country road, and just south of the Belcher farm, was a small tract of some 
thirty acres that was about 1720 sold to Timothy Jerome and on which he was 
living at that time, although the tract was shortly after acquired by the Edwards 
family. 

The first farms and houses on Colony street have now been located and it can 
be seen that the owners formed a community by themselves. Until 1728 the ter- 
ritory was not formally made a part of Wallingford, although paying taxes in 
that town. These farms w^ere far away from Wallingford church and all the 
conveniences of that community, and the situation must have at times been irk- 
some. On October 8, 1724, they presented the following petition to the General 
Court then assembled at New Haven : 

"The Humble petition of the Subscribers Humbly Sheweth 

That we are under great disadvantages for want of a Pound nere y® Merriden 



EARLY HISTORY. IO3 

or Stone House and are compelled to drive unruly Cattell nere 6 or 9 miles to 
ye nearest pound which if we had one nere it would save us a Great Deal of troble 
and we would carry the marks and brands of those Cattell impounded where the 
Law directs, to the next towns unless the Honorable assembly, would pleas to 
Constitute ?. man among us to Despose of Unruly Creatures as the Law directs. 
Therefor your Humble Petitioners Pray that there may be order for a Pound 
near y® Meriden, or Stone House, and an officer to Despose of impounded 
Cattell and vour Petitioners as in duty bound will Ever Pray 

N. Merriam J. Parsons 

N Merriam Jr Eleazer Aspinwall 

Wm Merriam J. Merriam Jr. 

Timo Foster B. Foster 

J. Robinson T. Andrews 

Thos. Foster D. Rich 

T. Jerrum J. Scofell." 

That this petition was granted cannot be learned. 

Eleazer Aspinwall was, at this time, a tenant on Meriden or Stone House 
farm, and it is probable that David Rich was also. Thus we have followed up the 
grants to the different owners and located all the farms on Colony street and in 
several instances the titles have been carried to the present day. ]\Ieriden was 
settled in a manner so different from most New England towns that it has seemed 
to the writer better to locate the different farms in the parish of ]\Ieriden, so 
that when we come to the formation of the church and scan the roll of those faith- 
ful pioneers who wished a church in their very midst, we may know who they 
were, where they lived, and have a fair general idea of the topography of the 
country. To the writer the old houses are of a peculiar interest for they con- 
nect us with the past as nothing else does. If one of our forefathers could return 
to his former home and walk about our streets busy with the hum of mod- 
ern life, how much would he find as he left it? The old highways liavc changed 
their courses, or been closed and new ones opened. The whole face or topog- 
raphy of the country he would find greatly changed. Where was woodland, now 
lie broad fields, and where he left meadows and |)astures, are blocks of houses 
and factories. With the exception of the eternal hills standing like sentinels on 
each side of the town, and a few old houses, nothing would be as it was when 
he closed his eyes forever. 

Something of pathos should swell within our breasts as we gaze on these old 
homes, the onlv visible reminders of an age that is gone, of names that have 



I04 



A CENTURY OP' MERIDEN. 



vanished and of hands that have been dust these hundred years. They are the 
onlv witnesses of a Hfe that we know no more — a Hfe of simple pleasures and 
primitive conditions. The phantoms of many generations pass before our eyes, 
generations that were once as we are now, busy with their ceaseless round of joy 
and sorrow, of marrying and burying, of feasting and mourning, of laughter 
and weeping and of play and work. And these old houses have seen it all. 
Through the door of each have passed the husband and wife, newly wed, the 
first to call it home : and then, children's feet have pattered through, and chil- 
dren grown to men and women have hastened heitce to build them other homes. 
And so, one generation after another, they have come and gone, and still the 
old house stands, perhaps sheltering people of an alien race, and sometimes de- 
scended to uses, that are low. And the names of those who built them and first 
lived within their walls have been entirely forgotten, and all that is left to tell us are 
a few old musty records, with only a name and a date, as witnesses that they have 
ever lived. And, as with these old houses, so will ours be soon. Other lives 
will be passed beneath their roofs ; and our names — only a memory, and soon 
utterly forgot. 




PORCH OF THE OLD WILLIAM JOHNSON 
PLACE, ON JOHNSON AVENUE. 



EARLY HISTORY. IO5 



CHAPTER IX. 

The boundaries of Deputy Governor Jones' large farm have already been de- 
scribed. Naturally he did not live in Meriden but, nevertheless, he must have 
made frequent visits of inspection to ascertain the condition of his farm and to 
see that it v/as properly cared for. In charge of it he placed Captain Thomas 
Yale of Wallingford. Just a glimpse of the relations of the two men is given in 
a deposition made in 1757 by Theophilus Yale, the son of Capt. Thomas. 

"About y® year 1740 I went with ^Ir. Hitchcock y'' County Surveyor and Dea- 
con Robert Roys upon y® Desire of Dan^^ Baldwin to Wallingford North West 
corner bounds and we run from thence eastward along by y® line of Marked Trees 
which my Hon^'^^ father Thomas Yale informed me was Wallingford North Line 
untill we came to Pilgrims Harbour bridge which my s<^ father informed me was 
V® place where people Constantly pased over, and then we came to y® Southwest 
corner of Mr. Jones'es Farm which farm was Laid out in y® Country Land (So 
Caled) and then we continued y*^ same course as far Eastward as y® South East 
corner of Mr. Streets farm now Dan'^ Baldwins * * * I remember when I 
was young y* Mr Jones Desired my father to take care of his s^^ farm and renew y® 
bounds, and when my father was old Mr Jones Desired him to take me with him 
and Shew me y® bounds of y® farm, and I remember I often went with my father 
to renew y® bounds of s"^ Jones'es farm. I see all y® bounds thereof and well 
remember y^ y^ south bounds of s"^ farm joyned on Wallingford north line," etc., 
etc.i Theophilus was at that time 82 years old. 

Of course in this deposition Theophilus was speaking of the Colonial grant. 
After the death of Mr. Jones the farm remained intact until 1722 when the heirs 
divided it. 

It would be tedious to follow these divisions, so we will take the year 1735 as 
a convenient date to show the owttiership of this great farm. 

It requires a good bit of imagination to go back and see in one's mind's eye 
what it looked like then — a stretch of meadow and woodland, with scarcely a 
house in all the great tract. All roads and streets must be obliterated from one's 
mind except the old Liberty street running east from Pilgrims' Harbor bridge; 
and Curtis street running in its present course and coming down to Liberty a 
little east of the course of present Center street and so on to North Colony road. 
The farm of 30 acres belonging to Captain Nathaniel Mcrriam has already 1)cen de- 



1 Colonial Lands, Vol. VII L, p. 170, State Library. 



I06 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

scribed. It fronted on the north side of Liberty street and extended as far east as 
the Meriden High school property, his barn probably standing on the site of that 
building. His land was bounded north and west on Harbor Brook. 

The next farm was that of Timothy Jerome. It also fronted on Liberty street 
on the north side ; it extended as far east as present School street and was bounded 
on the north by Harbor Brook. His house stood very nearly on the site of the 
present Walter Hall house. No. 202 Liberty street. How long it continued to 
stand cannot be told, but shortly after his death in 1750, his son, Samuel, built a 
house that was standing until ten or twelve years ago and will be remembered by 
many as the Upson place, just south of the residence of the late Reuben T. Cook,. 
No. 608 Broad street. Before Broad street was opened in 1799, Wall street 
joined Liberty street near what is now the south end of Hobart street, and passed 
between the house and barn of Timothy Jerome, as is told in the layout of Wall 
street, made by the selectmen in 1739. 

The Samuel Jerome house formerly faced south on this old extension of Wall 
street to Liberty, and wdien Broad street w-as projected in 1799, there was at first 
the suggestion that the house would have to be moved farther west, which was 
finally avoided by moving the road slightly to the east. When Broad street was 
widened in 1869, it left this old house jutting into the road eighteen feet, and the 
common council ordered it moved back. So it was shifted twenty-five feet to the 
rear and turned at right angles so as to face Broad street, at which time it lost 
its old stone chimney. It has been impossible to obtain a picture of this old Samuel 
Jerome place. Timothy, the father, emigrated to America about 171 7 and he evi- 
dently came directly to Meriden. He was probably from the Isle of Wight 
and the family is believed to have been of Huguenot origin. As already noted, he 
seems to have lived at first on a tract of land just south of Meriden farm and he 
bought his portion of the Jones farm in 1722. Timothy was a man of consider- 
able wealth lor at the time of his death in 1750 his inventory included four slaves, 
named Pomp, Rose, Jenny and Prince. 

The valuation placed on these slaves was enormous, viz: £460, £295, £190 
and £95 respectively. This was because the value of the currency was at that 
time much depreciated. His wearing apparel included such articles as a straight 
bodied coat of pale blue, a red vest of bayse, a black vest of callimanco and leath- 
er breeches; mixed colored coat and vest, a beaver hat, etc., etc. 

Altogether Timothy Jerome must have been very smartly attired when ar- 
rayed for meeting or expecting guests : and he must have often had friends at 
his home who Were not disinclined to hilarity, if we may judge from the list of 
seven punch bowls, a case of bottles, large drinking glasses and sixteen pewter 
tankards mentioned in his inventory. 

It should interest all to know that the brilliant district attorney of New York,. 
William Travers Jerome, is a descendant of Timothy in the sixth generation. 



EARLY HISTORY. lO/ 

Chauncey Jerome, the well known clock manufacturer of Xew Haven fifty years 
ago, was also descended from Timothy. Samuel Jerome moved to Stockbridge, 
Mass., and sold his farm to Abel Curtis in 1771, and Abel later gave a consider- 
able portion of it to his son Levi, who lived in the old house many years. It 
was bought years ago by Benjamin I'pson, and his widow died in it in 1888 at 
the ripe old age of ninety-six. 

That part of the Jones farm that was south of Liberty street became the 
property of Stephen Atwater from New Haven and Daniel Harris. Atwater's 
part was bounded west on Colony street, north on Liberty, south on Olive and it 
extended east as far as Pleasant street. His house stood at the junction of Olive 
and Colony streets on the south side, on a piece of land bought of Eleazer Peck. 
This old house disappeared many years ago. His farm extended also across Har- 
bor brook to the west, probably as far as Cook avenue. This Atwater^ family 
continued to dwell here until the beginning of the last century. 

Daniel Harris came here from Durham and bought the east half of this south- 
ern portion of the Jones farm as early as 1726. He continued to hold it until 
1739 when he sold sixty acres to Rev. Theophilus Hall, together with a house and 
a barn on it. There is a tradition that the parson built the old house, afterwards 
known as the Central tavern in 1752 for his son Samuel. As this son was only 
thirteen years old at that date it cannot be that there is any truth to the tradition. 
It seems much more probable that this building was the one standing when he 
bought the farm of Daniel Harris. 

Samuel was only twenty-eight years old when his father died in 1767, and the 
house with adjoining land was left to him in the will, as well as the barn, which 
stood not far from the site of the Broad street Baptist church. The house cer- 
tainly was a very ancient building and as the parson's home was where the Wil- 
lard Hall house now stands, south of the junction of Curtis and Ann streets, on 
the southeast corner, there seems to have been no reason for building the old 
house in 1752. It is probable then that it was the one built by Daniel Harris as 
early as 1730. at least. Of course, this refers to that part covered by the gam- 
brel roof only. The rest of the house was evidently a combination of after 
thoughts, built as the demands of the tavern increased, by Dr. Insign or his son. 
Dr. Isaac I. Hough. 

The house was the scene of many an interesting event in the early history 
of the town, although its importance as a tavern was not luitil after 1811 when 
Robinson's ceased to be mentioned. It stood on the site of the residence of Fran- 
cis Atwater, No. 510 Broad street. 

The eastern boundary of the Harris farm was a line periiaps four hundred 

1 This Stephen Atwater was a de.scendant of the New Haven family of that name very prominent 
there: One of the name, Jonathan, was one of the richest men of the Colony. 



io8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




EARLY HISTORY. 



109 



feet east of and parallel to the old Curtis street which ran on the western edge of 
the present Broad street and would, if now in existence, run through the western 
part of the Center Congregational church. 

Aaron Lyman came here from Durham about the year 1732 and bought a 
portion of the Jones farm both north and south of the old Liberty street. His 
farm at first consisted of 130 acres and it lay just east of the Harris-Hall tract, 
and extended south a little beyond the present Charles street and north consid- 
erably beyond Wall street. It extended on the east to the top of the hill beyond 







411 in 
ill i» - 



r 



i-r..-:. 




n: His 






AARON LYMAN PLACE. 



Orient street. His home stood about 200 feet northwest of the house now occu- 
pied by Benjamin W. Collins, 450 East Main street. 

This house was torn down about thirty years ago and much of the timber is 
now in Mr. Collins' barn. The picture is a reproduction of a crayon drawing and 
is a faithful representation of this ancient house. Mr. Lyman was an important 
man in the community and possessed of large wealth for those days. The old 
probate records bear abundant evidence of the numerous positions of trust he 
was called on to fill. He was twice married and left only one child at his death 
who was the wife of Captain Dan Collins and it was thus that the Collins family 



no 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



became identified with this part of ]\Ieriden, and all evidence of the former res- 
idence on North Colony road was forgotten. Esq. Lyman largely increased his 
land holdings and at one time his farm extended down, east of Meeting House 
hill, running over on wdiat was then known as Little Success hill, which is east 
of and just about as high as Meeting House hill. The home of Charles Z. Mur- 
dock stands on the southern slope of Little Success hill. Esq. Lyman also bought 
a part of the Jerome estate and his farm extended north as far as the residence of 
Dexter W. Parker, No. 8i6 North Broad street. Many acres of the old farm are 
still in the possession of the Collins family. 

Daniel Baldwin, of Milford, came to Meriden about 1725, and bought a farm 
in the eastern part that was bounded on the south by the old Liberty street that 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

DANIEL BALDWIN, OR JOHN YEAMANS PLACE. 



has been described. It was a part of a farm that had been granted to Rev. Sam- 
uel Street, of Wallingford, in 1680, by the colonial government at the same time 
that Deputy Governor Jones was given his farm. This Street estate was just east 
of the Jones tract, from which it was separated by the south branch of Pilgrims' 
Harbor brook, or Willow Hill brook as it is now sometimes called. Daniel Bald- 
win immediatel)' built his house, and the old building is still in existence and is 
still sound and staunch and good for many years more. 

Daniel died in 1777 and half the house and a number of acres were given by 
his will to his daughter, Lois, the wife of John Yeamans, and later Mr. Yeamans 
bought the remainder of the land adjoining and the other half of the house and 



EARLY HISTORY. 



Ill 



here he and his son and grandson lived man}- years. The house is still called 
the Yeamans place. Daniel had a saw mill on the brook west of his home. The 
old place is now the property of Fred A. Baumann. 

The house looks lonesome, standing as it does in the meadow, with scarcely 
another within view. The old road on which it formerly faced has long been 
closed, although it can still be traced distinctly in its course to the east; that part 
was in use long after the western portion had become private property. 

North of the Daniel Baldwin tract was another great farm that was bought 
b}' John Way at a date as early as 1725. The house stood on what is now known 




DR. ALEXANDER WOLCOTT, NATHANIEL PEXFIELD^ 
OR WILLIAM HUDBARD YALE PLACE. 



as Baldwin avenue, a little west of Bee street, and not very far from the north- 
east district school house. It disappeared many years ago and its site is now oc- 
cui)ied by a modern dwelling. The A\'ay family continued to own this farm many 
years. 

West of the John ^^'av and Daniel Baldwin farms was another great tract 
of land that was purchased by Dr. Alexander Wolcott in the year 1735 ; part of 
Aaron Lyman and part of the Jones heirs. Dr. A\'olcott was of Windsor and was 
afterwards of New Haven where he was a prominent physician. He apparently 
lived in IMeriden a short time and he built a house that was still standing until a 
few vears aeo. 



112 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

A curious deed appears on the Wallingford records under date of March 3,. 
1739-40, reacHng as follows: "I Alexander Wolcott^ in consideration of £300' 
paid to me by Lydia Wolcott, lately my wife, and likewise in consideration of said 
Lydia Wolcots obtaining a divorce from me at my request and desire," etc., etc. 
The deed grants to the said Lydia this Meriden property. It certainly was a pe- 
culiar transaction and is like nothing else that the writer has seen on the Wal- 
lingford records. 

This Lydia must have afterwards married John Elliott, of New Haven, for 
on December 30, 1747, she and her husband deeded to Nathaniel Penfield this 
farm of 160 acres that had been granted to her by her former husband. For two 
or three years previous to the deed to Lydia Wolcott the farm was leased to Da- 
vid Rich, but when Penfield obtained it he moved here from Guilford and for 
many years he and his sons continued to live on the farm. Late in the eighteenth 
century it became the property of Nathaniel Yale and he and his son Jonathan 
and grandson, William Hubbard Yale, were the subsequent occupants of the 
house. The photograph taken a few years ago shows the rear of the dwelling 
with its owner, William Hubbard Yale, standing at the well. It stood on Gravel 
street on the east side, a few hundred feet south of Baldwin avenue. It met the 
fate of so many of these old landmarks, for it was burned to the ground, per- 
haps three years ago. , 

Little Success hill has already been described as lying just east of Meeting 
House hill : north of it was what was called for many years a "town farm,"^ 
sequestered by Wallingford about 1703 for some purpose unknown. It extended 
as far north as Liberty and just east of it w^as the farm of Nathaniel Roys. 

He was the "trusty friend" of the Cole family who. with the "beloved breth- 
ren," had disposed of much of their large farm : and, indeed, he was the "trusty 
friend" of others for he was several times appointed executor or administrator of 
different estates at a time when there were very few to care for ; he was evi- 
dently quite a man of affairs. He was five times married, his fourth wife being 
the widow Abigail Hoyt, in whose life had occurred a gruesome tragedy — a not 
uncommon event in those days of savage Indians and frontier life. 

She had previously been the wife of Deacon David Hoyt, of Deerfield, Mass. 
Two hours before daybreak on February 29, 1703-4, a party of French and In- 



1 Dexter's "Yale Biographies" says, "his wife was compelled to get a divorce from him on account of his 
irregular habits." He was considerable of a poet, and a contemporary said of him "Very tall, erect 
as a plane tree, with hair hanging down his shoulders, of silvery whiteness, and with an eye and eye- 
brow and complexion of a dark hue ; his appearance very noble." 

2 This town farm must not be confounded with the one north of the river in South Meriden. The 
description of this one in East Meriden was as follows, taken from the town records, "1703 town farm 
80 acres lies above Leatel Success Hill 4 score and 12 rods north and south and 8 score rods east and 
west bounded on Mr. Jones' farm on ye west (the south portion) on ye town line (Liberty street) on 
ye north, on Benjamin Roy's farm on ye east and south also and south on Common land ; allowance 
for highway through ye land upward." 



EARLY HIS'IORV. II3 

dians under the command of AI. de Ronville, swooped down on the sleeping town 
and l)utchered many and captured a number of others. David Hoyt, his wife 
Abigail, and four of their children were among the prisoners, and, suffering such 
tortures as may be imagined on a winter trip under such conditions, they were 
started on the way to Canada ; one child was killed on the road and David died 
of starvation at Cowass in X. H., near the mouth of Wells river. She was finally 
brought back from Canada and married Nathaniel Roys in 1708.^ 

In the year 1687 he was granted his farm of 207 acres by the town. It was 
thus described in the records: "lying near upper end Misery Swamp, beginning on 
y® east side of y® river^ near Middletown mountains to north of his hog sty, then 
west 119/^ rods, then south 160 rods, then east towards y^ mountains 94 rods, then 
north 160 rods." As the only landmarks in the boundary are the hog sty and 
the river, its location might be termed a trifle indefinite. But as a subsequent 
deed shows that it joined the town farm on its western side, it is safe to say that 
it was located between Paddock avenue and Gravel street on the west and Misery 
Bar road and Bee street on the east. It was probably bounded by the "Walling- 
ford north bounds" on the north. 

It was between this Nathaniel and Captain Thomas Yale that the quarrel arose 
in 1696 regarding a watering place which involved so many of the Wallingford 
planters.^ The watering place was, doubtless, where Misery Bar road crosses 
the south branch of Pilgrims' Harbor Brook. His house, perhaps, also stood on 
this road, for at that date there was no other highway in the locality. In 1701 
Ensign Nathaniel gave to his son, Benjamin, a farm of seventy-two acres, a part 
of this same tract. There is no record of where his house stood and it must have 
disappeared many long years ago. 

East of the farm of Nathaniel Roys was one belonging to Ebenezer Prindle. 
The house was situated near the north end of Misery Bar road, a little south of 
its junction with Pomeroy avenue, but has long since disappeared. Mr. Prindle 
came here from ]\Iilford about 1722 and evidently in some way was connected with 
the William Jones family, for he obtained his first land in Meriden as a Jones 
heir. He was the owner of another large tract of land extending quite a dis- 
tance north of old Liberty street and east of the Daniel Baldwin farm in the so- 
called Country land. His two daughters married Abraham and John, sons of 
Daniel Hall. 

Mention has already been made in a former chapter of the farm of Daniel Hall.'* 
Murdock avenue runs through the heart of it and it contained a ver\- large tract 



1 See Sheldon's History of Deerfield, Vol. I, pp. 283-284. 

2 These Englishmen were used to small rivers at home, hence they commonly called Harbor Brook 
a river until a considerably later date. 

o See page 63. 

4 This Hall family were de-^cendants of the same stock as Rev. Theophilus Hall : a very prominent 
race in the annals of Wallingford and Meriden. 



114 



A CENTURY OF MERIDKX. 



of land. The house owned by Daniel Hall was undoubtedly the first one erected in 
the east part of ^leriden — perhaps as early as 1685. It stood immediately south 
of the present dwelling- of John P. Hall,^ a descendant, but became uninhabitable 
and was pulled down many years ago. 

The line of the Halls, owners of this farm is Thomas, Daniel, John, Joseph, 
Julius and John P. and his sisters. The farm is still a large one and undoubtedly 
represents the longest continued ownership in the same family of anv land in 
Meriden. 

South of this Hall farm, perhaps three-quarters of a mile, on the east side of 
Murdock avenue, and just north of the dwelling of George B. Murdock, 
stood the house of Benjanu'n Whiting.- He came to Meriden in 1725 froiu South- 





M 


I ' : 






" 




H 




1 


,^j^^S 


1 




^m 




H 




H 


WBkSiB^^ 



HOUSE OF DANIEL HALL. 



ampton, L. I., and bought some sixty acres which he subsequentl\- added to until 
he owned a large farm which extended on both sides of the highway. For many 
years he served as a deacon of the church and died in the year 1773 at the age of 
seventy-eight. Of his three sons only Samuel remained in Meriden and he died 
more than a hundred }ears ago. He left no sons, so the name became extinct in 
Meriden, but his two daughters, Lucy and Sarah, married two brothers, Joel and 
Levi Foster, respectivel}', and it was thus that some of the farm is now owned by 
George A. Foster, ^ a descendant. The old house built by Benjamin Whiting dis- 
appeared many years ago. 



1 The writer here acknowledges his Indebtedness to John P. Hall for much valuable information re- 
lating to the ancient farms in East Meriden. 

2 Deacon Whiting was a son of the Rev. Joseph (Harvard Col. 1G61), minister at Southampton, L. I. 
See Pres. Ezra Stiles' diary, Vol. I., p. 289. 

3 Foster Bros.' pond is on tills old Whiting farm. 



EARLY HISTORY. I 15 

South of the Whiting- farm was the large one helonging to the Ives family. 
The old house stood, in fact stands, in the dwelling- of George B. Murdock. Bur- 
ied in the depths of this modern house is the kernel or nucleus of the one built b\' 
John Ives at an early date.^ In the year 1723 he appears to have taken up his 
residence in the parish of Meriden. He died in 1738 and the house and east part 
of his farm passed into the possession of his son, Captain Bezaleel. He died in 
1798, and his only child. Captain Samuel, then became the owner and at his death 
in 1803 it became the property of Ivah Curtis, who had married his daughter, 
Hannah. Here was born Rev. Samuel Ives Curtis, whose son. Rev. Samuel Ives 
Curtis, Jr., lately deceased, was probably as great a Hebrew scholar as this coun- 
tr\- has ever produced, and professor in Chicago Theological Seminary. About 
the middle of the last century the farm was bought by Zina K. Murdock, and 
he made the changes and additions to the old homestead. The farm of John Ives 
was a large one, con-iprising several hrndred acres and stretched down on both 
sides of the highway nearly to the town line or farm of Amos Camp. His son, 
John, in the division of his father's estate, took the western part and probably 
built the house many will remember as the Othniel Ives place, a few hundred feet 
west of the dwelling of Mr. Murdock. , It was erected very likely about the year 
1745. It was bought man\- years ago by J. George Schwink and perhaps ten years 
ago was burned to the ground. In it was born Levi Ives, who was the father of 
Levi Sillimar. Ives, who becan-ie the Protestant Episcopal bishop of Xorth Car- 
olina. In the year 1852 he produced a great sensation by leaving the church and 
embracing the Roman Catholic faith. The Ives family has always been numerous 
and influential in Meriden and the old records abound in frequent evidences of 
this fact. Almost due south from the house of George B. Murdock stands the 
home of John Francis, just inside the Wallingford line; it occupies the site of 
the house of Cato Freenian, probably a brother of Chatham Freeman ; both were 
freed negro slaves; fron-i the road just west of the house there was formerly a 
laneway leading to the house of Amos Camp, perhaps three hundred feet to the 
north. Consequently it was just within the Meriden line and was one of the land- 
marks used in describing the first boundary of the parish of Meriden. He came 
here at an early date from Durham and bought at different times land fron-i Sam- 
uel Hall, William Cole and John Gaylord, which was variously described as near 
P.urnt Swamp. Clapboard Hill, etc. i\Iost of this land is now in Wallingford, but 
the house stood within the Meriden line and, consequently, he belonged to the 
parish. His family moved away fully a hundred years ago, and they were very 
distantly related to the Deacon Elah Camp family that n-ioved to Meriden in the 
middle of the last century. 

Paddock avenue north of where Misery Bar road leads to the northeast is 
called a comparatively modern road, nevertheless, there was a road running north 

1 Some doubt has been expressed as to this statement ; at any rato the sites are the same. 



ii6 



A CEXTUKV OF MEKIDEN. 



perhaps a little further west, at an early date, on which a Gideon Ives was living 
in the middle of the eighteenth century. His farm was bounded south on the 
Berrv farm (to be described) and land of Dr. Isaac Hall, and east on the highway 
and not on Misery Bar road. He was a son of John and brother of Bezaleel 
Ives. Some of the farm was given him by his father and some he purchased of 
Benjamin, the son of Nathaniel Roys. East of this farm, on the other side of the 
road, just north of the Paddock homestead, once stood the house of ^lichael Mitch- 
ell, one of the early settlers of Meriden. 

Miller avenue, which runs west from Misery road (now called Paddock ave- 
nue) and begins its course between the home of William B. Rice and the south- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



SILAS RICE PLACE. 



east district school house, is an ancient highway and was laid out in 1723, and 
runs to Yale avenue. The Rice house occupies the site of the dwelling of Cap- 
tain Divan Berry, of Revolutionary fame. His father's (Divan, Sr.) home was quite 
a distance further west on the same road but disappeared long ago ; there are people 
still living who remember the site by the depression marking the cellar. Divan, 
Jr., bought the house at the corner of David Ives and six acres also, bounded 
north and west on his own land. Divan died in 1785 and the house and six acres 
soon became the property of Levi Ives and it was doubtless here that Bishop Levi 



EARLY HISTORY. 



117 



Sillinian Ives was born. The house was bult before 1740 by Dr. Ebenezer Coop- 
er. Meriden's first "phititian." About 1796 this dwelHng was destroyed by fire 
and Levi Ives immediately bci^an the erection of another, but before it was com- 
pleted he sold the half finished house to Deacon Silas Rice on October 3, 1796. 

So that really it is a Rice place and is now occupied by a descendant, William 
B. Rice. Levi Ives, after selling his home, removed to Turin, N. Y.. called at that 
time in the Black River Country, where so many other Meriden families moved at 
about the same date. The Berrv farm was a large one and extended west on 




riioto by R. S. Godfrey. 

EPHRAIM r.KRRY, OR AARON IIIGBEY PLACE. 



Miller avenue over Little Success hill to Swayne avenue and (|uite a dislance to the 
north. 1 

There was another Berry farm not far away, and on it stands a I'.crry 
house, a fine substantial dwelling, probably the best type of a colonial house in 
Meriden. In the vear 1743 Thomas Vale sold to E])hraim r)crry of "Chilsy" 
(Chelsea) ]Mass., fiftv-forr acres of land bounded south on the ten rod highway, 



1 The writer mentioned to Chas. Z. Murdot-k that his liouse stands on the old Berry farm and he re- 
plied, that when he was a child his aunt had called the fields the Uerry lots: he supposed the term in- 
dicated that berries once grew there — a natural inference. 



Il8 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

now Ann street and Meeting House Hill road, north on Benjamin Curtis and east 
on highway (Swayne avenue). With it he sold a barn. Shortly afterwards Berry 
mortgaged the land and on it then, were a house and a barn, showing that the 
house had been built in the intervening time. The late ]\Irs. Julia Knight, who 
owned it, told the writer that a few years ago the barn was taken down and on 
a beam was found the date 1735, and that her father, Aaron Higbey, had told her 
the house was standing when the old meeting house was in use. This fixes the 
date very close to 1743 and the pedigree of the dwelling is practically certain. 
Ephraim was, doubtless, a brother of Divan Berry, Sr. He finally moved from 
Meriden on November 22, 1756, and sold the house and farm to Stephen Perkins. 

The Perkins family occupied it many years, the last one being Liberty, who 
passed a good part of his life developing a character commonly denominated as 
crusty ; he married late in life as his second wife the widow of one of the sons of 
Squire Darius Benham of Colony street, who with her son. Henry W. Benham, 
came to live in the old house. The boy, who had high ideals, did not get on well 
with Liberty and many stories are told of the hardships endured. The story in 
detail can be found in Airs. r)reckenridge's "Recollections of a New England 
Town," page 49. 

The lad afterwards became a general in the army and had a very successful 
career. In the first half of the last century the dwelling became the property of 
Aaron Higbey. The house has been kept in perfect repair and no one of the very 
old homes in Meriden is as well preserved as this. There is much fine paneling" 
and everything about the house indicates how carefully it was built and kept in 
repair. It stands on the east corner of Parker avenue and Ann street. 

The name of Captain Thomas Yale has been frequentl}' mentioned in the fore- 
going pages. He was born in New Haven in 1647, the son of Captain Thomas, 
Sr. He was a grandson of Ann, the daughter of Bishop Lloyd, of the diocese 
of Chester, England. Her first husband was Thomas Yale, of Wrexham, Wales. 
He died about 1719 and she then married Theophilus Eaton, a merchant in Lon- 
don, who afterwards moved to New Haven and became governor of the colony. 
Captain Thomas, Jr., was first cousin to Elihu Yale, after whom Yale College was 
named on account of his benefactions to the institution, and who, although born 
in New Haven, was afterwards a member of the famous and rich corporation 
known as the East India Company of London and later became its governor. 

Captains Thomas,^ Sr. and Jr., although so well connected, seem to have pre- 
ferred the life of a pioneer on the frontiers, to that of a man of afifairs in the center 
of New Haven colony, for the senior early moved to a large farm in North Haven 
w'hile the junior was one of the original planters of W^allingford in 1670 and at 

1 No reliance can be placed on tlje early pedigree of the Yale family, found in the pages of the gen- 
ealogy compiled by Elihu Yale and published in 1850. See N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register, Vo.1. 
XXXVIII., p. 317, Vol. L, p. 72 and Vol. LIII., pp. 82-83. The statement made on page 11 of this 
book that Thos. Yale's mother was a daughter of Thos. Morton, Bishop of Chester, was a mistake. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



119 



various times held almost every otifice his fellow townsmen could bestow on him ; he 
certainly was a very important man in the community. At an early date the town 
i^ranted to Thomas Yale a large farm which cannot be precisely stated because the 
"ledger book" containing most of the original surveys of Wallingford is not to be 
found among the archives of that town. There is a description of an addition 
in 1702, and judging by inference when portions of the farm were sold at a later 
date, he originally had a tract boimded on the east by Swayne and Yale avenues ; 
on the west by an ancient highway a few hundred feet west of the southern part 
of Curtis street (this was really the tirst layout of the southern part of Curtis 
street; it is now closed) and by Curtis street; on the south by the town line, and 
on the north by Ann street and Meeting House Hill highway (which were one and 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

XOAH YALK, OK J. lIOIiART VALI-: I'l.ACl-:. 

the same road originallv). Another section ran north of this old highway. Lap- 
tain Thomas had his home lot in Wallingford village so he used the large farm 
in A'leriden for agricultural ])uri)Oses only. In 1703 he distribute<l a great part 
of it to his sons, Thomas and Nathaniel, who were shortly afterwards married. 
For a while they both lived with their families in a house that nuist have stood 
very close to the junction of Yale and Miller avenues, for it was just half a mile, 
or i(')0 rods south of Meeting House Hill road, as described in a iK'vd when the 
two brothers divided the farm in 1706. Nathaniel died a young man in 171 i, 
leaving three sons, Asa, Moses and Abel, and it was of these three sons tlat the 



I20 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

committee^ appointed by the church in 1728, bought the western portion of this 
farm, which they later (1729) disposed of to Rev. Theophihis Hall and which be- 
came his homestead farm. In the deed it is described as bounded north and west 
on hi<5;hways (Curtis and Ann streets) and east on Thomas Yale. Julius and J. 
Hobart Yale and Levi Yale are descendants of Thomas Yale and much of his 
old farm is in their possession. The house erected as early as 1706 disappeared 
many years ago and was probably the one occupied later by David Levitt, who 
bought quite a farm of the Yales at an early date. There are two Yale houses 
still standing in Meriden, one on Yale avenue and occupied by J. Hobart Yale that 
was erected by his ancestor Noah, the son of Thomas, in the year 1761. 

The house was certainly a fine one for those days and contains much 
good paneling and wainscoting, and is yet a comfortable and dignified dw'elling 
and for years has been a landmark in that part of the town. Mr. Yale has re- 
moved the great chimney and thereby obtained much additional room and has 
established a water supply in the attic and a steam heater in -the cellar, so that it 
is now as well equipped for comfort and convenience as though it were within the 
city limits. The house in all its lines shows that it was built by a man who was 
in good financial condition and desired to make it an exponent of his conifortable 
position. Another ancient Yale dwelling is on East Main street, that was built by 
Abel Yale about the year 1735. It is on the north side of the street perhaps 500 
feet west of Paddock avenue. The first mention of it on the records was in 1737 
when his brother Moses quit claimed to Abel all his interest in the house and 
farm. It stands on a part of the "town farm," which the brothers had bought 
in 1728 after disposing of their father's lands to the church committee. It was 
evidently a comfortable and substantial dwelling and it is still in such shape that 
it may last many years. Of course, it is considerably changed from its original 
condition, particularly in the interior. 

The old iean-to roof is one of the signs of its antiquitw The last of the Yales 
to own it was Jonathan^ who died in 1833. Orchard Guy, his brother-in-law, who 
owned and built the old house, three hundred feet west, about 1793, bought the 
Yale homestead after Jonathan's death, and in 1844 sold it to S. C. Paddock. It 
is now occupied by a German family who keep a grocery store in the west room 
of the ground floor. 

Mention has been made of the Orchard Guy home. It is of much later date 
— probably about 1795. In this house was born the late Joel H. Guy, and also his 
brother and sister, George W. and Esther. She became Mrs. Melvin C. Lee and 
mother of Mrs. George S. Seeley. 

1 Committee was Bartholomew Foster, Samuel Roys and Samuel Ives. 

2 EHhu Yale in his genealogy says that Jonathan died a bachelor in 1833. But Daniel Hall in his 
will dated June 19, 1804, and proved Nov. 1. 1805. says Jonathan was his son-in-law and husband of 
his daughter, Esther. Most people will be inclined to believe that Daniel Hall had the most reliable 
information on the subject. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



121 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



ABEL YALE PLACE. 




t)K(.ll.\KL) GLY PLACE. 



122 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Ijctween Yale avenue and AJisery highway or Paddock avenue and hounded 
on the north by Miller avenue was a large Curtis farm which had been granted 
to Sergeant Nathaniel Curtis, whose homestead was near Falls Plain or Hanover. 

He was the son of Ensign Thomas Curtis, who was born in Stratford in 1648, 
a son of the original John, and came to Wallingford, one of the company of first 
planters in iG/O, probabl}' through the influence of Captain Xathaniel Merri- 
man, whose daughter Mary he married. Ensign Thomas was active and influ- 
ential and during his sixty-six years of life in Wallingford held at various times 
almost every office on the list. He died the last of the original planters in Mav, 
1736. This Curtis farm originally extended all the way from Paddock avenue 
to Yale avemie and was bounded north on Miller avenue and extended south 
towards Clapboard Hill. Nathaniel divided it between two of his sons, Moses and 
Enos, but a? Moses died young, it finally became wholly the property of Enos, 
who resided on the farm until 1767, when he sold part of it, and his home 
to his nephew Abel^ and removed to Stockbridge, Mass., where he settled near 
the "Bowl" and his farm there is now part of the Anson Phelps Stokes estate, 
known as Shadowbrook. The Meriden home stood on the summit of the hill 
on the south side of Miller avenue. It disappeared sometime early in the last 
century. It was a cold, bleak place for a dwelling, and the magnificent 
view of the Hanging Hills and Lamentation range in the north and east, with 
glimpses of East Rock and Alount Carmel in the south can hardly have repaid 
Enos and Abel for the terrible winter blasts that must have whistled down from 
the summits of Meeting House and Little Success Hills. ^ 

Another Curtis farm fronted on Curtis street and extended easterly until it 
climbed the steep sides of Meeting House Hill and ran quite down to Swayne 
avenue. It had a frontage of only a few hundred feet on Curtis street but spread 
out fan-like in its easterly course until it comprised nearly 200 acres. It was 
deeded by Nathaniel to his son, Benjamin, in 1729. This Benjamin was the an- 
cestor of most of the Curtis family of Meriden. His house stood on a site between 
the dwellings of the late Lenniel J. and Edwin E. Curtis, Nos. 128 and 112 Cur- 
tis street. It disappeared about the year 1830, some of the timbers being used 
in constructing a barn that stood in the rear, l^enjamin died a comparatively 
young man in 1754, aged fifty-one, and his body lies in the old Meeting House 
Hill cemetery, while that of his wife, who died in 1776, lies in the Broad street 
graveyard. His son, Benjamin, ^ who was born in 1735 and died in 1822, was 
not a believer in the race suicide theory evidently, for he had a family of fourteen 
children. As his house was not a large one, he, unlike the "old woman who 

1 Great grandfather of Floyd Curtis. 

2 Ju.st west of the Southeast district school house and the barn of Wm. B. Rice is a swamp that was at 
one time much larger than it is to-day and extended north and south for quite a distance. It was 
called Invincible .swamp and is frequently mentioned in the old records. 

3 Grandfather of the late Edwin E., Lemuel .J., George R., Alfred P., Homer Curtis and others. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



123 



lived in a shoe," knew what to do; for he built a house, probably about 1795, into 
which he put those members of his family for whom there was no room in the 
old homestead. 

This old house is a substantially built one and is located at Xo. 54 Curtis 
street. It is in good shape to-day and ought to last many, many years. That it 
was positively built in 1795 is not sure. All we know is that in that year he deed- 
ed a part of it to his son, Benjamin, and called it his new house: this may have 
been only a relative term to distinguish it from his old one. It was his brother, 
Abel, who bought of his uncle, Enos Curtis, the farm on Little Success Hill. 

The farm bought by Rev. Theophilus Hall in 1729 has already l^een mentioned. 
He paid the church committee £250 and as they had given the Yale brothers the 
year previous £300 for the same farm, the difference, perhaps, represents a con- 
tribution sfiven the minister at his settlement. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

BENJAMIN CURTIS HOUSE. 



This home farm comprised eighty acres, afterwards added to. so that it con- 
tained all told ninety acres. The north line was Ann street which at that time 
was a ten-rod highway or 165 feet wide ; the east line was on the west slope of 
Meeting House Hill, east of the brook, and it extended sotith probably some 
ways below Booth's pond ; on the west it was bounded by L'urtis street 
or the "highwav that goeth up Pole hill." His house stood where tlie Willard 
Hall dwelling now stands. Xo. 212 Curtis street, but he did not build it until 1734 
in all probability, for he did not come to ]\Ieriden to reside until that date (the 
year he was married), although officiating in the church after 172S. The high- 
way that now runs south from Ann street through the farm beginning a little 
east of Parker avenue was not laid out until 1820. liack of his dwelling he later 



124 



A CENTURY OF MEKIDEX. 



built a "cyder" mill, a chair^ house, a horse house and a barn. In addition to 
the home farm he bought later the Levitt farm of sixty-six acres south of it, so 
that his land must have extended well towards ]\liller avenue. Then he owned the 
Harris farm which has already been described as around the old Central tavern, 
or farm house as it was then. This consisted of seventy-one acres, as he made 
a purchase of additional land after buying out Harris. He also owned forty 
acres in what was called the Notch Meadow, on the road to Westfield, and 
a large farm in Killingworth, and also 151 acres in Southington. Consequently 
he was a gentleman of large landed estate, in fact, wealthy. He owned five 
slaves, viz : Jack, Phillis, Prince, Primus and Dinah, at the time of his death in 
1767, and possessed a total estate of about £4,000, or $20,000. He was a very 
rich man for his generation and in all his actions gave evidence of being a 
shrewd man of business. In fact, one is constantly impressed by his strength of 
character. He w^as certainly the strong man of his parish and seems to have com- 
pletely governed his flock in every way. His contemporaries speak of him as a 
strong preacher and a forceful man, although small of stature and slight of 
physique. The more one studies the early annals of Meriden the more one ad- 
mires Parson Hall. 

He was born in W'allingford village on April i, 1707, the son of Sanuiel and 
Love^ (Royce) Hall. He was of distinguished stock and many of his relatives 
became very prominent. His uncle, Hon. John Hall, was for eight years one 
of the governor's assistants and ancestor of Hon. Lyman Hall, governor of Geor- 
gia, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and he was a cousin to Rev. 
Samuel Hall, pastor of the church in Cheshire. 

Rev. Theophilus graduated at Yale in the class of 1727, and after a course in 
theology he came to preach in Meriden in 1728 and was ordained pastor on the 
29th of October, 1729. The Rev. Dr. James Dana, of the church in Wallingford, 
who was a contemporary of the Rev. Theophilus for eight or nine years, in his 
Century Discourse,^ 1770, says : "Mr. Hall was a gentleman of strong intellectual 
powers, much esteemed as a preacher, of great firmness and stability, and a zeal- 
ous advocate for civil and religious liberty." Rev. Edward Hungerford, in his 
Centennial Sermon,'* delivered in the Center Congregational church October i, 
1876, says : "Theophilus Hall was a man of powerful intellect, and of large heart. 
As I have searched among old papers, it has been an inspiration to come into con- 
tact with the earnestness, and the vigor of this man who began to preach a hun- 
dred and fifty years ago." "This man's words flashed ; his short, quick, clear cut 
sentences went to the mark. His familiar style with its 'don't' and 'won't/ 



1 A chaise or two-wheeled gig. 

2 A daughter of Nathaniel Royce who was the trusty friend of the Cole family. 

3 Page 41. 

4 Page 15. 



EARLY HISTORY. 1 25 

makes it easy to listen, while his sentiments belong more to a future age than to 
the one in which he speaks." "I do not hesitate to say that if he stood in one of 
our pulpits to-day, he would stand there as a thoroughly popular preacher whom 
men would love to hear." 

The Rev. Theophilus Hall published three sermons: ist, The Righteous perish- 
ing, and no man laying it to Heart, Illustrated. Two Occasional Sermons [from 
Isa. lvii:i], delivered at North Haven, June i, 1760, soon after the Death of the 
Rev. Isaac Stiles. 

2. The most important Question Considered and Answered : or A Saving 
Faith, Scripturally explained, in Two Sermons [from Acts xvi:30, 31], preached 
at Meriden, August 10, 1760. 

3. The Ministerial Work great and important, arduous and difficult ; yet 
pleasant, noble and honorable. A Sermon [from i Cor. i:i7], Preached at the 
Ordination of the Rev. Mr. Matthew Merriam, to the Pastoral Office in Berwick, 
25tb Sept. 1765. 

Matthew !\Ierriam was the son of Captain Xathaniel and Mr. Hall fitted the 
young man for college and then made a journey of over 200 miles to the province 
of Maine to preach at his ordination. ^ 

Mr. Hall married May 21, 1734, Hannah Avery and he died of pleurisy in 
Meriden on March 25, 1767, at the age of sixty, survived by his widow and seven 
children and universally lamented. 

It is a pity that there is no portrait of j\Ir. Hall in existence, and that there 
are so few facts in his life that have come dow^n to us. He left to his beloved 
church a sum of money with which to buy a "fashionable" communion cup, which 
the writer is under the impression is still in existence. His body lies in the ceme- 
tery on Meeting House Hill and the slab that covers the grave is in better condi- 
tion than almost any other stone in the yard. 

There are a few of his descendants still living in ?\Ieriden. 



1 See Dexter's Yale Biographies and Annals, Vol. I., p. 35S 



Facsimile from a receipt in possession of Wm. B. Rice. 



126 A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 



CHAPTER X. 

Had Parson Hall occasion to go to Pilgrims' Harbor on a day in 1740 to call 
on his friend, John Merriam, he would have left his house on Curtis street and 
turned to the north up the road and perhaps stopped a few moments to chat with 
his parishioner, Daniel Bradley, busy at the anvil in his blacksmith shop beside the 
house. We can fancy Daniel hastening to the door, cap in hand, to pay his re- 
spects to the dominie and inquiring" if the last job of horseshoeing had been sat- 
isfactory. Daniel had only just come to IMeriden, having bought the house that 
was built by Lazarus Ives, son of John, who lived on Misery road. Lazarus had 
built the place about 1730, and lived in it quite ten years. Daniel Bradley stayed 
here only a few years and then sold the place to Daniel Hough, who lived in it 
many years ; he was the father of Dr. Insign Hough and of i\Plndwell, wdio married 
Benjamin Curtis, and became the mother of the fourteen children. It was owned 
by Isaac Lewis for a while and in it the late Isaac C. Lewis, his son, was born. 
A great many years ago it was bought by Samuel Curtis and in it his son, the 
late Captain Alfred P. Curtis lived and here were born Mrs. George A. Fay, his 
daughter, and Alfred W. Curtis, his son, who still lives in the old house, but has 
altered it so much that if Daniel Bradley were to come back to look for his for- 
mer home and blacksmith shop he w^ould never dream that the dwelling. No. 160 
Curtis street, was the place he was seeking. 

The photograph was taken in 1868; against the fence leans George A. Fay. 
Mrs. Fay is just behind it and Captain Alfred is in the background at the right, 
and his son, Alfred W., in front, while at the extreme left stands Frank S. Fay. 

Following the steps of Rev. Mr. Hall we would go up the street, past the house 
of Benjamin Curtis, until we reached a spot a little south of his new dwelling; 
here the parson would turn to the left to follow the street leading to Pilgrims' Har- 
bor. At this corner, on the south side, was a house that disappeared probably 
nearly a hundred years ago. In it lived Captain John Webb. For many years 
Captain Webb was a well known figure and influential man in Meriden, and pos- 
sessed of considerable wealth. He came here from Wethersfield in 1729 and built 
his house which stood perhaps a hundred feet east of the present home of Mrs. 
Juliette Y. Curtis, No. 309 Broad street. 

Captain Webb and his wife lived until 1799. When he died he left no children 
and willed the greater part of his estate to his kinsman, Benjamin Hart, whose aunt 
he had married. He doubtless tore down the old house and erected the present 
home of Mrs. Curtis on the then new turnpike. 



EARLY HISTORY 



127 




128 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Captain Webb's kindness of heart was so great that he left his two negro 
slaves, Joe and Daphy Prinn, a handsome competence, and gave them their free- 
dom. They afterw'ards hved on Paddock avenue, near the home of another ex- 
slave, Chatham Freeman (who had earned his freedom by serving in the Revolu- 
tion in place of his master, Noah Yale). His house stood on Paddock avenue, near 
the private driveway leading to the home of Charles Z. Murdock. The commis- 
sions of John Webb as lieutenant and captain hang in the Curtis Memorial library. 
The farm was a large one and extended westerly quite to the property of the 
Curtis Home, and was bounded on the north partly by the highway to be de- 
scribed and the farm of Rev. Theophilus Hall. This highway passed to the 
west from Curtis street, following the general line of New street until it reached 
present Elm street when it turned diagonally to the northwest until it met Olive 
street, and -then westerly in the same direction now followed by that street to 
Country road or Colony street. At its junction on the south side was the home 
of Stephen Atwater already mentioned. Olive street, east of the junction with 
this old street was not in existence until many years later. This highway now 
described must have been the course of the parson to the house of his friend, John 
r\Ierriam, standing" in what is now the junction of Main and Colony streets. 

If the parson had wished to visit his friend, Deacon Samuel Royce, he would 
have passed south down Curtis street until he came to the road that runs west 
and comes out on Colony street just south of the South Farms school house near 
Archer's corner. This road passes just south of Sacred Heart cemetery and is 
the only means of approach. The land in that vicinity for many acres around 
once belonged to the Cowles family. In houses that have long since disappeared 
north and south of the road lived Deacon Ebenezer Cowles and his sons, Joseph, 
Jr. and Ebenezer, Jr. In the house on the south side was born Elisha, the father 
of Major Eiisha A. Cowles, the most prominent figure in Meriden in the first 
half of the last century. This Cowles family was not related to the Cole family 
that owned the large farm in the north part of Meriden, so far as we know, al- 
though the names were the same originally. The first of the Cowles family to 
live in Meriden was Joseph, who came here from Farmington, and married Abi- 
gail, the daughter of Samuel Royce on July 13, 1699. His father-in-law gave 
him a farm just south of Archer's corner in South Farms district and in the year 
1701, 107 acres up the hill on the old highway down which we can fancy the good 
parson descending after stopping, perhaps, to chat with some of this Cowles fam- 
ily, who were always very prominent in church matters. It is difficult to believe 
that on the summit of this hill, called Ox Hill, there was once a colony of Cowleses 
and also Rices, for so far as the writer can discover there is not the least remnant 
of the depression of a cellar to mark the site of a house anywhere in the vicinity : 
but there is no doubt that here they lived for several generations. The highway 



EARLY HISTORY, 



129 



was laid out in 1723, following a path. It runs through from Colony street to 
Yale avenue, just north of the farmhouse of Levi Yale. 

As has already been mentioned the South Farms district was at first called 
]\Iilking Yard and later Royce's (or Rice's as we may now begin to call it; for at 
this date the name began to assume the modern form) Farms. But this later 
name embraced a much larger tract than that known as South Farms. 

It began at the town line and extended up Colony or Country road on both 
sides, until it embraced a large part of what is Walnut Grove cemetery to-day and 
it stretched over the hill to the W'Cst, for some distance, perhaps including the farm 
of Rev. Samuel Whittlesey, once known as Town Farm, which has already been 
described as bounded on the west by Town Rock, and on the south by the river ; 
and also the Rice farms to the north. Every member of the Rice family in Meri- 
den except Nathaniel, seems to have located his home farm in this territory, al- 
though like all the other planters they owned other tracts in various parts of the 
town. Robert Royce, the pioneer, came to this country about 1631 and landed in 
Boston just in time to get into that theological dispute which twisted the budding 
town into a turmoil of religious controversy and centered around Mrs. Hutchin- 
son and which w^as such a mixture of metaphysical and religious problems that 
it is doubtful if any one to-day knows what it was all about. Robert got aw^ay 
safely and went to Stratford and the next we know of him he was in New Lon- 
don, where he was elected a delegate to the General Court in Hartford, and was 
a respected and influential man. His four sons, Nehemiah, Samuel, Nathaniel and 
Isaac, came to Wallingford among the first planters, and all of them except Na- 
thaniel took the major part of their land grants at Milking Yard, although, doubt- 
less, having their homes in Wallingford village. These four sons were the fath- 
ers of numerous sons, and to many of them were given the paternal and fraternal 
names, with utter disregard to the trouble that w^as to be the lot of those of modern 
days who should attempt to assign to each his proper place in a genealogical tree. 
But out of the tangle we can, at least, extricate these facts. Samuel had a son, 
Robert, born in 1674, to whom he gave a large tract of land in 1706, at the south- 
ern end of Milking Yard, and adjoining the farm of his son-in-law, Joseph 
Cowles : it was north and west of it. One gift conveyed 100 acres and there were 
subsequent gifts and purchases. It was this Robert who made the deposition in 
1748 about the Country farms and Cole's Path.i His farm extended beyond the 
river on the west, and was bounded on the east by the Country road. His house 
stood where the Archer homestead is located. This house cannot have been built as 
long ago as 1706, although it is a very old one. The earliest notice of the present 
one was in 1740 when the highway running west from it was opened. This road 
went directly across the river and did not curve towards the northwest and cross 

1 See page 91. 
9 



130 



A CENTURY OF MERIDF.X. 



at the point where the bridge is now located. This dwelHng is one of the best pre- 
served of the old colonial homes in Meriden. 

It has been kept in fine repair and there have been many additions, notwith- 
standing which, the line of the lean-to can be plainly traced. The interior, perhaps, 
better preserves the ap{)earance of age than the exterior. Roljert. like several 
other members of the Rice family, was a deacon and a man of substance and in- 
fluence. At the end of the eighteenth century a part of the farm containing the 
dwelling was sold to John Xott b}- one of the Rice heirs and on December 5. 1801. 
he sold it to Caleb Wilcox. At his death aljout 1830, Airs. Maria Carter, an heir 
of Mr. Wilcox, became the owmer and in 1866 she sold it to Mrs. Harriet A. 
Archer, the wife of Dr. H. A. Archer. It is now owned by their daughter, ]Mrs. 
Agnes C. Butler. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

DEACON ROl'.EKT ROYCE. OR PR 



II. A. ARCHER PLACE. 



North of the Robert Rice farm was one that originally belonged to Isaac Rice, 
but later was bought of his heirs by Dr. \\"illiam Hough as early as 1730. The 
greater part of his farm is now included in Walnut Grove cemeter}-. Dr. Hough 
was the second physician mentioned on the Wallingford records. He was the 
uncle of Daniel Hough who lived on Curtis street and great uncle of Dr. Insign 
Hough, Daniel's son. Dr. W^illiam Hough leased a part of his farm "west from 
his house," to an association of Aleriden men for mining copper in 1736. It ad- 
joined the Golden Parlor Mining Co.'s operations on the west, and as everv one 
knows, the remains of the shafts of this latter company can still be seen in the 



EARIA' HISTORY'. 



131 



west part of the cemetery. Dr. Hough Hved here until 1740 when he moved to 
Cheshire and later to Haddam. 

That this is the original house it is impossible to assert. But it is certainly 
a very old dwelling and it occupies the site of the Dr. Hough home. Age has 
raised havoc with the floor beams and sills in the cellar, and it has been found 
necessary to reinforce and strengthen them. After the doctor moved away, his 
son William lived here and had a blacksmith shop adjoining his house, for he 
was the smith of Rice's farms. About the year 1800 it was bought by Cornelius 
Hull who lived in it a few years. In the year 1807 Ichabod Wood, who came here 
from North Haven, acquired the property, and he and his son, X^orman. lived 
here with their families many years. At his death in 1843 Ichabod owned a farm 
of 112 acres, which was inherited bv Xorman, and the old house is known to most 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

DR. WILLIAM HOUGH, OR NORAIAX 



WOOD PLAfL. 



Meriden people as the Norman Wood place. The house and farm were bought 
more than twenty years ago by the \\'ahnit Grove Cemetery association. There 
is no prettier stretch of meadow in Meriden, rolling as it does in gentle slo])es that 
open here and there with glimpses of further hills and dales, while in the distance 
the spires of Wallingford lend a (|uiet and peaceful charm to the landscape that 
is in harmon'." with the environment. 

We left the Reverend Theoi)hilus coming down Ox Hill an.l 1)> this time he 
has doubtless had his little chat with Deacon Robert Rice and is now well uj) the 
road towards Doctor Hough's, so we will join him and continue on his course. 



132 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Stopping a moment while he steps to the door of Daniel Holt's to see that all is 
well within. The site of this house is now occupied by a modern dwelling, a 
square, flat-roofed structure opposite the north entrance to the cemetery. The 
road now running east a few hundred feet north of this house is an old one and 
was laid out in 1723 and we call it Holt's Hill road. It ran also w^est from 
Colony road until it joined the road that was laid out in 1744 to mark 
Wallingford north bounds. Much of the west highway is still in existence, al- 
though the entrance to it on Colony street is now almost a cliff owing to the cut 
that has been made in this latter road. The parson passes on this road to the west, 




EZEKIEL, OR OLIVER RICE PLACE. 



bordered by fields and meadows belonging now to Daniel Holt and now to Sam- 
uel Rice, in an inextricable confusion that only the original owners could disen- 
tangle ; no house meets his view for a long distance until he descends the hill and 
crosses Pilgrims' Harbor brook. Here in the meadow, south of the road, was 
the home of his faithful friend, Deacon Samuel Rice, the son of the original Sam- 
uel who came to Wallingford at the birth of the town in 1670. This house dis- 
appeared many years ago and it is doubtful if now the remains of the cellar could 
be discovered. Deacon Samuel and his uncle, Nathaniel, the trusty friend of the 
Cole family, were frequently deputies to the General Court and were prominent 



EARLY HISTORY. 1 33 

in every way. In the old house hved Samuel^ and it was afterwards owned bv 
his son, Ezekiel, who was a soldier in the French and Indian wars and rejoiced 
in the title of Esquire. His son, Ezekiel, Jr., who was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war, built the house now standing, on land given him by his father, in 1781. 

It is a style different from any other ancient dwelling in Meriden in that it 
has two chimneys, one at either end, and through the middle runs a hallway. 
The house is so sheltered by fine old trees and the ground is so graded to meet 
the style of dwelling that there seems to be a sort of mutual adaptability, the ef- 
fect of which is heightened by the small picket fence in front. Altogether the 
house has the appearance of belonging there because it grew there, and about it is a 
quaintness and quiet charm that is very pleasing and restful. The broad 
acres of the farm extend in all directions in pastoral beauty, and the effect of the 
homestead is so striking that it is only necessary to call it the Oliver Rice place to 
identify it in every one's mind who has lived in Meriden long enough to become 
familiar witli the country round about. In their ancestral home still live Miss 
Anna C. and William T. Rice with their mother, the widow of the late Oliver 
Rice, while another daughter, the wife of Dr. E. W. Smith, lives in a house not 
far away, built by her husband on a part of the home farm. 

Among the first planters of Wallingford appears the name of Samuel 
Andrews, son of William, who signed the Fundamental Agreement of New Ha- 
ven in 1639, and was one of the twelve appointed to choose among themselves the 
men who were to be the pillars of the new church, and built the first meeting 
house there. Altogether this William was an important man in Xew Haven 
colony. Samuel, the grandson of Samuel the first of W^allingford, bought several 
tracts of land in Meriden parish during the decade from 1720 in the western part 
of the town that aggregated 200 to 300 acres. It may be roughly stated as bound- 
.(1 by the jMerriam farm on the north or West Main street, the Stephen Atwater 
farm on the east, or Cook avenue ; it ran south to Harbor brook and perhaps some- 
what beyond, certainly including Hemlock grove, and on the west it ran over 
nearly to Allen avenue. 

It is impossible to give thoroughly accurate bounds of any of these old farms, 
for the planters were constantly buying and selling land, and in proportion to the 
inhabitants the number of transfers were vastly greater 'than they are to-day. 
Land and cattle were about all they had to sell, and the old records fairly groan 
under the number of entries, and the position of town clerk was no sinecure. 

The Andrews family, like most of the others, was numerous and their position 
in the communitv was alwavs an eminently respectable one, although their early 
alliance with the Church of England seems to have prevented their holding many 
town offices. The house of Sanuiel x\ndrews stood in the rear and slightlv to 



1 He had a family of 16 fhildren. 



134 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



the east of the old house at No. 412 West Main street. It probably was built as 
early as 1727 but disappeared many years ago. In it were born all his family. 
One son. Laban, who lived in Wallingford village, until late in life, was se- 
lectman during, or a good part of, the Revolution, while another, Samuel the 
youngest son, was minister of the Episcopal church there and had a not very pleas- 
ant experience during the same war. One of the sons, Moses, built a dwelling, 




MOSES ANDREWS PLACE. 



probably about the year 1760, that is still in existence and stands on West Main 
street, at No. 424, a large, comfortable old colonial house that is still in good re- 
pair. When St. Andrew's Society was formed in 1789, the organization took 
place in this house and here for several years the Sunday services were held, Moses 
Andrews frequently acting as lay reader. 

For many years this family was the mainstay of the Episcopal church in 
Meriden. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



U5" 



The highway leading from the OHver Rice farm, which originally came 
tip to West Main street about in the line of Capitol avenue, was opened in 
the year 1780. This is the highway that runs on the west side of the William 
Bradley place now used by the Meriden Golf Club for their links. If we re- 
turn by this highway to the road running by the Oliver Rice place we can follow 
it on its old course eastward and when we come to Colony road we still keep on 
in the same direction up Holt's Hill. To the south was the farm of Daniel Holt, 
as already noted : on the north was that of x\rthur Rexford, who came here 
about the year 1737 to run the Golden Parlor mine on the Dr. Hough farm. Rex- 




ABEL ROVCE, OR WILLIAM W. I'LUMI! PLACE. 



ford's^ farm ran from Colony road well up the hill; bounded south 1)_\- Holt's llill 
road; it extended north nearl}- as far as the Curtis Heime ])roperty and although 
the Rexfords did not stay here many years it was known by their name for a long 
time. During the time of the Revolution it was the property of a man named 
Jauncy, who joined the enemv, and conse(|ueutly the farm was oontiscated 1)\ tlic 
colonial or state government and sold as a Tory fanu. Jauncy never lived here. 
His home was in X^ew York and he was a rich man. When we reach the to]) of the 
hill we come to the TMumb faruL This house, standing on the soutli of the road 



1 He bought his farm of Daniel Holt and Abel Royee. 



136 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



near the junction of Gale avenue, was once probably the home of Abel Rice. At 
l^st, his house was on this site and the present one is apparently a very old 
dwelling'. 

Abel Rice was the son of Samuel and was born in 1700 and this land came into 
his possession in 1722, a gift from his father. He appears to have been living on 
this farm as early as 1733. The house is certainly a very ancient one; although it 
has lost some of its original features, it still preserves sufficient to show that it 
was built in the days when the great massive beams in the ceilings of kitchen and 
parlor showed their strength by boldly crossing from the great chimney to the 
outside walls without being concealed. The great chimney has disappeared and 
there have been several additions built. 



^ 




'^--■,*i/ * 






MWMPtwrV 1 ^^ 



JAMES HOUGH, OR JAMES BALDWIN HOMESTEAD. 



The house continued in the Rice family until the last years of the eighteenth 
century when Solomon died and his widow married Israel Hall. It was then 
known by this latter name. Finally William Yale bought it and at his death in 
1833 it was left to his daughter Mary, the wife of Francis A. Gale, and has con- 
tinued in that family since. It is now the home of her daughter, the widow^ of 
William W. Plumb. The photograph was taken about thirteen years ago, before 
some of the present additions had been built. 



1 Deceased since this was written. 



EARLY HISTORY. 1 37 

There were two other ancient farms of which no mention has been made. The 
first was the Hough farm in the northeast part of the town. It was located on 
what is known as the Westfield road, and included a large tract of land. Samuel 
Hough, the immediate progenitor of the JXIeriden family, owned a tract of land 
that is at present known as the Joseph Hough farm ; it is south of the old Yale 
farm, just over in the Wallingford line, and it includes the Spruce Glen or Gutter 
district, where Samuel apparently owned and worked a sawmill at an early date. 
He was the father of Dr. William Hough, whose home has been described, and 
also of James Hough, who in the year 1730 bought of the Way family two acres 
of land in the bend of the Harbor ; sufficient as the deed says for a sawmill to 
stand on. In the early days that part of Harbor brook was always called the 
"bend." The pond was then constructed and the mill site we now know as Bald- 
win's ; but it continued to be known as Hough's until 1796 when James Baldwin 
bought an interest. He was the ancestor of several of the Baldwin families in Mer- 
iden, notably Moses (whose son, Nathan S.,-*- still has his home in the northeast dis- 
trict) and Ransom, who was the father of Mrs. Russell Hall and Mrs. Benjamin 
Kennard, of this city. The old James Hough homestead was built probably as 
€arly as 1740. 

As may readily be perceived, it is a very ancient building, and when the pho- 
tograph was taken it still preserved its stone chimney. It was acquired by James 
Baldwin after he bought the mill property and it is now the home of Gardner W. 
Reynolds. It stands on the north side of the road, several hundred feet east of the 
mill. East of it stood until a few years ago an old house known as the Phineas 
Hough dwelling, built by a son of James. North and east of the Hough property 
was the large farm of James Scovill. He came to Meriden as early as 1721 from 
Middletown, and for several generations the Scovill family was prominent and 
well known in Meriden, but the name has become extinct in this vicinity. The late 
Henry S. Wilcox and his son, Albert H.,^ are descendants of this family. The 
Scovill houses have all disappeared, one or two of them by fire. 

The highway leading to these Hough and Scovill farms, known now as Bri- 
tannia street and Westfield road, was laid out in 1739. Wall street, which was also 
laid out in the same year, led from Liberty street to Hough's or iJaldwin's ]\Iill ; 
both roads when laid out or adopted by the selectmen followed ancient paths. 



1 Mr. and Mrs. Nathan S. Baldwin have given the writer much information pertaining to the old 
farms and early inhabitants of Meriden. 

2 The writer is indebted to Albert H. WiUo.K, clerk of the First Congregatioual Society, for much 
assistance in getting information from the old church records. 



138 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Having now mapped out the various farms and located their owners in 
the parish of Meriden those who have had the patience to follow the narrative 
ought to have a fair idea of the topography and general appearance of 
the country which has since grown into the town of Meriden. There was no part 
that bore an appearance of a village, for the farms were scattered here and there 
and the homes of the farmers were seldom contiguous. 

The first notice of distinct religious services held in Meriden appears in a vote 
on the town records of W'allingford under date of December ist, 1724, as follows: 

"In respect of y*" north farmers the town voated that they may hire a Minister 
four montlT^ this winter on their own charge." 

The distance from Wallingford was considerable and the request to be al- 
low/ed to hold separate services in the winter was such a reasonable one that it 
could not be refused. This vote was the first act that in any way separated the 
territory of Meriden from W'allingford or that recognized that these north far- 
mers were a distinct community. The year previous the General Assembly had 
added the territory north of Libert\- street and south of Meriden Farm to the 
lists of Wallingford. as has been told in a previous chapter. 

At a meeting held in "Wallingford Aprill y'' 2/ 1725: the town voated & 
agreed conserning our North farmers petition — 'that in case the Generall Courte^ 
will grant y'' land north of our bounds called purchase land to joyne to them that 
they shall be a society by themselves and shall have such bounds as shall be thought 
proper in y*^ case sett out by a committee chosen for that work bv \^ town." The 



1 The following petition was presented to the General Assembly : 

To the Honble the Govr Assistants and Deputies in Genii Court assembled May 13th 1725 — The 
Prayer ot Nathanll Meryam In behalf of himself and neighbours Inhabiting in or near the North part 
•of Wallingford Humbly Sheweth 

That the Town of Wallingford att their meeting April 27th: 1725 Did by their vote grant that 
there should be a Society in or near sd north part of wallingford upon the Condition in sd vote men- 
tioned and appointed a committee to State bounds for Sd Society or Such part thereof as is Intended 
to be taken out of Sd wallingford w'h together with the Lands Commonly Called Wallingford purchase 
Land not already granted to sd Wallingford west Society or to Farmington South Society we hope are 
and will be Capable of Carrying on and supporting the work of a Society and the Gospel ministry 
among themselves (especially if Mr. Belchers farm were added) and the sd Inhabitants Living very 
Remote from anyplace of Publick worship viz. at the distance of 6 : 7 & 8 miles and the nearest 4 : 
Wee therefore urged by these pressing Difficulties and Encouraged by yor Honbl wonted paternal Care 
and goodness Do Humbly Pray this Honble Assembly that we may (with the addition of Mr. Belchers 



EARLY HISTORY. 



139 



(ieneral Court did grant the lands "North of our bounds" as already related and 
they therefore became a separate society in May, 1725. In May. 1728, the farm 
of Meriden was added and the parish henceforth was known under that name as 
has been related on a former page. It is a fair inference, therefore, that from De- 
cember I, 1724, the Meriden farmers held separate church services in their own 
territory.^ 

The story of the building of the chtirch has been told so often that 
tlie tradition must be familiar to every one who has paid any attention to our 
early annals. To thoroughly understand it one must picture in one's mind's eye 
the appearance of Ann street. A highway ten rods wide, it ran from Curtis street 
eastward up fleeting House or Deer Hill, over the brow and nearly down to 
what is now Swayne avenue. The burying ground was in the highway and so 
was the church. The writer hunted in vain for an act of the town or of a pri- 
vate person, sequestering the land for these sacred purposes, until he suddenly 
discovered that the road was 165 feet wide ; then the situation was apparent. 
Vale avenue was not in existence, and instead of by that route, one coming to the 
burying ground from ]\Iiller avenue used a road that can still be traced a little 
west of Swayne avenue and reaching Aleeting House Hill highway a little east 
of the burying ground. 

The tradition tells us that the farmers living in Milking Yard, Pilgrims' Har- 
bor and south of Meriden Farm wished the church to be located near the junction 
of Curtis and Ann streets, while those living about Dogs' Misery desired it to be 
placed further east on the spot that was finally chosen. The material was all in 
place in this latter locality, ready to be put into shape : but during tlie night a part\ 
of men, presuma1)ly the Royces, the Merriams, the hosters, the Collinses and Rob- 
insons, brought teams and hauled the material up the hill to the west, to the place 



farm afore sd) be made a Distinct Society for Setting up and Carrying on and Supporting tlie Pub- 
lick worship of God among or selves with Such Liberties powers and priveledges as other Such So- 
cieties have and do by Law Enjoy 

And yor Petitioners Shall Ever pray 

Nathaniel Merriam 

This petition was accompanied by another sheet containing the following names — all persons 
dwelling in Meriden and evidently fellow petitioners with Nathaniel Merriam. 



John ives 
Samll ives 
Elick Roberds 
Benjamin Ives 
Israel hall 
Ebenezer pringle 
John way 
Benjamin Whiting 
Timothy jerram 
William hough 
Bartholomew foster 



Josiah robeson 
Jacob persons 
John Meriam 
Abell roys 
Eleizer peck 
William Meriam 
Samuell andrus 
Thomas andrus 
Josiah roys 
John meriam 
Isaac roys 



Samuel roys 
Nathaniell meriam 
Theophilus mix 
James Schovill 
Thomas yale 
John yale 
Kobcrd roys 
William Cole 
Nathaniel roys 
Amos Camp 
Joseph Cole 



Ezekiel roys 
William andrias 
Timothy foster 
Joseph meriam 
Nehemiah may 
Benjamin levit 
Jonathan Seemer 
Micael mitchell 
Samuel butler 
Ebenezer Cooper 



1 There is a tradition that until the meeting house was built the services were held in the Daniel Hall 
homestead. 



I40 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



where they wished the meeting house located. The next day when the act was dis- 
covered there was great wrath on the part of the Dogs' Misery residents, and the 
Iveses, the Yales, the Levits, the Whitings and the Halls compelled the men, who 
had worked all night to carry out their darling project, to spend the following day 
hauling the same material back to the spot whence they had removed it. Whether 
there is any truth to the tradition one cannot tell, but it was firmly believed fifty 
years ago. Mr. Perkins says that the church was about thirty feet square, and 
built in the very plainest style. 




VIEW OF MEETING HOUSE HILL FROM THE WEST. 

Arrow No. 1 indicates the remains of the stone wall which was the northern boundary of the ten 
rod highway. Arrow No. 2 indicates the boulder marking the site of the first meeting house, and 
arrow No. 3 points to the south boundary of the highway. The graveyard is at the top of the hill. 

From various evidences in the land records of which he has made a careful 
study the writer is convinced that the old meeting house site is accurately marked 
by the great boulder set on the western slope of Meeting House hill, by the First 
Congregational Society, in the fall of 1904. Around this church there were prob- 
ably several Sabbath day houses. There certainly was one, which was distinctly 
mentioned in a deed in 1740 as standing on the land north of the church. There 
is no record of one in the highway except in an inventory of the estate of Robert 



EARLY HISTORY, 



141 



Royce. The first house mentioned was just a rod square, or at least the land 
was, on which it was built. One as large as this would perhaps be used by two 
or more families ; of course, during the "nooning," between "meetings," to re- 
pair the ravages caused by too close attention to long, doctrinal sermons ; to thaw 
out one's numbed extremities, before a blazing fire after sitting in an absolutely 
unheated church in the dead of winter ; and to consume a little food during the 
brief intermission, in order to be fortified against a second doctrinal discourse. 
During the summer, probably the vicinity of the spring, under the grateful shade 




UNVEILING OF THE GRANITE BOULDER AND BRONZE TABLET OCTOBER 
22, 1904, MARKING SITE OF FIRST MEETING HOUSE. 



cast by the old oaks around its source was the usual place of refreshment of those 
who lived too far away to go to their homes during the noon hour. 

The meeting house was finished in 1727 and the farmers must have hired 
various ministers to preach for them during the following year. On December 
1st, 1728,1 the Reverend Theophilus Hall began to preach here and probably reg- 
ularly thereafter. Early in the following year a petition was presented to the 
General Assembly, for at the May session the following vote was passed : 

1 Church Records. 



142 



A CENTURY OF MEUIDEN. 



"This Assembly do grant liberty to the inhabitants of the society of ^Nlerridan 
in the town of Wallingford, to embody themselves into church estate and settle 
with them an orthodox gospel minister: the said inhabitants first obtaining" the 
consent of the neighboring churches." 

The first church record, made by ]\Ir. Hall, reads as follows: 

■'W'allingford (]\leriden in W'allingford j ( )ct 9th 1729 

on the 8th day of this inst the Christian Brethren of Meriden the Xorth Society 
in Wallingford met together at their meeting house with myself to come to an 
agreement as to matters of discipline in said church that was about to be settled 
in that place. 

And the agreement between them and myself according to which it should be 
practiced in the church when settled, is principally comprised in two things. 

1st the admission of members which was that such as desired admission to 
full communion should stand propounded a fortnight at least, and none of the 
Brethren making any motions or objections should be admitted. 

2d as to duty with offenders that the church should have a vote in order to pass 
a sensure upon an\-, and at the conclusion of the meeting I repeated the agreement 
as above written and told them that I should look upon it as an unanimous agree- 
ment if none objected and not one did object anything against it. 

Theophilus Hall" 

This preliminary having been settled, on "the 22d of October a church was 
gathered on a fast da}- observed by the societ}' ; and the 29th of the same month 
Mr. Hall was ordained their pastor. The number of communicants was then 51, 
males 21, females 30."^ 

The roll call was as follows : 

Robert Royce John Hecock and wife 

Saml Royce and wife John Cole 

Thomas Yale and wife The wife of W"^ Hough 

John Merriam The wife of John Yale 

Bartholomew Foster The wife of Joseph Cole 

Robert Collins The wife of Xath' Royce 

David Levit The wife of David Rich 

Ezekiel Royce and wife The wife of Daniel Harris 

Abel Rovce and wife The wdfe of S. Andrews 



1 Dr. Dana's Century Discourse 1770, p. 41. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



145 



Belli. Royce and wife 
Nath^ JMerriam and wife 
John Merriam Jr. and wife 
Joseph Merriam 
Dan Balding- and wife 
Amos Camp and wife 
Benj. Whiting and wife 
Sam'l Ives and wife 
Ebenezer Prindle and wife 
John Way and wife 



The wife of Tim Jerome 
The wife of Benj. Cnrtis 
The wife of John Ives 
The wife of J. Robinson 
Tile wife of W. Merriam 
The wife of Jos. Royce 
Widow Royce 
Mary Hough 
Eunice Cole 



Although j\Ir. Hall began to preach in Meriden on December i, 1728, he did 
not become a resident in the parish until Aug. 24, 1734.^ At this time his house 
at the southeast corner of Curtis and Ann streets was probabl\' finished and hence- 
forth his residence was in ^Meriden. This delay in coming here to dwell was 
perhaps due to the small amount paid him for his services. He did not begin to 
keep accurate parish records until this date, showing that his whole time and at- 
tention had not been given to Meriden parish previously. 

But the good parson after his removal to ]vleriden was faithful and unremit- 
ting in his attention to his duties and his forceful character made a great and en- 
during impression on his little flock ; discipline was firmly enforced in his church 
and the early records contain numerous evidences of this fact. The most striking 
case is told in the following votes taken from the records. The General Statutes 
of the colony contained a clause at that time that forbade young men from meeting 
together after nine o'clock at night on the streets and from "making any Rout" or 
committing "any disorders at an}- time in the night season." the penalty being a 
fine of six shillings. Seven young men one evening in March, 1745. imi)elled by 
the desire to give vent to the exuberance of their feelings, met together and made 
considerable noise with bells and horns, to the great scandal of those who desired 
to sleep in j^eace and quiet.- These young men were all neighbors and li\-cd in 
the territory south and east of the church. They were immediately a])prehon(led 
by the civil authority; and the church, not to be backward in au\ good work, met 
together and passed the following vote on ^March 6, 1745: "The case of h^nos 
Curtis. Benj" Yale, John Livingston, Samuel Levit. .\oah Vale. David Levit and 
David Ives, as being under suspension from the hol\' commmiion. on accoimt of 
lewd disorders committed in the night season, for which ihey were prosecuted 
in the civil law — was laid l)efore the churcli ^K: the same remaining sitb-iiidicc & 



1 Mr. Hall's record of burials. 

2 Perhaps to celebrate the departure of some of their friends for the Nova Scotia campaign which 
resulted in the capture of the strong fortress of Louisburg. One .voung Meriden man. Samuel Royce. 
went as a .soldier in this expedition and paid the penalty with his life. The troops embarked In 
March, 1745. 



144 '^ CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

not yet determined in the civil law, the question was put, whether the said case re- 
lating to the said persons, as it now lies before the church, and under the present 
circumstances, should be suspended till the third Alonday in April next for con- 
sideration & voted in the affirmative. 

Test, Theo. Hall, Pastor. 

At a church meeting in Meriden April 15, 1745, the case of the above men- 
tioned brethren was laid before the church for consideration, being brought on by 
the attested copy of the complaint to civil authority & the judgement of court 
against them, for disorders in the night season in assembling together with bells 
& horns, etc., which was laid before the Church & the said Enos Curtis, Noah Yale 
& David Ives before the church acknowledged that the said actions were neither 
justifiable nor commendable & they were really sorry that they had any hand 
in it & promised that they would do so no more & the church by their vote accept- 
ed them to communion — & said Benj"^ Yale Samuel Levit & David Levit justify- 
ing their conduct in said afit'air, the church unanimously voted to apply themselves 
to the Association of N. Haven Covmty at the next session for advice in the case — 
& then chose Mr. John Ives & Capt Nathaniel Merriam, their agents to lay the 
said case before the said Association, at the said session. Test. Theo. Hall, 
Pastor." 

Mr. Ives refused to act and Capt. Merriam was made sole agent. The Asso- 
ciation advised the church to hold the recalcitrant members under suspension un- 
til they agreed "to do so no more." 

This action shows that the members of the community were held severely in 
check and illustrates liow closely the parson guarded his flock from worldly con- 
tamination. 

The General Statutes also contained this clause : 

"And that whatsoever Person shall not duly Attend the Public Worship of God 
on the Lord's Day in some congregation by Law allowed unless hindered by sick- 
ness or otherways Necessarily Detained or Hindered shall incur the penalty of 
Three Shillings for every such Offense." 

This law was not a dead letter by any means. Among the papers treasured in 
the Oliver Rice homestead in South Meriden is one of which the following is a 
copy : 

"Wallingford february y® 4^*^ 1/54: I the subscriber Do Enter this Complaint 
to Ezekiel roys Esq. and say : that Icabod Stark is guilty of the breach of the Law 



EARLY HISTORY. 1 45 

bv not Attending the public worship of God : on the Second third and fourth Lords 
day of Januar}- last past in any Congregation by Law Alowed 

Ebenezer Cowles: grand juryman." 

It is fortunate for many that there is no such law now in force and that good 
Deacon Cowles has long been gathered to his fathers. 

There are many references in old records to the custom of "dignifying the meet- 
ing house." It was a formal undertaking and one that required great care and cir- 
cumspection. Perhaps a better idea of the rules observed can be gained from the 
following vote passed in a Wallingford town meeting on Xov. 5, 1720, than l)y an 
attempt at a more elaborate description. 

"Y® rules that s^ committee are to attend in y® work of seating are as follow- 
cth viz. to have respect to y*" aged amongst us that has been servisable in y® town, 
this to be left to y^ comitee to do in y^ matter as they shall think most just decent 
& reasonable & y*^ s*^ comittee shall have respect to those men that do & have borne 
commissions as they are to have respect to y® aged as above s^, that is to say what 
is just decent & reasonable & voated the generall rule for y^ comittee in seatting 
y^ meeting house shall be the lists on which y'^ charge has been raised heads only 
exempted & layed a two penny rate to be raised on this present list for the defray- 
ing the charge in finishing the meeting house" etc.. etc. "April 25 1721 voated that 
no young men shall go up into y*^ upper gallery to sitt there on y*" Sabbath day un- 
der 18 years old." 

Would that we could have an adequate picture of this little church half way up 
the slope of Meeting House Hill with its faithful pastor and devoted flock. 1\t- 
haps we wrong them in calling it church. These Christians of colonial days bit- 
terly resented such a term for their house of worship. In their doctrine, the 
church was the body of believers and they sang their songs of praise, followed the 
the ])rayers of the minister, and listened to his exhortations, in the "meeling house." 
If on the Lord's day one of these early Meriden farmers had been asked "are you 
going to church?" the reply would have been swift and in no uncertain tones, "no 
Sir! I am going to meetin"." 

The temperature of the meeting house in winter must have been frightful at 
times, for there was never any artificial heat allowed except that the women in 
bitter weather carried foot stoves, little square metal boxes, filled with glowing 
coals from the home hearth and replenished, ])erha])s. at noon from the hearthstone 
of the Sabba" -dav house. These were all that made the ic\- cold bearable to the 
women. "Alen with bald spots on their heads were often compelled to i)ut their 
mittens thereon to keep their heads warm,"' and ilie stamping of feet sometimes 

1 175th Anniversary First Congregational Society, p. 21. 
10 



146 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

quite drowned the voice of the preacher. The congregation stood while the min- 
ister led the praters, and the sermons were timed by an hour glass which was 
sometimes turned twice before the w'ord "lastly" was heard; while the tithing 
man saw that order was kept, particularly in the galleries^ and prevented any 
"tired" individual from leaving before "meeting" was ended. 

The singing must have been anything but pleasing according to our 
modern ideas, for there was never instrumental accompaniment. At this 
date there were no singing schools'- and each congregation evidently had 
its own idea of producing sweet melody, and the results must have frequently 
been atrocious. Just wdiat version of the psalms was used in Meriden we do not 
know. It may have been that contained in the Bay Psalm Book which was used 
in many New England churches. This book was anything but creditable to New 
England scholarship, for the versification was appalling, and the meter and rhythm 
was something almost ludicrous. But the hymns were certainly sung and prob- 
ably answered the purpose until perhaps Sternhold and Hopkin's version was 
adopted. "A New Version of the Psalms of David by N. Brady and N. Tate" 
could not have been used until after Parson Hall's death for we find on the society 
records of Wallingford at about that date, a record that for a number of months 
at Dr. Dana's desire they had made trial of that version and have now decided 
to adopt it permanently.^ Probably Meriden fell in line shortly after. We find 
now and then a society record relating to the choir as, for instance, on "Feb 7 
1774 voted that choristers shall sit in next pew north of pulpit" ; on ]\Iarch 8, 1777, 
"voted that Jonathan Yale and Caleb Merriman Jr assist the choristers." Feb. 3, 
1783, "voted that Joel Rice assist in singing," and on Dec. 26, 1786, "Barnabas 
Meky was chosen assistant chorister." 

The people were summoned to meeting by the beating of a drum, and the 
records of Wallingford contain one or two references to the election of an officer 
for this duty. 

The election of deacons took place shortly after the organization of the society. 
On December 14, 1729, Samuel Royce was selected the first deacon, and some days 

1 There were probably no galleries in the first meeting house. 

2 At a society meeting held in 1808 it was voted that the committee provide for teaching singing. At 
a meeting held in 1821 it was voted that the singing committee be authorized to unite with the Episcopal 
Society in employing a singing teacher. These are the only references to .singing schools on the early 
records. 

3 At the annual society meeting in Wallingford first society 1st Tuesday of December, 1766, the 
following from Revd Mr. Dana was read in said meeting : 

"Gentm — Since agreeable to a very full vote of the church I have read to you Brady & Tates ver- 
sion of the Psalms in the afternoon of Lords days and on other occasions for near a year past upon 
Trial whereby you have been able to form a judgment of the same I would now refer it to you wheth- 
er I shall continue to read it or desist. You are sensible that the old version of the Psalms has for 
some time been laid aside by almost all the congregations of this Government : and if it is your Judge- 
ment to receive Brady & Tates in its room you will know it will be very acceptable to 

Gentm your friend & servant in the Gospel Jas. Dana. 

Then the question was put whether Mr. Dana be desired to sing the version of Brady and Tate 
wholly — Voted in the affirmative."' 



EARLY HISTORY. I47 

later Robert Royce was elected as his colleague ; both these men lived in the south- 
western part of the parish, in or near to Milking Yard. They were undoubtedly 
of great asssistance to the pastor, and must have been satisfactory to the congre- 
gation as well for they served without additional colleagues until 1748 when Ben- 
jamin Whiting and Benjamin Royce. were elected in November of that year. 

The little meeting house on the western slope of Meeting House Hill continued 
in use for at least twenty-five years. As the inhabitants increased in numbers it 
was seen that it had served its purpose and that a new house must be provided. 

We have learned that there was a very decided disagreement not to say quar- 
rel when the location of the first meeting house was chosen. Apparently the same 
conditions arose in deciding where to place the second. The society was 
unable to come to an amicable agreement, so the matter was brought to the at- 
tention of the county court at New Haven. At the January session, 1750-51, 
Josiah Robinson and Benjamin Royce as agents for the parish "preferred a me- 
morial representing that the inhabitants of s*^ parish had agreed by their vote to 
build a new meeting house, and praying the court to appoint a judicious and dis- 
interested committee to repair to s*^ parish and view the same and affix a place." 
Accordingly the court appointed John Hitchcock, Deodate Davenport and John 
Hubbard a committee and what they did appears in the following" memorial on 
file in Vol. IX. relating to ecclesiastical matters in the State Library at Hartford : 
"We, the subscribers. Did on y® 16*'^ Day of March, 175 1, repair to s*^ Society and 
affix a place and set a stake and stones around it near a highway that is called Ly- 
man's highway^ at y® west part thereof. In our fixing s*^ stake we alowed in our 
computation 2000 acres more north of s'^ stake than there was south of s^' stake by 
reason of broken & rough land, which [has] among s*^ broken land & north of it 
within y® bounds of s"^ Meriden about six or seven hundred acres of passable good 
land as we judge. In our setting of y® stake at s*^ time we did suppose y*^ high- 
way to be narrow y* runs northerly & southerly & thought we had set s*^ stake 
on y^ edge of y^ Rev^ Mr Halls land. But if it be six rods wide it stands a rod 
& a half in \® highway from y® westward side thereof." This location was very 
displeasing to Ezekiel Royce and Daniel Hough. The former, as we know, lived 
near IMilking Yard and the latter at the corner of Curtis and Ann streets. There 
were, undoubtedly, others who agreed with them. These two men were so dis- 
turbed that they presented the following petition to the May session of the Gen- 
eral Assembly 1752: "The memorial of Ezekiel Royce, Daniel Hough, and others 

* * * * humbly sheweth That application being made to y^ county court 

* * * for a committee to fix a place to set a meeting house * * '^^ the 
court appointed ***** ^ committee for that purpose who pitch*' upon a 
Place which being greivious to your memorialists who are near half of the said 

1 Apparently Lyman's highway was the name of present East Main street from the churih running 
east. It extended no farther west until 1782. 



148 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Society * * * * ''' and by the Doings of said Court Concluded of the Place 
for our meeting House to our Greivious Disadvantage, and indeed to y® Disadvan- 
tage as we suppose to the Society in general and without relieve unless by the 
Interposition of this Hon^'^ Assembly whereupon your memorialists beg leave to 
observe that the Place set by the said committee is upon y® Rev*^ Mr Theophilus 
Halls land which renders it impracticable to use the Place for the Purpose pro- 
jected. 2'' The s^ committee acted by mistake supposing the center of said society 
to be north of the Place where truly it ought to be esteamed by reason of much 
mountainous and wast land in the northern part of said society and sundry par- 
cels of Land received in. which ought not to be. 3'"*^ There is another place South 
of the place set by the said committee much more commodious and to which the 
People might resort with less Travel and which your memorialists are apprehen- 
sive the maj'' part of the society would be better pleased than the Place now stated. 
Whereupon your Honours memorialists humbly pray this honorable assembly to 
take y*" affair into your consideration and annul set aside and make void the Doings 
of the said county court and appoint another committee" etc., etc. 

In answer to this petition the Assembly summoned Joseph Merriam and Sam- 
uel Hough and the rest of the inhabitants to appear and make answer. After 
hearing both sides the Assembly refused to annul the action of the County Court 
and the committtee. 

During the year the house was probably finished, for on December 19, 1752, 
IMr. Hall deeded a highway across his farm. It was to be four rods wade and 
to run north and south and to terminate north of the new Meeting House. In 
other words he deeded a highway already in existence. This was not an unusual 
circumstance. 

On February 16, 1753, Mr. Hall deeded the house to Nathaniel ^lerriam, Jon- 
athan Collins, Amos Camp and Timothy Andrews, a committee representing the 
society. The society records until 1755 are missing. The first entry found relat- 
ing to the new church is under the date of December 11, 1755, when a receipt is 
entered of £150, advanced by Mr. Hall for building. It would appear, therefore, 
that the church was built by Mr. Hall and that the society gradually repaid to 
him the money advanced. His salary at that time was £50 and firewood annual- 
ly. The only contemporary record of the size of the church that the writer has 
been able to find was made by President Ezra Stiles of Yale College. Mr. Stiles 
was accustomed to preach in Meriden quite often during the ministry of his broth- 
er-in-law, Rev. John Hubbard. In his diary, under date of September 25, 1772, 
he says: '"Meriden meeting house 64 x 44." This old church was considerably 
east of the location of the present one. The east end was about where the car 
tracks are located on Broad street. Back of it ran the highway, four rods wide, 
continuing on to Liberty street. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



149 



After Broad street was opened in 1799 the church stood in a triangle 
bounded by highways, and so it continued until 1830 when the present church was 
built and the old highway in the rear was closed. East and north of the church 
stood at least thirteen Sabbath-day houses, and perhaps more. The first entry on 
the land records referring to these houses was made on July 2T,, 1757, under which 
date we find Theophilus Hall deeding to "Deacon Benjamin Whiting, Ensign 
Amos Camp and Bezaleel Ives a spot of land sufficient for 3 Sabbath-day houses 
with stables adjoining of the dimensions of those now standing on said spot Iving 
nigh and a little east of the meeting-house bounded north by the highway leading 
to Capt. Lymans and east south and west by my own land." These men lived in 
the extreme southeast district — too far away to admit of their going to their homes 
during the "nooning" on Sundays. 

Others who owned houses of this sort were Jonathan Foster, Ephraim Hough, 
who owned the Hough Mills on Quinnipiac river, near Cheshire street, Joseph 
Edwards, who owned a farm south of Aleriden farm, Reuben Rice, Phineas Hough, 
owner of what is now Baldwin's pond and dam, John Yale, who owned a portion 
of the old Meriden farm, Samuel and Dan Johnson, who lived respectively in Milk- 
ing Yard and on Johnson hill in the west, Ezekiel Rice, the son of Deacon Samuel 
Rice, and the Cowles family, living on Ox Hill in Rice's farms. Two of these 
houses were twenty feet square and stood north of the church, and may have been 
used by two or three families each. The others stood on a tract of land east of 
the present location of Eli C. Birdsey's dwelling. The church nnist have presented 
a singular spectacle with all these small buildings in the vicinity. The only other 
buildings in the neighborhood were what was afterwards the Central Tavern 
and the barn near the site of the present Broad street Baptist church. Immediate- 
ly in front of the church to the east was a parade ground where the local train 
bands performed their evolutions, and we find one contemporary account of their 
impression on him in the diary of Ezra Stiles who says under date of Septem- 
ber 28, 1772 : "Training day at Meriden : Company 93 Rank & file — 1 19 on the List. 
Not above 3 or 4 above aet. 40." At this time John Couch was captain, Bezaleel 
Ives, lieutenant, and John Hough, ensign. 

From 1755 the records of the society are fairly complete. The first meeting 
recorded was held December 4, 1755. Aaron Lyman was moderator and Jon- 
athan Collins, Robert Collins, z\bel Yale and Samuel Austin were appointed so- 
ciety's committee. Rev. Mr. Hall's family was assigned a pew for life, 
and then, as the question of pastor's salary was brought up, they adjourned and 
came together again on the nth and voted to give him £50 and wood. This 
salary question was frequently bothering the jjarish and in 1757, after adjourning 
two or three times, it was finally agreed that the pastor's salary should be £54 
and firewood. It took a committee of five to settle this momentous question. 



1^0 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

and even the £54 did not decide the matter for it took another arbitrating commit- 
tee to agree whether to pay the sum in money or in provisions, viz. wheat, rye and 
Indian corn/ In 1760 Mr. Hall's salary was made £70 and firewood, and that 
amount was thereafter annually paid him until his death in 1767. It is certain 
that it was not the size of his salary that made Mr. Hall a wealthy man. The par- 
ish in their annual meetings performed the functions of a town meeting, for they 
appointed school committees and laid a tax to support the schools and mapped out 
the school districts. ^ They appointed a grave digger and a sexton. The names 
of Captain Robinson, Esquire Lyman, Samuel and Ezekiel Rice were always con- 
spicuous in these meetings, and the other names that we have met in describing 
the farms, occur with differing degrees of frequency. Now and then, a new one 
appears, as, for instance, that of John Couch who was elected one of the society's 
committee in 1760. He was afterwards a captain in the Revolutionary war. In 
1764 the southwest district, that is Milking Yard or Rice's Farms, was given lib- 
erty to keep ?. school. 

In 1765 a committee was appointed to buy the land east of the Meeting House 
as far as Aaron Lyman's Esq''. This was probably for a parade ground. At a 
meeting held February 2-^, 1767, we find the first record of the custom of dignify- 
ing and seating the meeting house. The first notice that the men and women 
were separated in the church services appears as follows: "Feb 7 1774 voted the 
society committee advise with those that sit in the fore seat and if they think best 
take away the bench from the w'omens side." 

From various references in the records there seem to have been doors on the 
north, east and south sides of the church. That on the north side was, about 1772, 
closed and bolted and appears to have been used no more. 

There were, perhaps, no formal pews until 1767. In that year it was voted 
*'to take up seats in square body^ except the fore seat and make pews" and it 
also was voted "to choose a committee to see that the work was done and to dig- 
nify and seat the meeting house." In fact, whenever repairs to the pews were 
made the members were reseated according to their position in life. New pews 
were apparently "the first dignity." This question of dignity was always an im- 
portant one. For instance, on Jan. 29, 1801, Aaron Johnson promised to pay 

1 At a meeting held in Dec, 1758, the scarcity of money is mentioned on account of the war and it 
was voted to pay Mr. Hall's salary in provisions until after the war is over. 

2 "Feb 6 1776, Voted ye Society Committee shall call in ye Loan & excise money that belongs to 
ye Parish for the use of schools next March & let it out with good security upon lawful Interest to be 
paid yearly to said committee for use of schools only & to let not less than £5 to one man nor let it 
more than two years at one time."' 

"Dec 6 1773 voted to lay a Rate of one farthing upon the Pound for ye use of schools and each 
quarter or schoql to. have their proportion of sd money according to ye list of each quarter." This 
shows that even at that early date Meriden was divided into school districts. 

3 These were undoubtedly the square, high-backed pews so common a century ago and of which 
a few examples still jremain. There were only three of these pews on each side or six altogether, as 
appears by a later vote. 



EARLY HISTORY. I5I 

the yearly lax for the support of the Presbyterian rehgion providing he and his 
family are given seats according to his standing in life. The "dignity" commit- 
tee, after duly considering the matter, voted to accept the proposal of Aaron and 
give him a seat according to his list and age. 

In 1767, on March 25, the Rev. Theophilus Hall died. His loss was a great 
blow to the little parish for he had been the strong man at the helm who always 
steered a wise course. While there may have been frictions during his pastorate 
they were all confined to the question of salary. His personality was so strong 
that he held his flock with a vigorous hand. That there were discordant ele- 
ments^ is proved by events in the pastorate of his successor, but they manifested 
themselves ver}' feebly during the life of Mr. Hall. The parish, probably as a 
token of respect, paid the funeral expenses of the pastor, and then took up the 
(|uestion of choosing his successor. On Nov. 7, 1767, the majority of the parish 
made choice of the Rev. John liubbard, of New Haven, but he did not suit the 
discordant element which has been mentioned and there were numerous confer- 
ences which were unable to arrange a compromise. Mr. Hubbard was not or- 
dained until June 2.2, 1769, and the minor party would take no part in the pro- 
ceedings but withdrew and formed a separate society and maintained another place 
of public worship for several years. ^ 

The Rev. John Hubbard was born in New Haven Jan. 24, 1726-27, and grad- 
uated from Yale in the class of 1744. He studied divinity and was licensed to 
preach in 1746, but instead of following his profession he went into business in 
New Haven with Chauncey Whittlesey. He preached occasionally but had no 
parish until he was invited to Meriden. There was a suspicion that his beliefs 
were somewhat unorthodox, which accounts for the troubles in Meriden. He 
married Jan. 25, 1749-50, Rebecca Dickerman of New Haven. President Ezra 
Stiles, of Yale College, married Mr. Hubbard's sister and to this fact was due Mr. 
Stiles" frequent visits to Meriden. There are frequent references in his Literary 



1 And even In Mr. Hall's pastorate these discordant elements manifested themselves. For instance, 
on May 24, 1762, Ebenezer Prindle, Gideon Ives, Jr., and Noah Yale entered a complaint to the conso- 
ciation because Mr. Hall had exchanged pulpits with Rev. Jas. Dana, of Wallingford, whose orthodoxy 
was suspected by many. The consociation turned a deaf ear to the complaint and hardly dignified it 
by a formal hearing. 

2 That this schism embraced an influential part of the population is proved by the roll of those who 
withdrew. They were : 

Dr Isaac Hall Levi Yale Peter Penfield Stephen Perkins 

.John Ives Amos Camp, Jr. Ebenezer Prindle John Hall 

Elijah Scofel Timothy Ives Amos Camp Samuel Scovel 

Samuel Penfield Abel Yale .Xathaniel Penfleld Daniel Hall 

Isaac Hall, 3rd Edward Collins Reynolds Beckwith Elnathan Ives 

Brenton Hall Elisha Scofel Noah Yale John Berry 

Dan Collins Yale Bishop Gideon Ives 

These separates met each Sunday in a house belonging to Joseph Shaylor, which stood on Gravel 
street a short distance north of the Penfleld house on the other side of the street. It long since 
disappeared. The locality bears the name of Winket. 



152 



A CENTURY OF MEIUUEN. 



Diary to these visits and as .he was one of the most distinguished men in New- 
England, the people of Meriden must have congratulated themselves that they 
had the opportunity to hear this famous man so often. ^ Mr. Hubbard bought a 
farm of some ten or twelve acres and built a house in 1769 which occupied a site 
somewhere near that of the present residence of Edward Miller, No. 360 Broad 
street. The house is still in existence; it was bought in 1795 by Benjamin Cur- 
tis and by him given to his son, Ivah Curtis, who lived in it until 1800 when he 
sold it to Cornelius Hull ; he in turn in two or three years sold it to Seth D. Plumb, 
who maintained a tavern there for many years. Mr. Miller, when he built his 
present residence in 1866, moved the old house to No. 229 Broad street, and there 
it still stands. 

After Mr. Hubbard was ordained it was voted to give him a salary ( 'f £80 
lawful money per year, one-half to be paid in wheat, rye and Indian corn, the other 
half in cash provided he supplies the pulpit in case of his own infirmities.^ Mr. 
Hubbard was a forceful preacher and a gentleman of tact ; these qualities com- 
bined with an estimable character and winning manners gradually drew back to 
the society those who had seceded, and the parish was prosperous and harmon- 
ious during the latter part of his ministry. In the winter of 1783-4 he was thrown 
from his sleigh and seriously disabled, which made it necessary to engage a col- 
league to assist him. At a meeting of the parish held September 6, 1784, a com- 
mittee was appointed to supply preaching and September 22, 1785, the Rev. John 
Willard was permanently engaged, but did not become pastor until June, 1786. 
Rev. Mr. Hubbard died November i8th, the same year, survived by his widow^ and 
two sons. 

About this time there begin to appear on the parish records notices of with- 
drawals by various persons to unite with the Baptist and Episcopal societies which 
had been recently formed. 



1 In an entry by Mr. Stiles in his diary under date of September 25, 1772, he naentions that there 
was a congregation of 200 present in meeting on Sunday in Meriden. And in a letter to Mr. Hubbard 
in .Tune, 1775, Mr. Stiles says : "The gloomy & dangerous Prospect of Things &. the events forseen by 
many as coming upon Newport (tho' I dont so clearly forsee them) have determined me to send Kezia 
(his daughter) & commit her to your care .... I should like she might be kept to business, 
Spinning, Milking &c so as to lay a founda of a notable woman. Pray counsel her on the great Things 
of Religion & Virtue and Sobriety & call upon her daily to read her Bible.'" During the "British 
Invasion" of New Haven in 1779 Mr. Stiles sent his daughters, Ruth and Polly, to Meriden to stay 
with Mr. Hubbard. (From 1755 to 1778 Mr. Stiles was pastor of the 2d Congregational church of 
Newport, R. I., and from the latter year until his death president of Yale College.) 

2 On Dee. 11, 1778, It was voted to pay Mr. Hubbard only in provisions. This was probably due 
to the hard times caused by the Revolution. The prices were as follows : 

Wheat at 6s 8d per bush Beef at £1 6s 8d per cwt 

Rye at 4s 6d per bush Wool in the fleece at 2s 8d per lb* 

Indian Corn at 3s 6d per bush Flax lOd per lb 

Oats at 2s Id per bush Butter Is Od per lb 

Pork at £1 13s Od per cwt Good cheese Os 7d per lb 

3 This widow was his second wife — a Mrs. Frost of Newport, R. I., born Mary Russell : Pres. 
Ezra Stiles is supposed to have made the match. 



EARLY HISTORY. 1 53 

Mr. Willard's theological tendencies were not pleasing to many of his par- 
ishioners and the church grew feeble in numbers and suffered a severe decline. 
At this time most of those who were alive when the parish was organized were 
dead and a new generation was in control. One of the last to go was our old 
friend, Esq. Aaron Lyman. He died in 1801. Others who died about the same 
time were Widow Ruth Merriam, aged eighty-nine, Captain Ijezaleel Ives, aged 
seventy-two. In the issue of August 24, 1796, of the Conn. Journal, published 
in Xew Haven, was the following item : 

"On the 1 2th of August the following persons dined at the house of Doct 
Hough in Meriden viz. Aaron Lyman Esq 89 years old : his wife 80. Capt John 
Webb 89 and his wife 84 and have been married 64 years. Phinehas Hough 83 
and his wife 82. Xoah Yale 82 and his wife 81 have been married 60 years. The 
widow Sarah Yale age 84. 

After spending the afternoon in agreeable conversation on the things of this 
world and the world to come, they went to their respective homes expecting not 
to meet again till they meet in Heaven." 

Sarah Yale was probably the widow of Abel. They lived in the old house 
still standing on East Main street a few hundred feet west of Paddock avenue. 
Noah Yale died in 1803 and John Webb and his wife^ in 1799. Mr. Willard built 
a house, probably about 1787, at which time he bought a lot. This house is still 
standing, a square building with a roof fashioned somewhat like those we term 
Mansard. It is the second house on the southeast corner of Broad and Liberty 
streets, No. 583. It formerly stood perhaps one hundred feet farther north. In 
the year 1791 it was voted to divide the parish into seven school districts, pre- 
sumably for the purpose of having seven separate school houses. There seem to 
have been two school houses in the center of the parish — one located east of the 
meeting house beyond the Sabbath day houses, and the other a few hundred feet 
south near the burying ground. Both these school houses are distinctly men- 
tioned in deeds of this period. The names of the school districts were southeast, 
east, northeast, northwest, west, southwest and the center. In 1804 a census of 
the inhabitants belonging to the society is given on the records and their resi- 
dences are located in the dift'erent school districts. The list follows at the end of 
the historical portion of this book. 

The society appears never to have been satisfied with Mr. Willard. The records 
for a number of years contain constant references to disputes and disagreements 
relative to his salary. His theological tendencies were not pleasing to the peoj^le 
and the numbers of those withdrawing to other religious bodies were rapidly in- 
creasing. He finally left here in 1802 and removed to \'ermont. but died in Mer- 
iden and is buried in Broad street cemeterv. 



1 Error: Mrs. Webb died in 1806. 



154 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In Febrnarv, 1803, the Rev. Erastus Ripley was engaged as pastor, and while 
there was no question as to his orthodoxy, his personality was not pleasing. He 
was apparently a man of great sincerity but was totally lacking in tact and had 
no hold on his people. He probably was an ultra conservative person, who did his 
best to repair the damage caused by his predecessor's long stay in Meriden, but 
without success, for the desertions to other churches continued even more rapidly, 
until the society became dismayed and began to wonder if the church would be- 
come extinct. While here he built and lived in the house just north of Franklin 
T. Ives, No. 629 Broad street. 

To the great relief of the society, he left here in 1822, and the same 
year Rev. Charles J. Hinsdale was engaged and was ordained on January 
15, 1823. Mr. Hinsdale was a man of another stamp. He had life and 
energy and immediately began a series of revivals which brought numbers 
into the society. He was a good preacher and had tact and sociability to a large 
degree and was very successful in his work in Meriden. During his ministry the 
present Center Congregational church was built. During many years there were 
references to repairs made to the old church. Much money had been spent in these 
attempts to save the building, but in 1829 the situation had become so serious 
that it was deemed wise to appoint a committee to look into the matter thoroughly 
and report to the society. Although the church had been standing only sev- 
enty-seven years, the committee, consisting of Silas Rice, Fenner Bush, Nathaniel 
C. Sanford, Asahel Rice and Benjamin Hart, reported on September 28, 1829. that 
the front ground sill had been spliced three times, & many other beams were rot- 
ten, that the beams in the steeple^ were in the same condition, and that the whole 
building was in a state of general dilapidation, and was not worth repairing. So 
on October 9, 1829, a subscription paper was drawn up and a committee appointed 
to circulate it, and soon the erection of the new church was begun, and wonderful 
to relate ! it was voted to place in it two chimneys. The church was apparently 
finished in 1831 for in that year Mr. Hinsdale was instructed to "make suitable ar- 
rangements for the dedication of the new meeting house," and at the same time 
he was given permission to use the basement for a private school. Mr. Perkins 
states that the cost of the church was $7,000. 

It was almost the first building erected in Meriden of any architectural pre- 
tensions. 

Its front is in the form of an ancient Greek temple ; the pediment being sup- 
ported by six Doric columns of excellent proportions. The spire reminds one of 
the work of Sir Christopher Wren and doubtless the motive was borrowed from 
him, although it is not a copy. It resembles very much the spire of the old north 
church on the green at New Haven. There is reason to believe that the late Sid- 



1 The steeple was added to the church in 1802 and bell bought. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



155 



, ■ , TV 7 ?''■'"' "■'' "'' "■'^'^"^'=' °'" "^<= Center Congresjational 
ch„rch. Mr. Henry L. Gay of Chicago, who was at one tin,e emploKd in Mr 
Stones office ,n Mew Haven, has the in,pressio„ tliat the bnihiing was desi^^ned by 
Mr. Stone and the drawings ntade by a Mr. Galway.^ The design is a vv pleas 




TIIIRl) CHURCH. 

'"g one and the color, white, is in complete harmonv with the arcliitecture The 
congregation is to be congratulated for having never attempted to -improve- the 
sever^dassic hnes or to change the color. 

relali'n'grM'r.'ston?'' °'"''"°'^ '" ''''• "^ '''■ ^^"•''"■'^°"' ^■•^•'^""•'- "^ -^•-^- «--. ^o^ these facts 



156 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Dating from the organization of the town government in 1806 the old meeting 
house had been used for town meetings, and there had finally grown up the senti- 
ment that it was not a proper thing to do, for in 1823 it was voted that a "com- 
mittee be appointed to arrange a compromise with the selectmen, so that one-third 
of the town meetings only would be held in their church, provided the other socie- 
ties (the Episcopal and Baptist) would open their doors for this purpose the rest 
of the time." "If such an arrangement could not be made the selectmen were 
prohibited from holding further meetings in the society's house." This vote cre- 
ated considerable friction, for the selectmen made the claim that the society did not 
exclusively own the church and that it was really a part of the town property. 
Then the society voted to close the doors against the town. This resulted in an 
examination of titles, with what results we do not know, for the records are si- 
lent. When the new church was finished an arrangement was made whereby 
the town was allowed to use the basement for public meetings. In 1831 a stove 
was bought to warm the church and at the same time it was voted to insure the 
building, and the next year a second stove was bought. Henceforth, the members 
could worship in midwinter without danger of freezing. 

In March, 1836, Rev. Arthur Granger became the pastor. He was here only 
two years. His stay was cast in stormy times. It v^as in the midst of the Aboli- 
tion agitation when strong feelings were in play and an attempt to give a lecture 
on the subject in the church by a Mr. Ludlow resulted in a small sized riot. The 
Rev. Charles Rich officiated during the years 1840-1. On May 19, 1841, Rev. 
George W. Perkins was engaged as pastor. It is impossible to speak of Mr. 
Perkins except in words of praise. A genial, cultured, attractive man, he at once 
won all hearts. He was a strong, forceful preacher, a man of convictions who 
was not afraid to express them, a leader of public opinion, and a great force in the 
community. His little history of Meriden is admirable in tone and accurate in 
its statements and he seems to have been the first individual in Meriden to excite 
an interest in the past. His portrait in Dr. Davis' History shows a face that 
must have been an inspiration to all who came in contact with him. The numbers 
of the society were largely increased during his stay, and in fact, Mr. Perkins' pas- 
torate may be called the turning point in the history of the Congregational society. 

Mr. Perkins was born in Hartford February 12, 1804. He graduated from 
Yale in the class of 1824 and then taught school in Cambridge, Mass.^ During 
the incumbency of Mr. Perkins the society was divided ; the larger body calling 
themselves the First Congregational society, removing to what was then West 
Meriden. Mr. Perkins in his history says, "But as the population increased rap- 
idly there soon was need of another house of worship. As this increase was 
mainly in the western part of the town, it was decided to erect a new house at 

1 One of his pupils was Margaret Fuller, afterwards Marchioness Ossoli, the brilliant woman who 
was the friend of Hawthorne and other leading literary lights. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



157 



the point usually styled "the Corner; or 'West Aleriden.* Accordingly, the 
house we occupy at this time (1849) was here built at an expense 
of $8,000. It is 90 feet in length, and 56 feet in width. In addition to the cost 
of the house the land was purchased for $800." Mr. Perkins remained here un- 




FOURTH CHURCH. 



til 1854 when he resigned and went to Chicago to the l"'irst Congregational cliurch. 
The ministers succeeding Mr. Perkins were Rev. George Thatcher, 1855-1861 ; 
Rev. Hiram C. Hayden, 1862-1865 ; Rev. W. H. H. Murray, 1866-1868. Mr. Mur- 



158 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ray's pastorate in Meriden will long be remembered. He was a brilliant and 
forceful preacher and achieved a national reputation. His church was crowded 
each Sunday by a congregation that fairly devoured his burning words. His ser- 
mons were models of style and eloquence. Such a man could not be expected to 
stay in Meriden and he was called hence to the Park Street church in Boston the 
latter part of 1868. He died in 1903. 

Rev. W. L. Gaylord, 1870-1874; Rev. Alfred H. Hall, 1874-1879, a man be- 
loved as few ministers have been; Rev. Thomas M. Miles, 1879-1881 ; Rev. Llew- 
ellyn Pratt, 1 882- 1 883 ; Rev. Charles H. Everest, Oct. 1884, to July, 1885 ; Rev. 
Charles H. Williams, 1886-1889; Rev. Asher Anderson, 1890-1902; Rev. Albert 
J. Lord, 1902-. 

The present granite church was begun in 1876 and completed in 1878. 




FIFTH CHURCH. 



EARLY HISTORY, 



159 



CHAPTER XII. 

Some fifty rods east of the first meeting house was located the first burying 
ground and, like the house itself, it stood in the highway or common. A few 
of the mouldering grave stones, memorials of these early settlers, are still in 
existence. The view from the sacred place is beautiful. To the east lies Little 
Success Hill, and over its summit loom the somber crags of the Besett range, 
while in the foreground to the south stretch the beautiful rolling meadows, pas- 
ture and woodland of the old Yale farm ; in the distance are the spires of Wal- 
lingford, while Mt. Carmel or the Sleeping Giant like a great bulwark forms the 
horizon in the southwest, and at its left we catch glimpses of the Sound on a clear 
day. 

The date of the first interments in the old burying ground we do not know, but 
it was doubtless as early as 1727. However, from the date of the first burial noted 
by Parson Hall in his records, until 1771 when this graveyard was abandoned 
as a place of sepulture, there were recorded 357 burials in the parish. But when 
the shaft in the middle of the lot was erected by the town in 1857, it was possi- 
ble to save from oblivion the names of only twenty-nine persons, who were there 
entombed. To-day there are not more than twenty stones that are in a fair 
state of preservation. The rest have practically utterly disappeared. The isola- 
tion of the place has made possible this vandalism. It is sad to contemplate, and 
yet perhaps it could not have been prevented without maintaining a constant guard. 
It is hard to realize that this place was once the center of the parish. Just below 
to the east stood the home of Deacon Moses Mitchell, at the foot of Little Success 
Hill, and just this side of the house were his tan vats and yard, for he was the 
tanner of the parish one hundred and thirty years ago. Mr. Julius Yale can re- 
member, as a boy, that the remains of the vats half buried in the earth were still 
in existence. 

If one stands at a point in the highway perhaps a hundred feet east of the 
burying ground the old road can be seen running to the south and meeting Miller 
avenue at its junction with Swayne avenue. The latter road is quite modern. 
Standing at this same spot east of the burying ground, one can trace the old 
road which wound around the hill, to the northeast. It came out on the Middle- 
town turnpike near the old Abel Yale place, and terminated on Gravel street, 
perhaps half a mile north of the turnpike. By this route those in the northeast 
and east came to the old meeting house, or to bury their dead in the old cemetery. 



l60 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

The roll of the twenty-nine known burials as recorded on the brown stone 
shaft erected by the town in 1857 is as follows : 

On the north side : On the West side : 

Rev. Theophilus Hall, Pastor of the First Benjamin Curtiss, Oct. 29, 1754, ae. 52. 

Church, ]\Iar. 25, 1769, ae. 62.I .\aron Curtis, Dec. 18, 1763, ae. 20.3 

.Mehitable Hall, Sept. 11, 1767, ae. 16. Rebekah Lyman, Nov. 8, 1748, ae. 44. 

Timothy Jerome, Feb. 21,, 1751, ae. 62. Joseph Cowles, Nov. 30, 1760, ae. 83. 

Abigail Way, Sept. 12, 1741, ae. 12. Mindwell Cowles, April 17, 1770, ae. 89. 

Daniel Hough, July 25, 1768, ae. 49. Sarah Bishop, May 31, 1766, ae. 43. 

Thos. Beech, May 14, 1741, ae. 83. Elizabeth Merriam, June 11, 1767, ae. 70. 

Phebe Merriam, Feb. 23, 1753, ae. 22,. Elizabeth Penfield, Nov. 20, 1765, ae. 18. 

Hannah Ives, Nov. 5, 1770. ae. 70. Deacon Samuel Royce, May 14, 1757, ae. 85. 

Christopher Robinson, Dec. 6, 1760. ae. 60.2 Ezekiel Rice, Esq., Sept. 4, 1765, ae. 66. 

Capt. Josiah Robinson, Apl. 2, 1766, ae. 67. Ebenezer Roys, Oct. 18, 1752, ae. 39. 

Theophilus Mix, July 3, 1750, ae. 53. Benjamin Roys, Jan. 20, 1758, ae. 53. 

Rachal Andrus, Jan. 11, 1756, ae. 2i- Joseph Merriam, Aug. 24, 1752, ae. 49. 

Timothy Andrus, Nov. 25, 1743, ae. 2t,. Deborah Merriam, Aug. 12, 1761, ae. 52. 

Hannah Royce, Jan. 12, 1761, ae. 91. Ruth Merriam, Nov. 12, 1755, ae. 72. 

Samuel Johnson. March 2, 1777, ae. 23. Mindwell Rice, June 15, 1769, ae. 27. 

On the soutli side of this shaft is the following inscription : ■' 

Erected 

By the town of Meriden 

1857 

On the east side it reads : 

In Memory of the First Settlers of the Town of MERIDEN 
who were buried within and near this enclosure and 
whose names so far as known are inscribed on 
this Monument 
Tlie Meeting House in which they worsliipped. and the j 

lirst erected in the town, stood about 50 rods * 

west of this Memorial _^, 



The inscriptions on the few gravestones remaining are given below 

Here Lies ye Body 

of Eunice Daugtr Phebe Daughter 

of Titus & Dinah Benjamin & Phebe 

Merriman She ^°>'S She died 

died Septbr ye ii 1756 N"^^' ^^ ^5 1757 m 

in ve 2d vear of her ^^ ^ ^^^'^ °^ h^"" 

Age Age 



3 



1 Error ; he died 1767, aet. 60. 

2 Error ; ho died ae. 26. 

3 He was thrown from a horse and killed. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



i6i 



Here lies y^ Bod\- of 

James Son of John & 

Azubah Coucli he died 

Novbr ye 12 1755 in ye 3rd 

year of his Age 

In Memory of Airs 

Sarah Wife of Mr 

Yale Bishop died 

]\lay 31 1766 in ye 

431'd year of her Age 

and was buried with 

her Infant on her arm 

In Memory of 

Mrs Deborah Wife of Joseph 

Alerriam died Augs* 

12 I 761 in ye 52 

year of her Age 

Death tho Awful 

is but a sleep 

To them that Gods 

Commandments keep. 

Here lies y© Body of 

Oliver Son of Mr Ebene 

zer & Abigail Roys he died 

Decbr ye 6th 1753 in ye 7th 

yer of his Age 
These four things 
Remember well 
death & Judgement 
heaven & hell 

In Memory of 

Mrs Hannah 

Wife of Mr John 

Ives Dec<i She 
died Novbr ye 5th 

1770 in ye 70th 
year of her age 

Mindwell 

Wife of Mr Joseph 

Cowls She died 

April 17 1770 

in ye 89th year 

of her Age 



In Alemor}- of 

Enci Daniel 

Hough died 

July 25 1768 
in ye 49th year 

of his Age 

Here lies y^ 

Body of Rebekah 

Wife of 'Mr Aaron Lyman 

She died November 

ye 8th 1748 in ye 44th 

year of her 

Age 

In Alemory of 

Mr Christopher 

Robinson died Decbr 

6 1760 in ye 26th 

year of his Age 

as you are now 

so once was I 

Prepare for death 

for you must die 

Here lies y^ Body 
of Joseph Merriam 

who died August 
ye 24 1752 in his 49 
year 
Loving Friends behold 
My Body turned to dust 
O now prepare for death 
For follow me you must 

Here lies Interred 
ye Body of Mrs. RutTi 
Aleriam formerly wife 

of Mr John Webb 

but died w<lo of Mr 

\\'illiam Mcriam 

on X..V'- 12 .\. I). 1755 

Aged 72 years 

In Memory of 

Mr Joseph 

Cowls Who 

died Novbr 30th 

1760 in ye 83rd 

year of his Age 



1 62 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Here lyes y<^ Body 

of Ebenezer Roys 

who died October 
i8 1752 in His 
39th year 
For Sin Man being curst 
His Body turns to Dust 
But Christ will Raise 
His Saints in endless 

Pardise 

Here lies y^ Body of 
De"i Benjamin Roys 
he died Jenry ye 2 o 
1758 in ye 53rd year of his 
Age : Bhold & see as you 
Pass by : as 30U are now so once 
was I as I am now so must 
you be Prepare for death & 
follow me 



In Memory of Miss 

Mehitable Hall 

Daughtr of the Revd Mr 

Theophilus & Md^ 

Hannah Hall died Sept^r 

II 1767 aged 16 years 

Happy y« dying youth 

Whose early steps have 

Trod y® Christian road of 

Pious virtue up to god 

Deal Ezekiel Rice Esq 
Aged 66 years 
Departed this Life Sept 4 1765 
To God and Man a faithful friend 
In Serving both his life did spend 
His Sun is set his work is done 
Lies here beneath this Gloomy Stone 
So Great & Good both High & Low 
To Conquering Death their knee must bow- 
In Memory of 
Theophilus Hall 
Pastor of ye church who having for 37 
years discharged the duties of his function 
with distinguished fidelity and accomplished 
Christian life, the uniform disciple of Jesus 
Christ deceased Mar 23 1769I 

In the 6oth year of his Age 
They that be wise shall shine as ye bright- 
ness of ye firmament 

In 1904 Ruth Hart Chapter, D. A. R., erected an iron fence around the old cem- 
etery and in the following spring a hedge of Japanese barberries was set out just 
inside. In digging the trench the laborer noticed that it immediately filled with 
water ; and to such an extent that he called attention to it for fear it might hurt 
the shrubs. The time was the latter part of April. This situation of affairs bears 
testimony to the accuracy of the schoolboy's information in the composition^ 
already mentioned. In it he states "The first Burying Ground was so wet that 
they had to have another." 

The old cemetery was abandoned in 1771. Among the old papers in the 
Oliver Rice homestead is one of which the following is a copy : 

Whereas the Inhabitants of the Parish of Meriden did in their Meeting on the iS^^ of 
Febry last, agree to purchase a piece of Land of the Revd Mr. Hubbard for a Burying Yard. 
We the subscribers being desirous of a speedy accomplishment of said affair do herewith our 



In memory of 

Mr Aaron Curtiss 

he died Decbr 

iStb 1763 in ye 

iQth year of 

his Age 



1 As already noted this 
1 Page 29. 



-hould be 1767. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



163 



names subscribe the several sums that we will give towards purchasing said piece of Land. 
And do promise to pay them in to the Parish Committee within Nine Months after said 
Comtee shall receive a Deed of said land to secure the same to the use of the Parish as afore- 
said — Meriden, March n, 1771. 



Abel Hawley, 
Ebenezer Cowles, 
Samuel Johnson, 
Ezekiel Rice, 
Solomon Rice, 
Daniel Howlt, 
Ebenezer Cowles, 
Joseph Cowles, 
Wait Rice, 
Samuel Whiting, 
Bezaleel Ives, 
John Miles, Jun., 
Timothy Cowles, 
Theo Hall, 
Thomas Hough, 



Jr., 



£ s d 




2 


Josaih Merriam, 


3 6 


Ezra Rice, 


3 


Titus Rice, 


I 6 


Thomas Merchant 


I 


Aaron Hull, 


36 


Moses Hall, . 


I 


Thos. Berry, Jun. 


3 


Benj. Rice, 


I 


Timothy Foster, 


I 6 


Aaron Lyman, 


2 


Abigail Rice, Wid. 


I 


Amasa Rice, 


I 6 


Samu^'l Leavit, 


2 


Hannah Hall, 





Noah Yale. 



£ s d 

. I O 

2 O 

• I 4 

1 6 
. I 

I 3 

. 2 o 

2 o 

• 3 4 
040 

. 2 

1 

■ 4 o 

2 
2 



The following is a literal and believed to be a complete copy of the inscrip- 
tions on the old tombstones in the Broad street cemetery that are still legible ; a 
number of the stones are in snch condition that the names and epitaphs are for- 
ever lost. 



In 

Memory of Mr. 
Archelaus Allen 

who died 

Aug 24, 1828 in 

his 79th year. 

Sacred to 

the Memory of 

Mrs. Prudence Allen 

Wife of 

Mr. Archelaus Allen 

She departed this Life 

Novr. 29th A. D. 1807 

AE. 61 

Free from this dream of life, this maze of 

care 
The tender mother rests, and friend sincere : 
She foUow'd virtue as her truest guide. 
Liv'd like a christian, like a christian died. 



Aaron Andrews 

Died 

Oct 18 184s 

AE. 80. 

Charlotte Ann 

His Wife Died 

Dec 12 1851 

AE. 8r ^ 

In 

Alemory 

of Mrs. 

Abigail 

Andrews 

wife .of Mr. 

Denison 

Andrews 

wiio died 

( )ct ith .\. 1). 

1796 AE. 

60 vears 



164 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



In Mt'iiKin- of 

Mrs. Thryphciia Late 

wife of Mr. Archelaus 

Allen & formerly wife 

of Mr. Simeon Perkins 

who died March 2d. 

1832 Aged 81 



In Menior}- of 

Mabel AUin Daughter 

of Mr. Archelaus & 

]\Irs. Prudence Allen 

who died Dec. 6th. A. D. 

1802 AE. 22 years 

Ah ! cheerful reader pause the 

tombstone view 
Behold the grace of her whose 

soul is fled. 
Think ! the Almighty God may 

consign you 
Soon to the clay cold regions 

of the dead. 

Aaron 

died at Coventry 

South Alabama. 

Nov. 1840, AE. 35. 

Alexander F. 
died at Arkansas. 
Sept. 1840 AE. 25. 

Sons of 
Aaron & Ann C. 
Andrews. 

In 

Memory 

of Miss 

Rebecca 

Daugh of Mr. 

Den i son 

and Mrs 

Abigail 

Andrews 

■ who died 

Aug. 24th A. D. 

1792, in the 

i8th year of 

her age. 



In 

Memor}' of 

Abner Andrews 

who died 

Dec 22 1825 

Aet 69 

Also Betsey his wife 

who died 

]\Iarch 24 1846 

Aet. 86 

Clarissa R. 

Wife of 

Amon Andrews 

Born Dec 15th 

1808 
Died April 11 

1844 
Aged 35 years 

Here lies the body of 

Mr. 

Denison Andrews 

who died June 30th A. D. 

1807 AE. -j-j years 

He was a friend to morality 

& episcopal discipline. 

O mournful thought & must I 

die 
& in a silent mansion lie 
What is my hope my Christ 

my all 
Into thy arms my spirit call 

In Memory of 

Mr. Elon Andrews 

Who died Sept. 22d 

A. D. 1784. 

in the 63d 

year of his age. 

Sarah Andrews 

died Apr 30. 1797 

Aet. 60. 

Mrs 

Hannah Andrews 

died 

Sept 12 1825 

AE. 18 



EARLY HISTORY. 



165 



Erected 

In Memon- of 

Mrs. Hannah 

Andrews late Consort 

of Mr. Marvel Andrews 

who departed this Life 

Jan. 31st A. D. 1801 in her 29th 

year. Also their babe 

departed this Life 

Jan. 31st A. D. 

1801 

Let not the dead forgotten ly 
Remember that you all must die 

Jane G. Andrews 

Died 

Sept II 1870 

AE. 68 

Harriet Andrews 

Died 

Sept I 1878 

AE. 78 

Sacred 

to the Memory of INIrs. 

Huldah Elizabeth 

Andrews, w-ife of 

Mr. Marvel Andrews 

who died Nov. 20 A. D. 

1819 in her 29th 

year 

Though in the paths of death I tread 
With gloomy sorrow overspread 
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill 
l"or thou O Lord art with me still. 



Marvell Andrews 
Died Dec. 5, 1848. 
AE. 83 years 2 mo. 
Our Father has finished his 
work and rests in peace 

Sacred 
to the Memory of 
Mr. Moses Andrews 
who departed this fleeting scene 
Nov. 24, 1811. 
Aged "jy years 
The benificent Father of the 
universe whom he feared, richly 
endowed him with wisdom 
of genius, and the adoreable 
Redeemer of mankind, whom 
he lov'd liberally blessed him 
with piet}' of goodness : adorned 
with all these noble gifts of 
nature & grace this christian 
man became a bright & 
distinguished member in 
the Lords Church. Reader 
follow carefully his virtuous 
course ; it ends in peace. 
Imitate his example : it 
leads to God 

Moses Andrews 

Died 

Oct 2 i8f)o 

AE. 76 

Lucy Andrews 

Died June 13 1832 

AE. 86 



Levina daughter of 

Oliver & Hannah 

Andrews, died 

Oct. 28, 1827 

in her 25 year 

Wm. H. son of 

Oliver & Hannah 

Andrews, died 

May 29, 1827 

in his 21 vear 



Lucy Andrews 

Died 

Aug 25 1888 

AE. 81 

In Memory of Mr. 

Nicholas Andrews 

Who died Decembr 

ye 21 A. D. 1784. In 

The 59 Year of 

His Age. 



1 66 



A CENTURY OF MERIDFN. 



In 

Memory of 

Oliver Andrews 

Who died 

Feb 16 1839 

AE. 68 

Sacred 
to the Memory of 
Mrs Sally 
wife of Mr. 
Marvel Andrews 
who died Oct. 30th 
1816 in her 44 
year 
I know whom I have 
believed, and am persuaded 
that he is able to keep that 
which I have committed 
unto him. 

In 

Memory of Mr. 

Samuel Andrews 

Who died Aug. 

ye 5th A. D. 1874 In 

The 87 year of his 

Age. 

Likewise 

The Remains of his 

Wife Mrs Abigail 

Andrews Who Died 

Febr ye 13th A. D. 1786 

In the 89th year 

of her Age. 

The sweet Remembrance of the Just 

Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust. 

In Memory of Mrs. 

Elizabeth Atwater 

Consort to Mr. Stephen 

Atwater. She Died 
July 2<i A. D. 1793; in 
the 80th year of 
her Age 
I end a long and tedious life, 
I leave a world of care and strife : 
And while I pass through deaths dar'c road 
I hope to rest in thee my God 



In 

Memory of 

Mrs. Jane 

late wife of 

Mr. Samuel Atwater 

& formerly wife of 

Dea. Isaac Hubbard 

who died 

March 25, 1842, 

Act. 82. 

The memory of the just is 
blessed. 

In Memory of Mr. 

Stephen Atwater : 

Departed this Life March 

7th A. D. 1784: in the 69th 

year of his Age 

Let not the dead Forgotten Lie 
Remember that your Born to die 

In Memory of ; 

Stephen Atwater 

He Died on the 27 

of January A. D. 1817 

AE. 74- 

Surviving Friends you here may see 
What I am now What you must be 

In 

Memory of 
Mr. Daniel Austin 
who died April 
29, 1828 Aet. 66 
Life is the time to serve the Lord 
The time to insure the great reward 
And while the lamp holds out to burn 
the vilest sinner may return 

In 

Memory of 

Mr 

Joshua Austin 

who departed this Life 

March 4th A. D. 1809. 

AE. 74 years & 

4 months. 

Learn to live well that thou may'st 

die so too 



EARLY HISTORY. 



167 



Sarah 

wife of 

Daniel Austin 

died 

July 2, 1837 

Act. ^6. 

Mrs. 

Amrillis Babcock 

wife of the late Rev. 

C3'rus Babcock 

of Colebrook & formerly wife of 

Jesse Hawley : died April 

I2th 1826 in her 42d year. 

Stephen Bailey 
died July 3 1842 

ae" 82 

Lydia 

His wife 

died April 6 1848 

AE. 90 

Alma 

Daughter of 

James & Bethiah 

Baldwin 

Died 

Feb. 17, 1803 

AE. 17. 

In 

^lemory of 

Achsah 

wife of 

Samuel Baldwin 

Who Died 

April 9th 1829 

AE. 57. 

Asahel Baldwin 

Died 

Feb. 4. 1865. 

Aged 74 

In 

^Memory of 

Samuel Baldwin 

who died 

March i 1844 
Aet. 66 



James Baldwin 

Died 

March 3, 1838 

Aged 78 ^ 

Bethiah 

wife of 

James Baldwin 

Died 

June 5. 1798 

Aged 34 

Also 

Mary his wife 

Died 

July 18. 1838 

Aged 84 

James Baldwin 

Three Years a 

Revolutionary Soldier. 

Charles Baldwin 
died July 17, 1818 
AfI 67 
God my Redeemer lives, 
And ever from the skies 
Looks down and watches all my dust 
Till he shall bid it rise 

Mary M 

Wife of 

Giles G. Baldwin 

Died 

April II, 1844 

Aet. 20. 

In Memory of Mrs. 

Patience Wife of Mr. 

Danniel Baldwin 

who died March ye 13111 

1 77 1 in ye 89 year of 

her Age. 

Vincent Baldwin 

Son of 

Charles & Susanna 

Baldwin. 

died Sept. 2'i'i 1818 

AE. 24 

Be }•€ also ready for in such an hour 

As ve think not the son of man cometh. 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Lucy Ann 

Wife of 

Augustus Barnes 

Died 

April 24, 1849 

Act. 26 y"rs 

Darius Benham, 

Died Mar. 4. 1855. 

AE. 71- 

Cynthia C. 
died Aug. 4, 1825, AE. 42. 

Nancy B. 
died Nov. i, 1835, AE. 46 
Wives of Darius Benham. 

Grace Ann 

Wife of 

E. W. Benham, 

died Dec. 30. 1849 

Aged 20. 

Jared Benham Jr. 

Died At Quebec L C. 

Aug. 1817 AE. yj. 

Rebecca. 

His Wife Daughter of 

Capt. Joseph Hill. 

Of H. B. \\. Army. 

Died at Guilford Ct. 

Jan. 7, 1857, AE. -},. 

Mrs 

Nancy 

late wife of Mr. 

Darius Benham 

& formerly wife of 

Mr. James Couch 

died Nov. i, 1835 

Aged 46 years 

Jared Benham, 

Died Mav 8. 1829, 

AE. n. 

Elizabeth Benham. 

Died Dec 5, 1841. 

AE. 83. 



Here Lies the 

Body of Capt 

Divan Berry 

Who Departed this 

Life Decemr 3d 

A. D. 1783 In ye 

49th Year of his AE. 

How Loved How Valued Once 

Avales thee not 
By Whonie Related or by Whome begot 

A heap of Dust 
Alone Remains of thee 

Tis all thou art 
And all that Live shall Be 

Here Lies Intei'tl 
The Body of Mrs 
Bethiah Berry Daughter 
to Mr Divan & Mary 
Berry, Who departed this 
Life April ye 25th A. D. 1781 
In y® 22d Year of her Age 
Behold Young Friends as You Pass By 
Come View the G^'ound Where I do lie 
Ive Changed my Dress & Bridal bed 
(Rest illegible) 

Julia 
Daughter of 
Gershom & Lucy Birdsey 
died Mar. 17, 1820 
Aged 19 yrs 
May you dear youth come view my age 
And be prepared to quit the stage 
Renounce the world with all its charms 
You then may rest in Jesus arms. 

Sevelia 

Wife of 

Austin Bishop, 

died Eeb. 14, 185 1 

Aet. 33. 

Loyal Booth 

Mary Hall His Wife 

Eliza Booth Sage 

Their Daughter 

Apr. 13. 1822. Aug. 21. 1898 

Alice Daughter of 

Philip & Eliza Booth Sage 



EARLY HISTORY. 



169 



Ebenezer W. Booth 

Died 

July 21, 1843 

AE. 65 

Betsey His Wife 

Died 

Feb 7 1842 

AE. 56 

James Bradley 

died at Newbury 

S. C. Sept. 9, 1820 

Aged 24 

Harriet Bradle\' 

died Oct. 12, 1825 

Aged 27 

\\'m. Bradley 

died at Union, S. C. 

Dec. 28, 1841 

Aged 41 

In Memory of 

^Ir. 

Titus Brocket 

who died Dec. 23d 

A. D. 1805 in his 

49th year 

Also Ira, son of 

J\lr Titus & Mrs 

Catharine Brocket 

he died April 14th. 

A. D. 1797 in his 

14th year. 

In 

Memory of Ruth 

wife of 

William Bull 

Who Died 

Jan-y 8, 1835 

Aet. 45. 

Mrs 

Catharine 

Brocket wife of 

Air. Titus Brocket 

died March 23d A .D. 

1816 .^et. 66 V. 



Harlow son of Mr. 

Titus & Mrs 

Catharine Brocket 

died Feb. i8th 1810 

Aet. 14 y. 

In Memory 

of Mrs. 

Abigail Butler 

Wife of Mr. 

Divan Butler 

who died Dec. 22d 

A. D. 1841 in her 

34th year. 

Lord I commit my soul to thee 
Accept the sacred trust, 
Receive this nobler part of me, 
& watch my sleeping dust. 

In Memory of 

Mr. 

Comfort Butler 

who died Feb. 19, A. D. 

1826 in his 

83 year. 

The aged saint wean'd from the earth 
Longs to enjoy his heavenly birth 

In 

Memory of 

Mrs. 

Mary 

wife of 

Mr. Comfort Butler 

Who died Oct. 28. 1823 

In her 82 year. 

In 

Memory of 

Albert Butler 

who Died 

Nov 28 1844 

Aet. 43 

John Butler 

Died 

Oct. 6th. 1852 

AE. S2. 



I70 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Divan Butler 

Died 

Nov 22, 1858 

AE. 79 

Mary Little 

his wife 

Died Jan 20 1863 

AE. 83 

Philomela 

wife of 

John Butler 

Died Mar. 20, i8og, 

AE. 32 

Philomela 

Daughter of 

John & Susannah 

Butler, 
Died July 17, 1814, 
AE. 2 yrs, 4 mo. 

Lemuel Butler 

Died 

Dec. II, 1852, 

AE. 78. 

Salina 

Wife of 

Lemuel Butler, 

died Sept. 25, 1842 

Aged 56 years 

& 6 months. 

Samuel Butler 

died Nov. 6, 1822. 

Aged 55 years 

Lois His Wife 

died Sept. 6, 1837 

AE. 66. 

Fanny Butler 

. their daughter 

died July 14, 

1839. Aet. zz. 

Susannah 

wife of 

John Butler 

died Mar. i, 1865 

AE. 83. 



Ruth 

wife of 

John Butler 

died Sept. 30, 1799 

AE. 22 

Julia 

daughter of John & Ruth 

Butler 

died Oct. 2, 1799 

AE. 8 mos. 

In 

Memory of 

Xemena 

wife of 

Ozias Camp 

and daughter of 

Deac. Nath'el & 

Hannah Yale 

Who died Nov. 7. 

1814 

AE. 24. 

Lewis C. Carter 

died at Barber-Ville Ala. 

Nov. 27, 1840 

Aet. 40. 

Harriet C. 

Daughter of 

Lewis C. & Maria Carter 

died Jan. 26, 1846 

AE. 17 y's 

Orange A. Carter 

Died 

Feb. 15, 1849. 

Aged 23. 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. 

Gilbert S. Carter, 

died June i. 1849, 

AE. II. 

Far from affliction, toil and care 

The happy soul is t^ed: 
The breathless clay shall slumber here 

Among the silent dead. 



N. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



171 



In 

Memory of 

Jesse Churchill 

Who Died 

Mar. 29, 1842 

in his 60 year. 

Mr. 

David Clark 

died Aug. 12 

A. D. 1825 

AE. 39. 

David Clark 

Died June 19, 1828, 

Aged 42 yrs. 

(Illegible) 

His Wife 

Died Nov. 16, i860 

Partrick Clark 

Died 

Aug. 28, 1 85 1 

AE. 76. 

Lydia. His Wife 

died Sept. 8, 1853, 

AE. 70. 

In 

Memory of 

Polly Clark 

Who departed this life 

Nov. 13, 1843. 

Aet. 65. 

Sarah G. 

Wife of 

Remick K. Clark 

Born 

Feb 10 1805 

Died 

June 7 1844 

Aged 39 years 

3 months 
.\nd 28 Days 

Her record is in 
Heaven 



Hiram 

Son of 

David & Adah 

Clark 

died at Aiken, S. C. 

Feb 19 1844 

Aet. 21 

His end was peace 
Hope. 

This Monument is 
erected by his friends 
& associates as a tribute 
to the memory of 
Curtis R. Collins 
son of John B. & 
Catharine Collins 
who died Feb. 22 
1834 Aged 17 years 

How short the race our friend has rtin 
Cut down in all his bloom. 

Sacred 

to the Memory of 

Capt. 

Dan Collins 

who died Nov. 9th A. D. 

1819 Aet. 79. 

years 

This stone 

is erected by her bereaved children 

to the memory of Susannah 

wife of Capt. Dan Collins 

who died Oct. 14, 1821 

.•\ged 67 \-ears 

Her pious Life & conversation 
is the only consolation for surviving 
friends & the best pledge of her 
happy exchange of worlds. 

In 

Memory of 

Mr 

Edward Collins 

who died Nov. 11, 1826. 



172 



A CEXTURY OF MERIDEX. 



L. C. 

In 

Memory of 

Lyman Collins 

Who Died 

March 3, 1856 

Aged 71. 

E. C. 

In 

Memory of 

Elizabeth 

Wife of 

Lyman Collins 

Who Died 

Nov. 7, 1845, 

Aet. 48. 

Sacred to the 
Memory of Mr. 
Beri Conch 
who died April 21, 
A. D. 1826 
Aged 35 years 
He was humane & charitable & 
through life maintained the 
most unsulied integrity. 

In 

Memory of 

Ira Couch, 

Who Died 

Dec. 26, 1845, 

Aet. 41. 

In the midst of life we are in death. 

Erected 

In Memory of 

Mr. 

John Couch 

who died 

April nth A. D. 1806 

in his 82 

year. 

In 

Memory of 

John Couch, 

wlio died - 

Sept. 12, 1828: 

aged 34 years. 



Erected to the me 

mory of Mrs Azubah 

Wife of Capt. John 

Couch, she died May 

25, 1799, Aged ^z 

And in the Livel_v hope of 
seeing Jesus as he is 

Pile - 
Pass not by this monumental 
Till you have stood and paus'd 

awhile 
Ore this my Grave, for you 

must die 
And be entom'd as well as I. 

John Couch 

died Sept. 3, 1807 

Aet. 44 

Anna Merriman 
formerly wife of 

John Couch 

died Feb, 17, 1843 

Aet 83 

The dust returns to the earth as it was 
and the spirit to God who gave it 

But the trumpet shall sound 
and the dead shall be raised. 

In memory of 

Mr. ' 

James Couch, 

Who died Oct 27 

1824 

aged 39 years 

By his conjugal & parental solicitude 
& affection has left the best consolation 
to his afflicted companion & bereaved 
children that of having died like a 
(Illegible.) 

In Memorv of 

. Mrs. Mary Cowl 

Consort to Deac. 

Ebenr Cowl 

died April 22d 

A. D. 1777. AE. 50 

Memento ^lori. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



173 



Joel Cowles 

Died 
July 9, 1810 
in his 60th 

year. 

Erected to 
the Memory of Dea. 

Ebenezer Cowls 
Who died Aug 12th 
A. D. 1800 
in his 83 year 
Farewell my friends 
A short farewell 
Till we shall meet 
You all again. 

Erected to 

the Memory 

of Mr. 

Elisha 

Cowles 

who died 

Nov. 23d A. D. 

1799 AE. 

50 years. 

Also of 

Mrs 

Rebekah 

Wife of 

Mr. Elisha 

Cowles 
who died 
Aug 15th A. D. 
1785 AE. 
30 years 
Heaven gives friends 
Why should we complain 
If heaven resumes 
Our friends again. 

Elisha Allen Cowles 

Died 

Aug 27 1853 

Aged 44 yrs 

Allen D. 

His Son 

Died Dec 8 1861 

Aged 14 yrs 



In Memory of 

Phebe Cowles 

daughter of Elisha 

who died Jan. 11, 

1830 in the 36 

year of her 

Age. 

In Memor\' of 

Mr. ' 
Moses Cowles 
who died April 
i6th A. D. 1804 
AE. 52 years 

]\Ian like a flow'r soon faids 

away 
Xor long continues in one 

stay. 

Here lies deposited untill the 
resurection the body of Mrs. 
Rebekah Cowls, Wife of the 
late Mr. Joseph Cowls she 
departed this life May 13, 
A. D. 181 1 : in the 88 year of 
her age 

at her right hand lies the 
body of Mrs Rebekah Mitchel, 
wife of Mr. Jotham ^litchcl, 
she departed this life ]May 
15 A. D. 181 1 in the 54 year 
of her age 

We must through much tribulation 
enter into tlu- kingdom of Heaven 
Acts 14. 22. 

Roswell Cowles 

Died 

July 24 1848 

AE. 68 

In 

Memory of 

Laura Wife of 

Roswell Cowles 

who died April 

24 1827 .-Kged 

44 years 



174 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In 

Memory of 

Harriet, Wife of 

Roswell Cowles 

Who died March 

5th 1832 in 

her 43d 

year. 

In 

Memory of 

Mary Ann, 

daughter of 

Roswell & 

Laura Cowles 

who died Oct. 10, 

1826 Aged 

21 years. 

In 

Memory of 

Aaron Curtis 

who died 

Dec. 24. 1841 

Aet. 17. 

In Memory of 

Mr. Abel 

Curtis 

Who died Nov. 

1st A. D. 1797 

AE. 67 
Memento Mori 

Alfred P. Curtiss 

Died 

July 21, 1870, 

AE. 53 

Emeline Amelia 

Wife of 

Alfred P. Curtiss 

& Daughter of 

Levi & Abigail Ann 

Bradley 

died July 19, 1847. 

Aet. z-j. 

Sarah M. Hitchcock 

Wife of A. P. Curtiss 

died Dec. 3 1857 

Ae. 24 



In 

IMemory of 

Patience, Wife 

of Abel Curtis 

Who died Dec. 22 

1828 Aet. 86. 

In 

Memory of 

Mr.' 

Benjamin Curtis 

Who died Jan. 16, 

A. D. 1822 

AE. 86 

Time how short Eternity how long 

Erected In memory 

of Mrs. 

INI indwell Curtis 

Wife of Mr 

Benjamin Curtis, 

She deceast June 

8th A. D. 1807, in her 

63d year 

The dust has to the dust returned 
& tears bedew'd the lonely way, 
The silent corpse lies now intomb'd 
Beneath the cold and dampning clay. 

But oh ye mourners cease to weep, 
Receive with joy some cordial charms, 
& view her in the world of bliss, 
Encircled in her Saviours arms. 

In Memory of 

Benjamin Curtiss 

who died 

Oct. 23, 1843 

Aet. 76. 

One ho^r in apparent health 
the next cold in death. 

Mrs 

Mary Wife of 

Mr. 

Benjamin Curtis 

Died Feb. 20, 1835 

Aet. 60. 

The righteous hath hope in his death 



EARLY HISTORY. 



L/0 



In Memory of 

Benj. Upson 

son of Mr. 

Asahel & Mrs. 

Mehitable Curtiss 

who died Sept. 

2d 1835 Aged 

18 years. 

Mr. 

Chauncy Curtis 

died Dec. 6, 1824 in 

his 45th year. 

Mrs. 

Anna Curtis 

his wife died Nov. 

5th 1826 in her 

41st year. 

In 

Memory of 

EUsha Curtiss 

Who Died 
July 26. 1847 
Aet. 74 
Mark the perfect man and behold 
the upright for the end of that man 
as peace Ps. 37. 37. 

Mary his wife 

died Aug. 29. 1857 

AE. 72. 

Weeping 
friends Erected 
this Monument to 
perpetuate the memory of their 
most dear and valuable friend 
Mr. Amasa Curtis 
He was snatch'd from Life & all his 
•comforts & pleasure very suddenly 
in the 39th year of his age 
Dec. 2 A. D. 1808. 
Living he was much esteemed and 
"beloved & dying was greatly lamented 
He was a very kind & affectionate hus 
"band Father & friend he was a mild 
& peaceable Neighbor & Citizen he loved his 
Country & most ardently wished 
Ihe happiness of all mankind. 



In 

Memory of 

Elisha Curtis 

who died 

July 24 1831 

Aet. 80 

In memory of 

Mrs Sarah wife of 

Mr Elisha Curtis 

who died Nov 29 

1825 Aet. •/-/ y's 

Mrs 
Abigail Curtis 
Wife of Mr. 
Elisha Curtis 
died Feb. 28. 1826 
Aet 47 
Watch therefore for ye know 
not what hour your Lord doth come 
Math. XXIV. 42 

Mrs. 

Polly Curtis 

Wife of ,Mr. 

Amos Curtis 

died April 30. A. D. 

]8i8 Aet. 31 y- 

Aiaria Curtis 

Daugh. of .\mos & Polly 

Curtis died April 13 

A. D. 1818 Aet. 12 y. 

and Ruth died Dec. 
3d A. 1). Aet. 3 y- 

Polly 
daughter of .\mos 

& Polly Curtis 

died April 10. 1826 

.\et. 14 

.\melia 

wife David (iilliert 

& daughter of .\mos 

& Polly Curtis died 

July 15. 1827 in 

her 24th \ear 



1/6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Hannali 

Wife of Ivah Curtis, 

died Oct. 8th 1844, 

Aet. 66 

Mary R. 

their daughter died at Otis 

Mass. July ist, 1832 

Aged 21. 

Then soft be thy skimbers in thy lowly bed 

Though rudely earths tempests sweep over 

thy head 
The Saviour remembers thy slumbering dust 
And will wake thee again when He calls 
for the just 

Laura Curtiss 

Died 

Aug. 5, 1872 

Aged 74- 

Julianna Curtiss 

Died 

Dec. 13, 1856 

Aged 55. 

In Memory of 

Mrs Meriam Curtis 

Wife to Mr. Ben jam 

Curtis Deceast Who 

Departed this Life 

May ye 29th A. D. 1776 In 

ye 74 year of her Age 

Weeping 

friends erected this 

monument to perpetuate 

the memory of Mr. 

Marcus Curtis 

son of ]\Ir. Jesse & Mrs. 

Martha Curtis who 

died Dec. 11, 1812 

AE. 31 years. 

In Memory of 
William Curtis 
son of Abel & 
Patience Curtis 
Whose life was 
closed Oct. 14th A. D. 1800 
in the 19th year 
of his Age 



In 

^Memory of 

Sarah 

Wife of 

William A. Curtiss 

Who died 

jNIarch 24, 1847 

Aet. 30 

There shall be no more death 

Samuel Curtiss 

died Nov 8 1838 

Aet. 57 

Polly 

His Wife 

died Nov 5 1846 

Aet. 61 

Rhoda Pantlin 

Wife of 

Jesse Curtiss 

died Aug 10 1844 

AE. 54 ys 6 mo. 

From her labors she doth rest 

And in Christ I hope shes blest 

Asenth 

Wife of 

Darling Dayton 

Died Aug. 13, 1845 

Aged 52. 

In 
]VIemor\' of 
Darling Dayton 
who died Jan. 24, 1826 
Aet. 34 
My breath is gone my spirit's fled 
My body's mouldering- with the dead; 
But Jesus my redeemer reigns 
He's paid the debt he's. bro'<e the chains- 
And eas'd my body from its pains. 

Erected to the 

Memory of Mrs. 

Lydia Davenport 

consort of Mr. 

John Davenport 

who died Jan. 

25 A. D. 1792 

Aged 45 years. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



177 



In 

Memon- of Mr. 

John B. Douglass 

who after a severe ilhiess 

died June 22d A. D. 181 1 in 

his 53d y. 

He was a kind Husband 
Parent & Neighbor He was 
respected as a Christian and 
unerversally esteemed upright 
in his deahngs 

On God for all events depend 
You cannot want when God's 
j-our friend. 

Roxey 

Wife of 

Ariel Ens'gii 

Born Apr. 14, 1785. 

Died Oct. 29, 1840. 

In 

Memory of 

Mr. Joel Foster. 

who died Nov. 20th, 1814 

AE. 48 

My tiesh shall slumber in the ground 
Till the last trumpet joyful sound 
And burst the chains with sweet surpi'ise 
.And in my saviours image rise 

In 

Memory of 

Mr. Levi Foster 

Who died Dec. 19th 

A. D. 1 814 AE. 42 

Nor pain nor grief nor anxious fear, 
Invade thy bounds, no mortal woes 
Can reach the peaceful sleeper here, 
And angels watch his soft repose. 

-Also in Memory of 

Mr. Homer Foster 

who died at Pittsburg 

Penn July ist 1832 

Aged 26 years 

In the midst of life we are in death. 

12 



In 

Memory of 

Levi Foster 

who died 

Sept. 2, 1844, 

AE. 38. 

Sarah 

W^ife of 

Levi Foster 

Died 

Aug. 28. 1849, 

Aged 74. 

Lucy Foster 

Died 

June 4, 1890 

AE. 91. 

In ^lemory of 

Mr. 

Matthew Foster 

who died Feb. 13 

1835 Aged 54 years 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord 

In 

Memory of 

Noah Foster 

who died March 

27, 1833 in his 

64 year. 

In 
Memory of 

Purlina 

Widow of 

Noah Foster 

who died 

May 25 1843 

AE. 73 y's 

Mrs 

Anna Foster 

wife of Mr. 

Noah Foster 

died Dec. 2d 1824 

.•\ged 51 years 

The future world repays with bliss 
The trials saints endure in this. 



178 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



Luc}' 
Widow of 
Joel Foster 

Died 

Dec. 12, 1862 

AE. 90. 

In 

Memory of 
Othinel Foster 

son of Mr. 

Noah & Mrs. 

Amia Foster 

who died Aug. 5th A. D. 

1818 in his 19th 

year. 

As blooming flowers that fade at noon 
So lovely }onth may l>e cut down. 

In Memory of 

Mrs. Thankful 
Wife of Mr. 

Timothy Foster 
She died March ye 
9th 1 77 1 in ye 69th 

year of her Age. 

In Memory of 

Mr. Ozias Forster 

Who died July nth 

A. D. 1789 in his 

30th year. 

Let not the dead 
Forgotton ly 
Remember you 
Were born to die 

Charlotte 

Wife of 

Matthew Foster 

died May 18. 1838 

Aet. 53 

The righteous rest in hope. 

Miss 

Laura Foster 

died Nov. 9, 1835 in 

her 39 year. 



Samuel W. Foster 

died at Penn Yan 

State of New York 

July 24, 1831 in his 

39 year 

In Memory of 

Mrs Elizabeth Foster 

Consort of Mr. Thomas Foster 

who died Dec. 19th 1815 

AE. 77 

Death is to us a sweet repose 
When we in faith do die 
Believing what the Lord hath said 
That we shall reign on high 

Elisha Frary 

died March 21, 1842, 

Aet. 58. 

In 

Memory of 

Mr. Samuel Frary 

Who died May loth 

1826 Aet. 84 

And of Mrs. 

Lucy his wife who 

died Sept. 17, 1812 

Aet. 61 

In Memory of 

Miss Anna Guy 

Who departed this Life 

Janry nth A. D. 1789 

in the 21st year 

of her age 

Orchard Guy 

Died 

Jan. II. 1850 

AE. 80 

Lois 

Wife of 

Orchard Guy 

Died 

Aug. 31, 1862, 

AE. 86. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



179 



In 

Memory of 

Giles O. Griswold 

Who died 

Nov. 13, 1840 

AE. 65 

Also Lucy 

his Wife 

died Feb. 22, 1822 

AE. 42 

To the memory of 
Mrs. Eliza Ann 
wife of Mr. 
Giles O. Griswold 2d 
who died Aug. 27, 1836 
Aged 28 years. 
How tender the tears and the sighs 
A husband and orphan bestow 
Sweet spirit look down from the skies 
And pity the mourners below. 

Jesse Griswold 

died Apr. 21 1840 

AE. 62. 

Fanny 

his wife 

died Jan. i, 1821. 

AE. 41. 

Angeline 

their daughter 

died Nov. 25. 1820 

AE. 9 y's 

Mr. 

Cyrus Griswold 

died Feb. 15, 1836 

Aged 30 years 

& ir Months 

Mr. Giles Griswold 

Died Sept. 10, A. D. 

1818. Aet. 70. 

Mrs. 

Eunice, his wife 

died Oct. 25, 1826 in 

her 74 year 

Our Savior's smiles dispels the gloom 

And smooths the passage to the tomb. 



In Memory 

of Mrs. 

Lois Hall 

wife of Mr. 

Abner Hall 

who died Dec. 20 

1822 in her 22 year 

A virtuous life & a 

peaceful death. 

Polly 

wife of 

Augustus Hall 

died Aug. 31, 1819 

in the 2>i year 

of her age. 

In 

Memory of 

Sarah wife of 

Benjamin Hall who 

died March 17, 1792 

in the 19 year 

of her Age. 

Beri Hall 
Died 
April 6, 1832 
AE. 19 y'rs 
Son of John W. 
& Polly Hall 
Sweet peace and heavenly 
hopes and humble joy, 
Divinely beam'd upon his 
pious mind. 

In 

Memory of 

Mrs Rebecca Hall 

wife of 

Mr. Col lens Hall 

who died 

April 16, 181 1 

In the 37th year of her age. 

In 
Memory of 

Mr.' 

Daniel Hall 

He died Oct. 26th A. D. 1805 

in his 79th year 



i8o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Also in memory of Mrs. 
Patience, wife of Mr. 

Daniel Hall, she 

died July A. D. 1756 

AE. 30 years 

Also in memory of Mrs 

Zerviah wife of Mr. 

Daniel Hall, she 

died Oct. 6th A. D. 1777 

AE. 41 years. 

Brenton Hall Esq. 

Died Nov. 25 1820 

AE. 82 y's 

Abigail 

his Wife 

Died May 5, 1837 

AE. 88 y's 

In 

Memory of 

Daniel Hall 

who died 

Jan. I, 1829 

in his 60 year 

Some walk in honors gaud}^ show 
Some dig for golden ore 
They toil for heirs they know not who 
And straight are seen no more 

Elizabeth 

Wife of 
Daniel Hall 

Died 
May 5, 1859 

AE. 83 

Grandison Hall 

Son of 

Casper & Levinna 

Hall 

died May i, 1833 

Aged 18 years 

The hour is coming and now is when the 
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of 
God : and they that hear shall live. 



This monument is erected to the 

Memory of Col. 

Solomon R. Hall 

who died at Baltimore 

March 18, 1825, Aet. 44 

Charles E. son of Solomon 

& Jerusha Hall died Oct. 11 

1810 AE. 5 y 3 m. 20 d. 

Susan their Daughter died April 

24, 1812 Aged I y. 7 m. 16 d. 

& Also of Andrew J. their son who 

died at Baltimore April 30, 1815 Aged 

3 years. 
Tis God that lifts our comforts high 
Or sinks them in the grave 
He gave & oh my soul be still 
He took but what he gave. 

Sacred to Memory 

In this Sepulchre lies buried 

Doctor Isaac Hall, 

who departed this Life 

in the Faith and Hope of the Gospel, 

on the 27th Day of March A. D. 1781 

Aged 66 years. 

to the great Loss and Grief of his Friends 

and universally Lamented as 

A Physician 

of eminent Reputation and L^sefulness 

very s^kilful in the various Disorders of 

the human Body : 

and in Clinical Practice excellent 

laborious and successful. 

The lowly Cot and lofty Dome 

With joy his healing art proclaim 
And teaming Nature sav'd from Death 
With grateful Tears embalms his Name. 

In Memory of 
Mrs. Mary Hall 
Consort to Doc. 
Isaac Hall 
Who departed this Life 
Oct gth 1791 in the 7Sth 
year of her Age 
T end a long and tedious life 
I leave a world of care and strife 
.\nd while I pass through deaths dark road 
I hope to rest in thee my God. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



i8i 



In Memory of 

Mrs. Ruth, Wife 

of Deacon 

John Hall 

who died Sept 9 

1829 in her 

64 year. 

Mr. 

John Hall 2d 

died July 9, 

1836 in his 

29 year. 

Dea. John Hall 

Died 

April 21, 1851 

aged 83 

In Memory of 

Mrs Elizabeth 

wife of Mr. 

John Hall 

who died Oct. 21th 

A. D. in 

her 71th year 

In Memory of 
Huldah Daugh 
to Mr Timothy 
& Mrs Huldah 

Cowls. Who 
died Sept. 29th 
A. D. 1795 AE. 17 
years 

In Memory of 
Mr. 
John Hall 
who departed 
this life May 15th 
A. D. 1795 AE. -/i years 
Thrice happy if 
Prepared to meet 
A change so awful 
& so great. 

In Memory of 

Mr. Moses Hall 

Who died July 4th 

1835 aged 87 

years 



Maria Hall 

Died 

May 5. 1846 

in the 31 year 

of her age. 

John W. Hall, 

died April 24, 1865, 

AE. 79. 

Polly, his wife 

died May 16, 1868, AE. 79. 

years 

Hall. 

Sons & Daughters of 

J. W. & P. Hall 

Beri, 

died Apr. 6, 1832. 

AE. 19. 

Erastus, 

died Aug. 5, 1847 

AE. 20. 

Lydia, 

died Mar. 3, 1836 

AE. 6. 

Clarissa, 

died Nov. 23, 1863 

AE. 44. 

In Memory of 

Mr. 

Joseph Hall 

Who died March 

13th 1831 in his 61 

year 

In 

]\Iemory of 

Mr. Phinehas Hall 

who died Dec. 27, 1819 

in his 69 year. 

William Hall 

Died 

In Brighton Ohio 

May 13. 1877 

AE. 61 



1 82 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In ^^ifiiiory of 

Samuel Hall 

Who died March pth 

1/95 
AE. 2b years 

Nor let Soft Slumbers close your Eyes 
Before you've recollected thrise, the train 

of actions 
thro" the Day 

Where have my feet chose out their way 
(copied as far as can be read) 

In 

Memory of 

Mr. 

Theophilus Hall 

who died 

May 17th A. D. 1804 

in his 63d 

year. 

In 

Memory of 

Maryett 

Wife of 

William Hall 

Who died 
Sept. 18, 1841 
AE. 27. 
Let not your hearts be troubled : 
ye believe in God believe also in me. 
In my Father's house are many man 
-sions if it were not so I would have told 
you. I go to prepare a place for 
you. 

To The 

Memory of 

William B. Hall 

Aged 28 

Perished in the Conflagration 

of the Manufactory of 

Julius Pratt & Co. 

Nov. 27, 1846. 

Mary Ann Hall 

Died 

April 12, 1894 

AE. 76 



In 

Memory of 

Mrs. 

Elizabeth Hall 

wife of Mr. 

Theop Hall 

Who died March 

17, 1824, AE. 74 

Blessed are the dead 
which die in the Lord. 

In Memory of 

Mr. 

Benjamin Hart 

who died Oct 7 

1836 Aged 

85 years 

Jerusha Hart 

Died 
Aug. 26, 1832 
AE. 76 y're 

wife of 
Benjamin Hart 

Lucy Jane 

Wife of 

Philo Hart 

died May 23, 1847 

AE. 23 

In 

Memory of 

Julia Harrison 

daughter of 

Leonard & 

Lucy Harrison 

of Southington who 

died Nov. 7, 1820 

Aet. 18. 

Mr. 

Jesse Hawley 

died at Wallingford Sept. 

5th 181 1 Aged 30 years 

Daniel Holt, 

Died 

Dec. 20, 1806 

AE. 78. 



EARLY HISTORY, 



183 



Mary his wife 

Died Jan. 10, 1821. 

AE. 90. 

Sacred to the Memory 

of Mrs. Abiah Holt 

The Consort of Air. Ben 

jamin Holt who died 

Oct. 31st 1793 in the 32CI 

year of her age With 

A lively hope of a blessed Resur 

rection 

What age or sex can death defy 
Mortals be wise prepare to die 
Shall the delights of sences & time 
Keep you from joys & bliss Devine. 

Abigail 

their Daughter 

Died Sept. 19, 1826 

AE. 6s 

There is rest in Heaven. 

Charles E. Holt 

Co I 20 Regi. 

Conn Vols 

Died 1874 

In 
Alemor}' of 

Mr.' 

Daniel Holt 

Jun who died 

July isth A. D. 1802 

in his 48th 

year. 

In 
Memory of Mrs 

Sally Hooker 

Wife of Mr. 

Seth Hooker 
who died March 
28th A. D. 1809 

AE. 24 years. 

Mrs 

Elizabeth Hotchkiss 

died June 19, 1833 

AE. 80. 



Ambrose Hotchkiss, 

died Jan. 25, 1825. 

AE. 58. 

Lucretia 

his wife 

died Oct. 9. 

AE. n- 

Amasa 

their son 

died Mar. 21, 1827. 

AE. 20. 

Sophronia Hotchkiss 

Wife of 

Henry C. Butler. 

died April 17, 1841 

Aged 34 years. 

Dea 

Ambrose Hough 

born Sept. 2, 1754 • 

died June 30, 1825 

AE. 70. 

Sally Bradley 

Daughter of 

Dr, Insign & Mercy 

Hough 
Died Aug. 11, 1864 
AE. 85. 

Lucy Hough. 

Died Nov. 27, 1848 

Aet. 51 

In 

Memory of 

James A. Hough 

who died 

]\Iay 9, 1827 

Aet. Ty-j. 

In ]\Iemor\- of 

Mrs. Hannah wife to 

Mr. Ephraim Hough 

Who died Eel). 

I 6th .A. D. 1777 

In the 6ist 
Year of her Age 



1 84 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In Memory of 

Mr Ephraim Hough 

Who died Feb. i6th. 

A. D. 1781. 

In the 62d 

Year of his Age 

In Memory of 
Huldah Daughr of 

Mr. Phinehas & 

Mrs Huldah Hough 

who died April 2n(i 

A. D. 1777 

Aged 8 Months 

Death is a debt 

to nature due 
Which I have paid 
and so must you 

John Merriam Consort to 

the Rehct of the late 

Mr. Phinehas Hough Jun^ 

hath Erected this Monument 

to his Memory. 

He died in the service of his 

Country Aug. ist A. D. 1776, 

In the 31st Year of his Age. 

And lies buried in the 

Presbyterian Church Yard 

at New York. 

Who can grieve too nnich, what 

time shall end 
Our Mourning for so dear a friend. 

In Memory of Mrs. 

Lucy Hough 

ye Consort of Mr. 

James Hough, Who 

Departed this Life Oct. 

ye 5th A. D. 1775. Aged 

34 years. 

In 

Memory of 

Sarah Merriam 

formerly wife of 

James A. Hough 

Who died 

Nov. 21, 1842 

Aet. 75. 



In Memory of 

Dea. 
James Hough 

Who died 
Sept. 14th A. D. 
1794, AE. SI 
The sweet memor_v 
Of the Just, 
Shall flourish when 
They'r laid in dust. 

Doctor 

Insign Hough 

died Dec. 3, 1813 

Aged 67 

Mercy 

wife of 

Insign Hough 

died Feb. 6, 1820 

Aged 72 

In Memory of 

Mrs Chloe Wife 

of Doct Insign, 

Hough Who died 

June ye : 24th : 1771 

in ye : 26th : Year of her 

Age Daughter of Mr 

Mapes & Mrs. Mary Yale. 

In Memory of 

Ira son of 

Dr. Insign and 

Mrs. Sarah 

Hough 

Who died July 

27th A. D. 1777 

In the 5th year 

of his Age. 

In Memory of 

Rosetta 

Daught of 

Dr. Insign and 

Mrs. Cloe 

Hough 

Who died Ma 

rch 9th A. D. 1778 

In the 8th year 

of her age. 



i 



EARLY HISTORY. 



185 



In Memory of 
Mrs. Sarah Wife of 

Dr. Insign Hough 
Who died Jan. nth 
A. D. 1775 
In the 31 year 
of her age. 
Life's Uncertain 
Death is sure 
Sin's the wound 
And Christ the 
cure. 

Doctor 

Isaac J. Hough 

died Feb. 26, 1852 

Aged 71 

Hear Lies Interrd 

Sacred to Memory the 

Body of Den John Hon 

gh Esq. Who in hopes 

of a Glorious Resurrection 

Departed this Life In Peace 

Febi- 24th A. D. 1788 In the 

53d Year of his Age 

les the not 
How loved How Valued Once avai- 
Fiy Wiiome Related or By Whom begot 
.\ heap of Dust Alone Remains of thee 
Tis all thou art & All the Proud shall be. 

In Memor_v of 

John Hough Jun. 

ye Son of Esq. 

John & Mrs. 

Lois Hough : 

he Died Dec. ye 

Sth A. D. 1776 in 

ye 10 year of 

his Age. 

In 

Memory 

of Mr.' 

Phinehas Hough 

Who died Sept. ith. 

A. D. 1797 

In the 85th 

year of his age 



In Memory of 

Mrs Lucrecia 

Hough Consort to 

Mr. Levi Hough 

Who died April 2d 

A. D. 1797 in her 

23d year 

Death is a debt 
To nature due 
Which I have paid 
& So must you 

In Memory of Mrs. 
Elizabeth the Consort 

of Mr. Moses Hall 

who departed this Life 

June 23d, 1777 

Aged 43 Years 

Sudden death bespeaks 
The human 

thought 
And cries prepare 

In Memor}^ of 

Mrs. Mehetabel 

Hough ye Consort 

of Mr Saml Hough 

Who died Dec. 

ye 25th A. D. 1774 

in ye 62nd year 

of her Age. 

In Memory of 
Mr. Samuel Hough 

Who Departed 
this Life August ye 
26th A. D. 1776 in 

ye 66th year of 
his Age. 

Mortals Give Ear attend these faithful lines 
The Lord of all the Weighty Truth enjoins 
Love God, his will obej' on Christ rely 
Then sleep in Death abov" the sky. 

Yale I Hough 

died April 23d 

1819, Aged 

44 years 



i86 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Ira Hough 

died May nth 

1822 Aged 

23 years. 

Sacred 

to the Memory 

of Lucy Hough wife 

of Yale I. Hough who 

died Feb. 4th. A. D. 1807 AE. 

28 years & 2 months. 

The Children of Yale & Lucy 

Hough. Minerva died 

Nov. 22 A. D. 1803 AE. I year 

& II months. 

Daniel died Sept. loth A. D. 

1805 AE. I year & 11 

months 

Mary died Sept. 15th A. D. 

180S AE. 8 M. 

Resurection chcaring thought 

In 

Memory of 

Aurilla 

Wife of 

John Hubbard, 

Who Died 

July 17, 1844. 

Aged 49. 

In Memory 

of the Revd 

John Hubbard A. M. 

Pastor of the Church in 

Meriden 

Who died Nov. i8th 1786 Aet. 

60. He was a rational 

and serious Christian 

Exemplary for Gravity Integrity 

Piety and Benevolence. He was 

an able Minister of the 

New Testament and Beloved 

By all his Flock For his Faithful 

ness and apostolic Diligence In the 

Work of the Ministry and for the 

Prudence Kindness & Humanity 

Which adorned his manners 

and rendered him 

a most excellent Pastor. 



Mrs Mary Hubbard 
relict of 
the reverend John Hubbard 
died 2d March 1806 
having that day completed her 70th 
year 
An early Christian profession 
was adorned by her living to Christ 
With a rare tenderness of conscience 
she kept in view the glory of God 
in all the duties of her 
relations and conditions 
Remarking the providence which 
numbereth the hairs of our heads 
she improved by ever\- incident. 
The comforts of vital piety which she 
sensibly enjoyed were subject to intervals 
of extreme mental darkness 
Light is sown for the righteous 

Mrs. 

Eunice, Wife of 

John Hubbard 

died March 25, 1837 

Aged 39 years 

in death 

She was supported by a christian hope 

Also James their son died 

]\Iarch 12, 1829 Aged 5 
Months. 

Erected to the 

Memory of Mrs 

Sarah Hull 

wife of Mr. 

Aaron Hull 

who died Sept. 

22d A. D. 1807 AE. 

56 years. 

In 

^Memory 

of Mr." 

Miles Hull 

who died 

April 24th 

A. D. 1801, 

in the 31th 

year of his 

Age. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



187 



In Memory 
of 
Deacon Isaac Hubbard 
Who died July 5, 1806 
in the 44th year of his age 
The ornament of a meek 
and quiet spirit 
a conscience void of offence 
and attention to the duties of 

every relation 
rendered him a general respect 

Faith and hope 

gave him victory over death 

Mark the upright 

His end is peace 

Also of 

Mrs Deborah 

Wife of Mr. 

Miles Hull 

who died 

Oct. 31st 

A. D. 1802, 

in the 26th 

year of her 

Age. 

In 
Memory of Isaac 
Hubbard son of Deac. 

Isaac & Mrs. Jane 

Hubbard Who died Feb. 

17th A. D. 1812 AE. 

22 years 
He was supported in 
Death by a 
christian hope 

John Hubbard 

Died 

July 21, 1862. 

AE. 70. 

Amasa Ives 

died Dec. 13 

181 7 Aged 73 

Rebecca his wife 

died at Sullivan (N. Y.) 

Sept. 12, 1826 

Aged 71. 



Erected In memory of 

Mr. 

Cornelius Hull 

who died at Jamaica 

on Long Island in the 

State of New York 

Sept. 6th A. D. 1805 in 

his 35th year 

Also Mariah Daugh of 

Cornelius & Susannah 

Hull died Sept. nth A. D. 

1802 in her 2d. 

year. 

Erected to the Memory 
of Capt. Bezaleel Ives 
who died Nov. 24, 1798 
Aged ^2. In early Life he 
became a follower of Jesus 
& through Life supported 
the character of a faithful! 
friend a Kind husban and 
an affectionate parent and 
died in the lively hope of 
future bliss. The Memory 
of the Just is blessed. 

In Memory of 
Mrs. Hannah Ives 
wife of Capt. 
Bezaleel Ives 
who died March 21st. 
A. D. 1815 in her 
84th year 
Sure of endless joys possessing 
Sin and death had lost their power 
Future prospects rich in blessings 
Cheered her last departing hour 

John Ives 
Born July 4, 1729. 
Died Feb. 1816. 
Father of Othniel, Titus, 
and Ten Other Children. 

In 

Memory of Mr. Gideon 

Ives Who died January 31 

h. D .1777 In 57 Year of 

His Age. 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Marilla, 

Wife of 

Jesse Ives. 

Died 

Oct. 12, 1865, 

AE. 85. 

In 

Memory of 

Elias Y. Ives 

who died Oct. 

19, 1829, in his 

24th. 

year. 

Erected in Memory 

of Jerusha late 

wife of Isaac Ives 

of Danbury who died 

of a consumption on the 

18 day of August A. D. 1795 

Aged 2T, years. 

In 

Memory of 

Jesse Ives 

Who Died, 

Feb. 12, 1836. 

Aged 61. 

Hear Lies Interrd Sa- 
cred to Memory the Body 
of Mrs Mary Ives the late 
Amiable & Virtuous Con 
sort to Mr John Ives 
she Closed her Eyes in deth 
Febry ye isth A. D. 1788 In 
The 46th Year of her Age 

Why do we mourn Departing friends 
Or shake at Death's alarms 
Tis but the Voice that Jesus sends 
To Call them to his Arms. 

Titus Ives Esq. 

died March 12 1834 

Aet so. 

Watch thee therefore for ye know not what 

hour your Lord doth come 

Matt. XXIV. 12. 



In Memory of 
Rosetta Ives 
Wife of Dea. 
Othniel Ives 
Who died March 
3d 1833 Aged 
36 years. 

In 
Memory of 
Mr. 
Timothy Ives 
who died Jan. loth. 
A. D. 1812 AE. 
LXXX. 
years 
The strong know that they must die 
Beneath the clods there dust must lie 
They'll have no share in all thats done 
Beneath the circle of the sun. 

Sarah Ives 
Wife of Mr. 
Othnial Ives 
died Nov. 24, A. D. 1814 
Aet. 32 y'rs 
Also an infant Aet. 4 days 
May we who survive consider 
that no age is exempt from death 
Our Life is ever on the wing 
And death is ever nigh 
The moment when our lives begin 
Ye all begin to die. 

Erected to the 
memory of 

Dea. 

Othniel Ives 

Who died 

Nov. 22, 1829 

aged 52. 

Susan L. 

daughter of Titus & 

Lodema Ives 

died June 14, 1833 

aged 12 years 

Go home my friends dry up your tears 

Here I must lie till Christ appears. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



189 



In Memory of 
Capt. Samuel Ives 
who died Oct. i8th 1803 
AE. 52 
Universally Lamented as an active 
friend to Christianity and public 
Good & in the comfortable hope & 
prospect of immortal blessedness 

beyond the grave. 
Thy Powr alone, O faith can death deform 
Break all his Darts and all his fierce 
ness charm 

In 

Memor\' of 

Cornelia Wife of 

Elias Y. Ives. 

who died Xov. 

21, 1827, Aet. 

19 years 

7 Months and 

20 days 

A blooming flower thus early cut 
down in the morning of usefulness 
is a lesson to her associates 
Be ye also ready. 

In 

Memon.' of Mr. 

Aaron Johnson 

Who died Sept. 

2d A. D. 1808 in 

his 40th year 

In the comfortable 

hope of eternal 

Life. 

Sacred to the 

^lemory of 
Aaron Johnson 
son of Aaron and 
Rebecca Johnson 
who died Oct. 7, 
A. D. 1826 AE. 
18 years 
Remember now thy Creator 
in the days of thy youth 
This monument is erected 
by his two youngest Sisters. 



In 

Memory of Mr. 

Israel Johnson. 

Who died March 21, A. D. 

1820, in his 72d 

year. 

Take comfort christians when your 

friends 
In Jesus fall asleep 
Their better being never ends 
Then why dejected weep. 

Huldah 

Wife of 

Israel Johnson, 

Died 

Jan. 10, 1850, 

AE. 96. 

Sacred 

to the Memory of 

Francis King Esq. 

Who died 

May II, 1837: 

Aged 40 years. 

In 

Memor\' of 

John O Lane 

who Died 

May 9, 1833 

AE. 26. 

In Memory of 

Mr. ' 

Samuel Leavitt 

He died 

Dec. 30th. A. D. 1803 

AE. XCIII 



In Memor\- cf 

Mrs 

Adah Leavitt 

Consort of Mr. 

Samuel Leavitt 

she died Feb. 9th 

A. D. 1801 AE. 

LXXIX 



^i 



190 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Silas B. Lawrence. 

Died 

Aug. 4, 1852, 

AE. 72. 

Old age and death retard our steps 

From all our youthful toils 

Erected to the 

memory of 

Wm. Henry Lester 

who died 

April 25, 1837 

Aged 27 years. 

William A. Linsley 

died Oct. 7th 1841 

Aged 66 years 

"My flesh also shall rest in hope" 

Abigail T. 

wife of 

William A. Linsley 

died Feb. 2, 1820 

Aged 35 years 

"I shall be satisfied when I awake 

with thy likeness." 

William 
Son of 
Wm. A. & A. T. Linsley. 
died Nov. 13, 1812, AE. 11 m. 14 d. 
Harriet A. 
their daughter 
died May 5, 1812, AE. 3 j-'s 7 mo 
"Hope looks be3'ond the bounds of time 
When what we now deplore 
Shall rise in full immortal prime 
And bloom to fade no more." 

Harriet 

wife of 

William A. Linsley 

died May 24, 1841, 

Aged 52 years. 

"When he shall appear we shall be 

like him for we shall see him as he is." 

Anna Lyman 

Died 

April 8 1858 

AE. 70 



In Memory of 

Mr. Aaron Lyman 

Esq. Who departed 

this life nov. 15th A. D. 

1801 AE. 94 

The public offices he sustained 
he discharged with honor 
he was a patron of good 
order and a friend to religion 
he manifested a lively sense 
of the worth of religion 
and died in the full hope 
of coming to the resur- 
rection of the Just. 

In Memory of 

^Ir. " 

Phinehas Lyman 

who died April 16 A. D. 

1825 aged 71 years 

and of Mrs. 

Huldah Lj'man 

his wife who died 

March 16, 1804 

aged 46 years. 



f 



J. W. L. 


1 


John W. Lyon, 


;■; 


born at Meriden 


« 


Feb. 5, 1821. 


^ 

i 


died at 


) 


Springfield Mass. 




Sept. 26, 1842. 


'■1 


Ruth Maria 


1 


Daughter of 


t 


Asahel & Elizabeth 




Merriam 




died Dec 3 1843 




Aged 31 years 




Anson Merriam 


... 


Died 




Oct. 14, 1833 




AE. 29 




Our 




Fathers Grave. 




James E. Merriam 




William B Merriam 





EARLY HISTORY. 



191 



In 

Memory of 

Asaph Merriam Esq. 

Who died July 27th 

1836 aged " 

years 

In 

Memory of ]\Ir3. 

Damaras Wife of 

Asaph Merriam Esq. 

who died Aug. 24 

1828 in her 63 

year. 

Weeping friends 
Erected this to 
perpetuate the mem- 
ory of Selden son 
of Asaph Merriam 

Esq & Mrs 

Damaras Merriam 

Who died 

April 28th A. D. 1806 

in his 22d. 

year. 

In Memory of 

^Ir. 

Benjamin Merriam 

Who died suddenly 

the T4th of Feb. A. D. 

1807 AE. 76 years. 

Blessed are the dead that 

die in the Lord. 
May sudden death remind us 
all 
That old or young Death soon 
may call. 

In ]\Iemory of 
jNIr. Edmund 

?^lerriam 
(lied Jan. 25th 
A. D. 1791 AE. 30 
Death is a debt 
To nature due 
That I have paid 
& so must vou. 



In Memory of Mrs. 
Mary ye Wife of 

Mr. Benjamin 

IVIerriam she Died 

March ye 14th 1772 

in ye 30th year of 

her Age. 

Mrs. Beulah 

Wife of jNIr. 

Ephraim Merriam 

died Feb. i8th. 

1827 in her 

68th year. 

In Alemory of Airs. 

Mary Merriam 
ye Consort of Mr. 
Elisha Merriam Who 
Departed this life 
Nov. ye 15th A. D. 1774 in ye 20th 
year of her Age. 
A soul prepared needs no delays 
The summons come, the saint obeys 
Swift was her flight, and short the road 
She closed her eyes and saw her God ; 
The flesh rests here till Jesus come 
And claims the treasure from the tomb. 

In ]\lemory of 

Mr. John Merri 

am Who Died 

May 26, 1772 in 

ye 75 year of his 

Age 
Let not the dead 
forgotten lie 
Remember Friends 
that you nuist die. 

In Memory of jVD's 
Mary Merriam 2d. 
Consort of M'" John 
Merriam Wlio died 
Decern'^ 6th 1756 in 
ye 56th year of her 

Age. as I am now so 

must you be (indecipherable). 



192 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Mr. 
Ephraim Merriam 

died March 

22<i A. D. 1834 

Aet. -jy. 



In Memory of 
Capt. Nathel Alerriam 

Who died 

A. D. 1775 

Sist vear of 



Erected In memory 

of Mr. 

Joseph Merriam 

who died April 30th. 

A. D. 1807 in his 

75th year. 

Behold and see as you pass by 

As you are now so once was I 

As I are now so you must be 

Therefore prepare to follow me 

Erected In memory of 

Mr. 

Nathaniel Merriam 

Who was born at 

Merriden Jan. i6th. 

A. D. 1734 

His terrestrial course was 

suddenly terminated 

August 5th A. D. 

1807 

In Memory of 

Mrs. Mary Merriam, 

Wife of Mr. Marshel 

Merriam Who Died 

February ye 20th A. D .1780 

in the 30th year of 

her Age 

She gave to her friends cause 

of great consolation 
And died in good hopes 

of eternal salvation 

Sacred to the 

memory of Mrs 

Mindwell 

wife of 

Joseph Merriam 

who died Oct. 15 

1839, in her 100 yi" 

The memory of the just is blessed 



In Memory of 

Mrs Martha 

Consort to Mr. 

Nathaniel 

Merriam Who 

died Dec. 28th. 

A. D. 1797 AE. 61. 

Calm resignation cro- 
wn'd 
Her latest hours. 



In 

Memory 

of Mn 

Thomas Merriam 

who died 

April 1st. A. D. 181 1 

in his 

Both year. 

Mrs 

Ruth Merriam 

Wife of Mr. 

Thomas Merriam 

died April 6 

1827, in her 87tli 

vear. 



In Memory of Lieut 

William Merri 

am. He died Ocf 

ye 4th A. D. 1751 In 

The 52 Year of 

His Age 

Likewise the Rema 
ins of his wife Mrs 

Ruth Merriam. 

she died Novr ye 4 

A. D. 1784 In ye 81 

Year of her Age. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



193 



111 JNlemor}- of 

Mr. 

Howel Merriman 

He died Oct. 29th. 

A. D. 1805 in the 

33d j-ear of 

his age 

He was much respected 

in Life & equally 

lamented in 

Death. 

In 

]\lcmory of 

Dinah Merriman 

Relict of 

Titus ^Merriman 

who died Sept. ist. 

A. D. 1813 in her 

85th year. 
]\Ir. Ives Merriman 
died Oct. 3, 
A. D. 1825, 
Aet. 33 
His domestic virtues endeared 
him to a large circle of relatives 
& friends & his christian walk & 
humble hope in death left them 
the best consolation in his loss. 

Mrs 

Polly Merriman 

Wife of Mr. 

Jessa ]\Ierriman died Aug. 

13 A. D. 1808 Aet. 42 y. 

and Mr. Joel ]\Ierriman 

died nnich lamented Oct. 18, 1819 

.Act. 35 y. in the midst of flatering 

worldly prospects and yet with 
becoming resignation & comfortable 
hopes of eternal Life. 
Our life is like a summers day 
It seems so quic":ly past: 
Youth is the morning bright & gay 
.\nd if tis spent in wisdoms way 
W e meet our doom without dismay 
.■\nd Death is sweet at last 

Here all is rest & sweet repose 
Here all our sorrows cease 
For Jesus needs our spirit there 
.■\nd kindly whi>])ers peace. 
13 



In memory of 
Mr. 
Titus Merriman 
whn (lied 
Dec. 24th A. D. 1806 
AE. 80 years. 
Tho' strict in his Christian 
walk for man}- \ears he 
was much distressed in his 
sickness thro" anxious 
fears for his soul, but died 
at last full of joy & triumph, 
If the righteous scarcely 
be saved where shall the 
ungodly & the sinner ap 
pear. 
I Peter IV. 18. 

In 

Memory of Mr. 

Jesse Merriman 

who died May 

8, 1827, aged 

68 years 

Mrs 

Mary Roberts 

wife of 

Ephraim INIerriam 

died July 7, 1816 

Aet. 23 

In 

Memory of Mr. 

Jotham Mitchcl. 

who died Nov. 2, 1825 

Aged 71 years 7 months & 

I day 

In Life respected & 

In death lamented 

Also in memory of Betsey 

dautr of Jotham & Rebekah 

Mitchel, she died the 26 Nov. 

1784 AE. 13 months & 8 d"s. 

In Memory of 

Mrs Mary Mitchel 

Consort to Mi" Moses 

Mitchel. she died 

May the 14th .A. D. 1776 

In tlie 5_'nd year of her 

Age. 



194 



A CEXTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In Memory of 

Miss 
Mary Mitchel 
Who died March 
1 2th A. D. 1806 in her 
49th year. Live while 
you Hve that when grim 
Death approaches the re- 
collection of your past life 
may force a smile even 
from that formidable 

tyrant 

In Memory of 

Mr. 

Moses Mitchel 

Who died Nov. 

7th A. D. 1797 AE. 75 

Forbear to mourn for me my 

friends 
But for your sins and follies 

mourn 
Short is the time on earth 

you spend 
& then to dust return. 

Sacred 

To the Memory of 

Sarah 

Wife of Zanak Murdock 

& Daughter of 

Levi & Sarah Foster 

Who 

Died March 26, 1836 

Aet. 28. 

So near, so kind, so gentle, so sincere 
So lov'd so early lost must claim a tear 
Yet mourn we not if the life resumed bj' 

heaven 
Was spent to every end for which twas 
given 

As humble trust in thy Redeemers love 
Matured thee early for the courts above 
We cease thy death too fondly to deplore 
For naught could the longest life have 
added more 



In Memory of 

Mr. 

Joel Mix 

who died Dec. 7th. 

A. D. 1813 AE. 

27 years 

My weeping friends as 3'ou pass by 

Remember you are born to die. 

In 
Memory of 
Lucy Moran 

Who died 

June I, 1846 

in the 68 year 

of her age 

Here lies deposited untill the 
resurrection the body of Mr. 
Moses Mitchel Son of Mr. Joth- 
am & Mrs. Rebekah Mitchel, he 
departed this life July 4, A. D. 
181 1 : in the 25 year of his age. 
at his left hand lies the body 
of Mr. Aaron Mitchel Son of Mr. 
Jotham & Mrs Rebekah Mitchel, 
he departed this life June 11, 
A. D. 181 1 : in the 18 year of 
his age 
Thy earthly hopes fond youth are but a 

dream 
Ore all things here I claim a power 

supreme 
While love prepares the nuptial torch to light 
I quench its splendors in sepulchral night: 
My name is death ; see here my victims lie, 
Renounce thy pleasures & prepare to die 

In 

Memory of Mrs. 

Eunice Miles 

Formerly the Consort 

of Lieut. Josiah 

Robinson 
died July 26th 
A. D. 1787 Aged 61. 
If bright the prospect 
We the Grave defy 
Trust future Ages 
And contented die 



EARLY HISTORY 



195 



Henry 

Son of 

Amos & Hannah 

Newton 

died 

Feb. 3, 1839. 

AE. 22. 

John C. 
Son of 
Amos & Hannah 
Newton 
Died 
Oct. 20, 1841 
Aet. 20. 
Our friend and brother lo ! is dead 
The cold and lifeless clay, 
Has made in dust its silent bed. 
And there it must decay. 

In 

Memory of 

Nancy 

Late Wife of 

Andrew Norton 

& Formerly wife of 

John Hough 

who Died 

Sept. I, 1839 

Aet. 53- 

E. H. O. 
In 
Memory of Mrs 
Eunice H. Olds 
Wife of Mr. 
Jared Olds 
Who died April i8th 
A. D. 1843 AE. 
28 years 
Each friend by fate snatched from 
us is a plume plucked from the wings 
of human vanity & from their grave 
how soon we disingage. 

Samuel Paddock 

Died 

Aug. 7, 1869 

AE. 85. 



In Memory of 

Mr. 

Samuel Paddock 

who died Nov. 

21, 1825 in the 

68th year of 

his age. 

In 

Memory of 

Mehitabel 

Wife of 

Samuel Paddock 

Who departed this life 

July I, 1817 

AE. 59. 

This is a debt all natures due 
Which I have paid & so must you. 

Charlotte 

Wife of 

Samuel Paddock 

Died 

May 31, 1864, 

AE. 67. 

In Memory of Mrs. 

Temperance 
Parmelee Consort to 
Mr. Bani Parmelee 
who died Oct. 5th 
A. D. 1797 in her 42^ 
year. 
Death is a debt 
Tt) nature due 
Whicli I have paid 
& so must you. 

Susanna Peck 
relict of 
Deacon Phineas Peck 
& formerly consort of 
Stephen Hine 
died Nov. 22, 1810 
Aged 74 
Death like an ovcrllowing stream 
Bears all its sons away 
They fly forgotten as a dream 
Does at the opening day. 



196 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In Memory of 
Mrs. Hannah 

Wife of 

Mr. Nathaniel 

Penfield Who 

died June 5th. 

1777 in the ^T.^ 

Year of her age 

In Memory of 

Mrs. Sarah, wife of 

Mr. Liberty Perkins 

Who died June 3, 1825 

Aet. 44 Y. 

Huldah their daugh. 

died Aug. 20, 1802 AE. 4 Y. 

Hiram & Elias their 

Sons died March 31, 1801 

AE. 4 Y. & April 20, 1807 

AE. I Y. 

Amanda 

wife of 

Sherlock Perkins 

Died 

Dec 22 1842 

Aet. 42 

Polly 

Wife of 

Samuel Paddock 

Died 

Oct. 26, 1822 

AE. 41 

In Memory of Mr. 
Nathaniel Penfield 
Who died January 
the 5th A. D. 1776 
Aged 67 9 Years 
Corrected date — probably 79 years. 

The grave of Mrs. 
Elizabeth wife 

of Mr. 

Seth D. Plum 

who died June 4th 

1826 in her 

45th year. 

Death is certain and may you all 

prepare to meet your God. 



■ In 

^Memory of Mr. 

Seth D. Plum 

who died May 16, 

1836. Aged 57 

Years. 

In 

Memor\' of 

Russel Harrison Plum 

son of Mr. Seth D. & Mrs. 

ElizabethPlum 

Who died Jan. 22^ A. D. 

1816. AE. 2 years & 

7 Months 

Beneath, the lovely Chil-d doth lie 

To earth his boddy's lent. 

More glorious shall hereafter rise 

Yet not more innocent 

sound 
When the archangels trump shall 
& souls to bodies join 
Millions & millions here around 
Will wish their lives as short as 

mine. 

In 

Memory of 

Jehiel Preston 

Who died 

Aug. II, 1820. 

aged 65 years 

Also Permelia 

daughter of 

Jehiel & 

Molly Preston 

died 

(illegible) 

In 

Memory of 

Molly, relict of 

Jehiel Preston. 

Who died 
June 15, 1833. 
Aged 74 years. 
The grave is now an honor'd spot 
To saints who sleep in Jesus bless'd 
For there the wicked trouble not 
And there the wearv are at rest. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



197 



Ann Eliza 
Wife of 
Freeman R. Randall 
Died 
Apr. 7, 1857 
AE. 18 y's & 8 mo's. 
\\'e have loved her. Oh how fondly, 
\\'c have laid her down to rest : 
She has gone to dwell with Angels, 
In the mansions of the blest. 
She was lovely far too lovely 
In this cold world to stay 
Her spirit pure and holy 
To Heaven winged its wa\'. 

In 

Memory of 

Mrs. Ann 

the wife of 

Augustus Redfield 

Who died 

July 4, 1844, 

in her 75 ^-ear. 

Horace R. Redfield 

Died 

Dec. 31, 1851 

AE. 58 

Lucy Curtis 

His Wife 

Died Mar. i, 1882 

AE. 82. 

In Memory of Lieut. 

Allin Rice 

Who departed this Life 

May ye 2*1 A. D. 1776 

Aged 40 years 

I trust in Thee and know in Whom I trust, 

Thy call I follow to the land unknown. 

In Memory of 

Mrs Phebe 

Wife of Dean 

Benjamin Rice 

Who died June 

ye 13th 1776 in 

the 46th Year 

of her Age. 



Erected to 

Memory 

of Mr' 

Amasa Rice 

Who departed 

this Life 

Dec. 12th A. D. 

1797 in the 

47th year 

of his Age 

Also of 

Miss Thankful 

Rice Daugh. 

of Mr. 

Amasa & 

Mrs. Mary 

Rice Who ^ 

died Feb. iQ^h. 

A. D. 1794 in 

the 21 th year 

of her Age. 

In ^Nlemor}- of 
Dean Benjamin 
Rice Who died 
February ye 7th 
1777 in the 47th 
Year of his 
Age. 

In Memor\- of 
Mrs Mindwell 
Wife of Decon 
Benjamin Rice 
Who died May 
ye 13th 177C) in 

the 74! '1 Year 
of her Age. 

In memory of Capt. 

Ezekiel Rice who 
died Sept. 3^ 1808 
.Aged 69 years 
The race is run in (lut\s path 

faith 
Fought the good fight & kept the 

breast 
Now leaning on my Saviours 
My spirit seeks its final rest. 



198 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



In AJemory of 

Mr. Halsey son 

of Dea. Benjamin & 

Mrs. Phebe Rice 

Who died May 2^ 

A. D. 1786 in the 

22^ Year of his 

Age 
Thrice happy if 
Prepared to meet 
A change so awful 
& so great. 

In Memory of Mr. 
Joseph Rice : he 
Departed this Life June 
ye 5th A. D. 1777 in 
ye 22nd Year of his 
Age 
See bloming youth 
My mournfull fate 
Prepare for death 

In Memory of 
Jemima Rice 
daughter of Mr. Ezra 
& Mrs. Anna Rice 
Who died Jan. 23d. 
1793, ill the 20th 
year of her age. 
Time what an empty vapour tis 
And days how swift they are 
Swift as a featherd arrow flies 
Or like a shooting star. 

Erected. In memory of 
Rachel dautr of Titus & Rachel 
Rice. She perished in the flames of 
a dwelling house occupyed by 
Jotham Mitchel Oct. 28, 1784; 
in the 9 Year of her age 

Melinda 

wife of 

Reuben J. Rice 

Died 

May I, 1833. 

AE. 22. 

Prepare to meet thy God. 



In 

Memory of 

Charlott Rice 

daughter of Joel & 

Eunice Rice, who 

died Aug 18, A. D. 1829 

Aet. 40 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. 

In Memory of Mrs 
Mindwell Rice consort 

to Mr. Lyman Rice 

who died April 14th 

1805 in the 23(1 year 
of her age 
Youth in the blossom must resign 
to Death the end of all mankind 
But hark the Gospel doth proclaim 
The dead in Christ shall rise again 

In Memory of 

Mr. 

Oliver Rice 

who died 

April 28th A. D. 

1794, AE. 34. 

In faith he died, 

In dust he lies 

But faith forsees 

In Memory of 

Mrs. Ruth Royce 

Who died March 30th A. D. 1801. 

in the 25th year of her age 
With joyful hopes of future bliss 
Behold the saints rejoice to die, 
For heaven shines round their heads 
And angel guards prepar'd to fly; 
Attend their fainting beds. 

In 

Memory of 
Jane Daugh. of 
Dean Silas & Mrs. 
Rebeckah Rice 
■who died Feb. 13 A. D. 
1824 in her 19 year 
Lifes uncertain death is sure 
Sin's the wound & Christ 
the cure. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



199 



Rev 
Erastus Ripley 
Pastor Of The 
Congregational Church 
In Meriden 
20 years 
Died Nov 17 1843 
Aet. 7i 
Blessed are the dead which die in the 
Lord, from henceforth yea saith the Spirit 
that they may rest from their labors 
and their works do follow them. 

In Memory of Lieut. 
Josiah Robinson he 
died April 17th 1771 
in ye 45th yea of his 
Age. Death ore all 
nature casts a shady 
Gloom. Believe & look 
With triumph ore 
ye tomb 

In ]Memor}' of 
Sarah Russell 
Who died April 14 
1S33 in her 20th year. 
When blooming youth are torn away 
By deaths resistless hand 
Our hearts the mournful tribute pay 
Which pitty must demand. 

In iMemory of 

Mr. " 
Elijah Scovill 
Who died 
jMarch i8th A. D. 
1798 in his 24*11 year 
Death is a debt 
To nature due 
Which I have paid 
& so must you. 

Elizabeth 

wife of 

Eleazar Scovil, 

died July 24, 1849 

Aet. 66. 



Erected 
In JVIemory of 

Mrs. 
Tryphena Selby 
the amiable Consort of Mr. 
David M. Selby 
who departed 
this Life May 2d A. D. 
1804 aged 43 
years 
Confined within this narrow tomb 
The lovely sleeper lies 
But when the grand Morn shall come 
May she with joy arise. 

Mrs 
Electa Seymour 

wife of Mr. 

Stephen Seymour 

died Jan. 4, 1820 in her 

32*1 year 

Daniel their son died Oct. 

23d 1808 in infancy 

AE. I y. II m. 18 d. 

Phebe Ann their Daugh. 

died Oct. 13. 1818 AE. 3 y. 3m. 

& 14 d. 

Sacred to the Memory of 

Mrs Rachel Sl'aylor 

Consort to Maj. 

Joseph Shaylor 

Who died Nov. i8th 

A. D. 1790 AE. 41 
God gives us friends 
Then why should '^^'e 
complain 
If he resume i 

Our friends again '. 

In Memory of 
Mr Joseph Shaylor 

the only son of 

?*Iaj. Joseph & Mrs 

Rachel Shaylor who was slain by the 

Indians at Fort Jefferson Feb 11 .\. D. 1792 

AE. 15 

His Surviving Sisters Consecrate 

this Inscription to his Memory 



200 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



In Memory of 

Mr. James Scovil Juni' 

Who departed this Life 

June the ist 1776 

Aged 43 Years 

In the midst of Life we are in Death 

In Memory of Miss 
Thankfull Sheldon 
Daugti' of Ml" Asa and 
Mi-s Thankfull 
Sheldon of New 
Malborough She 
Died June ye 9th 1772 
in ye i8th year of her Age 
Come Blooming Youth 
When This You Read 
O See My Fate. 

In Memory of Abigail 

Silliman: ye Daughter 

of Mr Hezekiah & Mrs 

E'nilia Silliman : she Died 

May ye 31st A. D. 1776 in ye 

8th year of her Age 

Why are friends ravished from 

us : Tis to bind 

By soft affections lines on human 
hearts the thought of death 

Erected to the Memory 
of ]\Irs. Mary Simpson 
Wife of Mr. Samuel 
Simpson Who died 
April 2nd A. D. 1799 AE. 
34 years. Also their 
babe died 1799. 
Heaven gives friends 
Why should we complain 
If heaven resumes 
Our friends again. 

In 

Memory of 

Solomon Smith 

Who 

Died Sept. i, 1844 

Aet. 76. 



In memory of 
Mrs. Eunice 
wife of Mr. 
Robert Smith 

who died 
Feb. 2d, 1837 
Aged 69 years. 

In 

Memory of 

Lucy, wife of 

Solomon Smith 

who died 

June 13 1831 

Aged 63 

In Memory of 

Orrin Smith 

son of Darling & 

Rachel Stuart 

Who died Jan 2 

1821 Aged 18 

years 

Temperance, Fortitude, Justice. 
I. O. R. 
Emery B. Sherman 
Died July 10, 1846 
Aet. 21 
"We will drink no wine ; for, 
Jonadah, the son of Rechah, our 
Father, commanded us saying 
Ye shall drink no wine." 

Sarah 

wife of 

William Talmadge 

died Jan 21 1843 

AE. 28 

Sarah 

wife of 

Daniel Talmage, 

Died 

Aug. 24, 1855, 

AE. 79- 

Mr Abner & Mrs. 

SarahTibbals died 

Wallingford Oct. 6, 1801-1799 

AE. 75-80. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



201 



]Mrs. Lois & Mrs. Chloe 

Companions of Mr. Samuel 

Tibbals died Oct. i6, 1803. Feb 

I, 1820. The former at Branford 

AE. 36-42 

Also two infant sons of Mr. 

Samuel & Mrs Chloe 

died Oct. 21, 1805. 

Dec. 21, 1815 

Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord 

even so saith the spirit for they rest 

from their labors 

Sacred to the 

Memory of Mr. 

Samuel Tibbals 

Who died July 14 

1829 Aet. 64. 

Sacred to the INIemory 

of Mrs. Polly Consort to 

Mr Caleb Todd 

Who departed this Life 

March loth A. D. 1792 in the 

25th year of her Age 

Here my dear Polly lies 
Obscur'd in the dust 
Thus all but virtue dies 
Whose memor}- cannot rust. 

There Shall Be No ^vlore Death 
Mary Elizabeth 

Wife of 

Lauren Tuttle 

died Feb. 26, 1843 

AE. 26 y's 

"Precious in the sight of the Lord 
is the death of his saints." 

P's C.X.VL 15. 

In Memory of 

Philomela Twiss 

late Consort of Mr 

Daniel Twiss 

she suddenly departed 

this life March 

6th A. D. 1805, in the 

35th year of her age 



also Champion 

son of Daniel & 

Philomela Twiss 

died May 6th 1800 

AE. 6 Months 

Though sudden gone 

yet still in mind. 

Erected 

to the Memory of 

Joseph Twiss 

Who Died 

]\Iay 15, 1842 

Aet. 81 

Lois C. 

Daughter of 

Austin & Vincey Twiss 

Died Dec. 24, 1842. 

Aged 19 Years 

F"riends nor physicians could not save 
My mortal body from the grave 
Nor can the grave con line mc here 
When Christ my Saviour doth appear. 

Bolivar A. 

Son of 

Austin & Vincey Twiss 

Died March 25, 1844 

Aet. 18. 

Abigail Twiss 

Daugh. of IMi- 

Joseph & Mrs 

Lois Twiss 

died June 2, 1819, 

Aet. 24 yrs. 

Great God thy goodness hath no 

bounds 
We hope our friLMul hath mercy 

found 
iler nnnd i/ercast willi dismal 

gloom 
Has sought a refuge in the 

tomb 
Darkness & gloom shall flee 

away 
.\t the great opening day. 



202 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



Lois Austin 

Wife of 

Joseph Tiss 

Died Jan 31, 1848 

Aet. 85. 

In Memory of 
Joshua A. Twiss 

who died May 

29, 1829, Aet. 
26 
This world is all a fleeting show 
For mans probation given: 
The smiles of joy the tears of wo, 
Deceitful shine deceitful flow: 
Theres nothing true but heaven. 

In Memory of 

INIr. Hiram Upson 

who died Sept. 22, 1836 

Aged 33 years. 

And of Mrs. Silvia 

his wife who died Oct. 

26, 1833 Aged 29 years 

Also Sophronia their 

daugh. died Sept. 22, 1833 

Aged 10 weeks. 

Erected 

to the Memory 

of 

Charles Way 

Who Died 

Dec. 4, 1842 

Aet. 36. 

In 

Memory of 

Betsey, wife of 

Samuel Way 

who died 

May 2, 1 83 1 

Aged SO years 

Also 

Sherman their son 

died May 30, 181 1 

Aged 2 years 

Also 

an infant son 

died Sept. 3, 1818. 



Abner Way 

Died 
May I, 1841. 

Aged 88 
Eunice Way 

Died 

Aug. IS, i8si 

Aged 90. 

John A Way 

Died 

Oct. 5, 1848. 

AE. 70 

Deborah 

Wife of 

John A. Way, 

Died Apr. 6, i8so 

AE. 70 

Samuel Way 

Died 

Oct. 27, 1844 

AE. 83. 

In 

Memory of 

Sherman P. Way 

who died 

Apr. 8, 1840 

AE. 28 

The memory of the just is blessed. 

In 

Memory of Airs 

Esther Webb 

wife of Capt. 

John Webb 

who died March 

25th A. D. 1806 

AE. 94 years. 

Erected to the memory 

of Capt John Webb who 

died May 6, 1799 aged 
92 
He was a Man of real piety 
and Integrity Public spirit- 
ed, kind to the poor. And 
through Life a patron of 
Religion peace & order 
in Society 

The Memory of the just is 
blessed. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



20- 



In Memory of 

Anna Wetmore, 

wife of the late Revcl 

Izrahiah Wetmore 

of Trumbull 

Who died July 6th 1812, 

AE. 70 years 

unites 
How blest the pair whom christian love 

nights 
Joy smiles upon their days and crowns their 
In peace their happy moments glide away 
Till both are welcomed to eternal day. 

In jMemory of 
Deacn Benjamin 
Whiting he died 
Octbr ye 2nd 1773 in 
ye 7(pth year of his Age 
The sweet Remembrance 
of the Just, When dying 
Nature sleeps in Dust. 

In Memory of 
Mrs. Rebekah 
Relict of Dea 
Benjamin Whiting' 
Who died July 6th 
A. D. 1790 AE. 91 
Behold all ye 
Who do pass by 
If you live long 
Yet you must die. 

Erected in Memory 
of Samuel Whiting 
Esq!-. Who died Feb. 15th 
A. D. 1803 in his 60th year 
In the various offices of trust 
which he sustained he ever 
supported the character of a 
respectable member of society— 
A just and faithful magistrate — 
A kind husband — an afifectionate 
parent— A friend and supporter 
of religion & morality — and a 
humble, pious & exemplary 
christian & died in the lively 
hope of future bliss, through 
the merits of a Saviour. 



In Memory of 

Caleb Wilcox 
who died 

Sept. 19, 1826 
AE. 57. 
His death was ocasioned by a sudden 
and unexpected fall which he received ten 
days previous to his death. 
Therefore be ye also ready for in such 
an hour as ye think not the Son 
of man cometh. 

In ^Memory of 

mV. 

Amos White 

who died Aug. 

21, 1825 Aged 

80 years 

In Memory of 
Mrs. Hannah D. Wolf 
Wife of 
Mr. Seth D. Wolf 
who departed this Life 
March nth jygi in the 
27th Year of her Age 
Virtue & grace adorn'd her mind 
Her thoughts & passions were resign'd 
Her innocence so fair so clear 
Who can restrain a falling tear. 

Mr. 
Ichabod Wood, 

Died 

Dec. 10, 1842, 

Aged 65 Years. 

Mrs. Mary 

Wife of Mr. 

Ichabod Wood 

died May 2, 1835 

Aged 53 j-ears 

Come all my children that survive 

And let us mourn together 

In 

Memory of 

Asa Yale 

who died 

1829 
.Aged 30 



204 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



Abel Yale 
Died 
Sept. 23, 1859 
Aged 75. 

Mrs 

Polly Wife of 

Abel Yale 

Died 

Aug. 15, 1840 in her 

49 year 

Dearest Sister thou hast lost us 
Here thy loss we deeply feel 
But tis God that hath bereft us 
He can all our sorrows heal 

In Memory of Mr. Abel 

Yale : Departed this Life 

April 8th 1784 ill the 78th 

year of his Age 

The seens are changed, our days are fled 
All earth born joys are o'er 
Mortals must follow where we're lead 
And reach the Eternal shore. 

Erected to the Memory 

of 

Mrs. Sarah Yale, 

the Consort of 

Mr. Able Yale 

She departed this life 

Deer. 20th A. D. 1800, in the 

89th year of her Age. 

Mr. Daniel Yale 

died March 28, 1834 

in his 84th year 

Deceased friends to you I come 
To rest my body in the tomb 
My soul with you shall rise above 
To shout & sing redeeming love 

Mrs Phebe Yale 

his wife 

died Nov. 17, 1835 

in her 80 vear. 



James M. Yale 

Died 

July 30, 1842 

in his 23 j-ear 

Fond clustering hopes have s^nk with thee 
That earth cannot restore • 

Love casts a garland on thy turf 
That may not blossom more. 

In 

Memory of 

Ira Yale 

Who departed this life 

Dec. 9, 1814 

AE. 56. 

Also his wife 

Betsey 

Who departed this life 

April 5, 1811, 

AE. 27 

and Also Mehitable, 
Who departed this life 
Dec. 6, 1814. 
AE. 28. 

Isaac Yale 

Died 

Aug. 16 

1864 
AE. 81. 

Diana Yale 

His Wife 

Died 

Apr. IS 1862 

AE. 79. 

In 
Memory of 
Eli Yale 
Who died 
June IS, 1843, 
in the 32 year 
of his age 
Our life how short a groan a sigh 
We live and then begin to die 
But oh how great a mercy this 
That deaths a portal into bliss 



EARLY HISTORY. 



205 



In 

Alemory of 

Anna daughter of 

Isaac & Diana Yale 

who died Dec. 23, 1829 

Aged 22 

She died in the full faith of her Redeemer 

In 

Memory of 

Mr. 

Joel Yale 

Who died Dec. 14th. 

A. D. 1805, in his 

47th year. 

Farewell my earthly friends adieu 
Vain would I bid farewell to you 
Now in the dust my head I lay 
To mingle with my native clay 
While my immortal soul has fled 
To meet the Judge of quick & dead 
You too must moulder in the 

tomb 
Prepare to meet your final 

doom 

Esther 

Wife of 

Joel Yale, 

died Nov. 13, 1848 

Aet. 82. 

Here lies interred 

sacred to the Memory 

the body of 

John Yale 

who died Jan 6 1782 

AE. 95 

Here lies interred sacred 

to the Memory the body 
of !Mr. Jolm Yale Jun. 

Who departed this life, 

in the faith & hope of 

the Gospel on the 28 day 

of March A .D. 1795. In the 

65 year of his Age. 
Death is a debt to nature due 
Let not the dead forgotten lie 
Remember that vour born to die 



In Memory of Mrs. 

Sarah Wife of Mr. 

John Yale Who 

died July 2"^ 1774 

in ye 84th year 

of her Age. 

In 
^lemory of ]Mrs 
Eunice Consort of Mr. 
John Yale late 
Consort to Capt. 
John Couch, Who 
died March sth A. D. 
1800 AE. 71 years 
Surviving friends altho jou mourn 
Let this console I shall return 
The righteous Judge can by his word 
Bring me triumphing witli the Lord. 

Mr. 

John Yale 

died 

Aug. 8, 1833 

AE. 76 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord 

Rev. xiv. 13. 
Betse}' 
Wife of 
John Yale 

Ann Yale 
Daughter of 

John & 
Betsey Yale 

Died 
Dec. 21, 1828 
AE. 21 
The sweet rcmeml)rance of the just 
Shall flourish when they sleep in dust. 

Mr. 

Jonathan Yale 

died Feb. 3d 1832 

in the 39^'i. year 

of his age 

Partner & friends a long farewell 

Oh be prepared with God to dwell. 



206 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Sacred 
to the Memory of 
Mr. 
Jonathan Yale 
Who died Nov. 23 
1823 in his TJ year 
His exemplary Life was a testi 
mony to the power of excellence 
of that religion which he early 
professed & his death an evidence 
of those consolations & hope 
which it can alone inspire. 

In Memory of 
Esther wid. of 
Jonathan Yale 
who died Oct. 12, 1825. 
Aet. 74 
She honoured a christian profession 
by a pious life & liberality toward 
the poor and the church of Christ. 

In 

Memory of Mrs. 

Polly 

Wife of Mr. 

Levi Yale 

Daugh. of Joel & 

Esther Yale who 

died July 13*1^ A. D. 

1810 AE. 20 years. 

In Memory of 

Mf Levi Yale 

he died Nov^r 

17th 1772 in ye 

28th year of 

his Age. 

In Memory of 

Mary Yale 

Who died 

Nov. 21, 1837 

Aged 27 years 

Miss 

Esther Yale 

died Aug. 24 A. D. 

1825 Aet. 

24- 



In 

Memory of 

Deac. Nathaniel Yale 

who departed this life 

Dec. 12, 1814 

AE. 62 

The grave is honor'd where 

the Christian lies 
Beyond the Skies Immortality 

In 
Memory of Mrs. 

Anna Yale 

wife of Mr. Noah 

Yale died Sept. 

8th 1809 in 
her 84th years 

In 

Memory of 

Hannah 

Wife of 

Dea. Nathaniel Yale 

Who died 

Feb. 28, 1847 

AE. 86. 

In Memory of 
Rebekah Daugtr 
of Mr. Noah & 
Mrs. Anna Yale 
She died Novbr 
15th 1773 in ye 6th 
Year of her Age. 

In 

Memory 

of Mr. 

Noah Yale 

Who died Feb. 27th. 

A. D. 1803 in his 

8oth year 

Tho long you live & many 
good days see 

Yet to the grave you all 

must follow me 

From dust tho" art & must 
to dust return 

In silent language speaks each 
mouldering urn 



KARLV IIISTORV, 



207 



In Memory of 

Mr. Russel Yale, 

Who died April 28th. 

A. D. 1794. In the 19th. 

year of his Age 

Behold vain youth as you pass b}- 
And think how suden you may di, 
Come \ie\v my grave & read my age 
Prepare for death while on the stage. 



In Memory of Mr. 

Samuel Yale 

who died Sept. i8th A. D. 

18 10 AE. 48 years 



Also in ]\Iemory of Mrs. 
Mahitabel wife of Mr. 
Samuel Yale who died 
Nov. 19th A. D. 1808 AE. 28 vears. 



Erected 

In Memorv of 

Mrs. ' 

Eunice Yale 

Late Consort of Mr. 

Samuel Yale 

who died Aug. 

1 8th A. D. 1804 

in lier 44^^''. 

year 

My husband dear & children all 
Forget me not tho I am gone 
'l"he way of truth dont you des 

pise 
& Heavenly joys shall be the 

prise. 



Our Father and Mother 

William Yale 

Died Jan. 23, 1833 

AE. 49 

Mary Yale 

Died Apr. i. 1854 

AE. 69. 



Susan Silence 

Wife of 

Samuel H. Yale 

Died 

June 8 1847 

Aged 26 yrs 

In 

Memory of 

Selden D. Yale, 

Who died 

in the City of N. York. 

March 17, 1836, 

Aged 19 j-ears. 

Thus while the dew of his youth was 
so fresh upon him, he was summoned 
from the midst of a large circle 
of affectionate relations and friends. 
But he died in the full hope of a 
blessed immortality. 

As sets the morning star — 
which goes not down behind the darkened 
west, nor hides obscured among the 
tempests of the sky. But melts away into 
the sight of heaven. 

This 

monument is erected 

to perpetuate 

the memory of 

Silas S. Yale 

by his affectionate 

Brother Levi 

who departed this Life 

June 30, 181 1 

AE. 26. 

In Menior\- of 

Mr. John Yeamans 

who died Jan ist. 

1833 in his 81 St. 

year 

and of Mrs 

lumice 

Lis wife who died 

Feb. 5, 1835 in lier 

76 year. 



208 



A CEXTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In Memory of 

Mrs. Selina 

Wife of Mr. 

John Yeamans 

Jr. who died Oct. 

II, 1820 Aet. 28 

Also Eunice their 

Daugh. died Feb. 16 

181 7 Aet. 4 m. & 

21 davs. 



Caroline 

Wife of 

Solomon Yeamans 

Died Feb. 10, 1855 

Aged 39. 

Sarah A. 

their daughter 

died Feb. 9, 1839 

aged II mo's. 




"each in his narrow cell forever laid, 

THE rude forefathers OF THE HAMLET SLEEP.' 



^ 



th 
ds 

)S- 

lis 
he 
an 

al- 
)d- 
to 

)US 

ids 
in- 






lie 
ide 
on. 
ncr 



irly 

in"\' 

jes. 

dif- 

lal] 

ICx- 

an 

for 

56 

ime 

lose 



ised 

be- 

)ut- 



208 



A CEXTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In Memory of 

Mrs. Selina 

Wife of Mr. 

John Yeamans 

Jr. who died Oct. 

II, 1820 Aet. 28 

Also Eunice their 

Daugh. died Feb. 16 

181 7 Aet. 4 m. & 

21 davs. 



Carohne 

Wife of 

Solomon Yeamans 

Died Feb. 10, 1855 

Aged 39. 

Sarah A. 

their daughter 

died Feb. 9, 1839 

aged II mo's. 




"each in his narrow cell forever laid, 
the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. 






2 /a '-^ - <»- 
11 .-' % ' 



(o! ' 







.i «^ — ,...v.,.?'rR1\K\5.''^llR^,5 '' ' 



■' •Error This should be Aaron Lyman i ~--X L- J- "T" .JT^ 

-- — ) »r c ^ \^- 



DStead of Aaron Se 



208 



EARLY HISTORY. 20g 



CHAPTER XIII. 

To faithfully and fully portray life in Meriden as it was durinsa,- tlie eighteenth 
century is of course impossible ; but many facts have been gleaned from the records 
that at least shed light on the conditions then existing, and which will make it pos- 
sible for one with a little imagination to catch glimpses of th.c daily life of this 
long forgotten generation and to acquire a slight acquaintance with some of the 
characters that were once the central figures in this tiny community of more than 
a century ago. 

This parish was a very isolated farming settlement — a rural suburb of W'al- 
lingford — one of the larger towns of the colony. Every family lived on the prod- 
uce of its farm, or b}' the proceeds of some useful trade which was secondary to 
the work of tilling the soil. There was no great difference between the various 
families in the value of their possessions. There was not much wealth in the hands 
of any one man, neither was any person ver}- poor, except he were some poor un- 
fortunate to whom nature had denied an ortlinary mental equipment. 

Many of the houses have been portrayed, and more will be shown later. Life 
in them was of a Spartan-like simplicity. There was little news from the outside 
world: there were no daily newspapers and ver}- little to read of any description. 
Of course the Bible was read and reread, faitlifull}' and devoutl\' in a manner 
of which we can hardly form a conception. 

The early Puritan read the Bible to such an extent that his mind was fairly 
Judaized as some one has expressed it, and his successor of the eighteenth century 
for want of other material was nearly as faithful in his devotion to its sacred pages. 

The few presses in the colony were always busy printing the sermons of dif- 
ferent eminent preachers, which were widely circulated and read. Parson Hall 
delivered a sermon on August lo, 1760, entitled "A Saving I'aith .Scriplurally Ex- 
plained" that was afterwards published, and a copy dug out of the rubbish of an 
old ]\Ieriden attic, where it had slumbered in an ancient pelt covered trunk for 
at least seventy-five years, bears the marks of most diligent reading. Its 56 
pages are stained and worn with constant use. lieside it was a l'.il)le in the same 
condition. They are silent witnesses of the dearth of reading material in those 
days of long ago. 

The annual almanac was a notewnrlln event, and it was read diligently, used 
as a farmer's log book, and bv some the weather ])redictions were implicity be- 
lieved. About the onlv book f(ir children was the Xcw I'.ngland Primer. Out- 
14 



>IO A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

side of the school books it was ahiiost their sole mental pabulum and stimulus. ^ 
iven when the library was established in Meriden in 1796, the list of books in its 
:atalogue has hardly a single inviting title. Truly it was a time of literary famine. 

All the dwellings in IMeriden were farm houses ; there was no village street 
vhere could be found the homes of those who had accumulated sufficient wealth 
;o indulge in a dignified architectural representation of their position and taste. 
Meriden houses were plain to severity. There was little or no attempt at orna- 
nentation on the exterior. Inside there was frequently to be found some good 
)aneling and wainscoting, or a handsome mantel, or a quaint and pleasing corner 
cupboard. On ever\' house the clapboards were nailed directly to the studding, 
md in the earliest there was no plaster on the inside of the outside walls, boards 
)eing used in its place. 

Such houses were comfortable enough in summer ; but think what the condi- 
ion must have been in winter ! Of course, the cold of the rooms was tempered 
)y the huge fires maintained on the ample hearths. But as such fires only rad- 
ate heat as they do light, one part of the body would be roasted, while over the 



1 The writer has a little book entitled "The School of Good Manners," printed in New London in 
754 by T. & J. Green. It was designed for the instruction of children and this copy has been well 
humbed. A picture of the times is presented in the following extracts : "Mal^e a Bow always when 
'ou come Home and be immediately uncoverd" ; "Never Sit in the Presence of Thy Parents without 
lidding, the' no Stranger be present." "Never speak to thy Parents without some Title of Respect, viz. 
)ir. Madam, &c." "Sit not down at Table till thou art bidden by thy Parents." "Speak not at the 
^able." "Bite not thy Bread, but break it ; but not with slovenly Fingers nor with the same where- 
rith thou takest up thy Meat." Apparently there were no forks. 

There was another book, widely circulated in N. E. entitled "The Day of Doom," by Michael Wig- 
lesworth. Tyler (in his History of American Literature) says "its pages were assigned in course 
little children, to be learned by heart, along with the catechism." The pictures of the torments of 
lell are most graphic and it is scarcely conceivable that such a book should have been put in the 
lands of children at the impressionable age. At the last judgment the words spoken to unbaptized 
hildren are as follows : 

"You sinners are : and such a share 

As sinners, may expect. 

Such you shall have, for I do save A crime it is ; therefore in bliss 

None but mine own elect. You may not hope to dwell ; 

Yet to compare your sin with their But unto you I shall allow 

Who lived a longer time, Tjie easiest room in hell." 

I do confess yours is much less 

Though every sin's a crime. 

The torments of those in hell are thus scorchingly described: 

With iron bands they bind their hands For day and night, in their despite 

And cursed feet together ; Their tormenfs smoke ascendeth ; 

And cast them all, both great and small. Their pain and grief have no relief, 

Into that lake forever ; Their anguish never endeth. 

Where day and night, without respite. There must they live and never die 

They wail and cry and howl. Though dying every day. 

For torturing pain which they sustain. There must they, dying, ever live, 

In body and in soul. And not consume away. 

This milk for babes and intellectual stimulus for adults, was absorbed down to the beginning of the 
ast century. 



EARLY HISTORY. 211 

other, the drafts generated by the huge fires would play an accompaniment to Jack 
Frost outside. If this was the lot of one in the sitting room or kitchen, it is easy 
to imagine the situation in a bed room and to understand the use for warming pans 
and feather beds. They were absolute necessities if one did not wish to freeze 
to death. 

Of course, no water could be kept in a chamber in such a frigid temperature, 
and as there were no bathrooms or places of ablution except in the kitchen, the 
habits of personal cleanliness to which all are accustomed to-day must have been 
almost wholly lacking. One will look in vain in the ancient inventories for such 
items as washbowls and pitchers. There w'as now and then such an article as 
a pewter or an earthen bowl, but water was not considered the necessity it is deemed 
to-da}'. Even at a much later date when our forbears had begun to use the earthen 
ware bowl and pitcher the diminutive size is a confession, that even in warm 
weather at that date, the maxim of Lord Bacon that "Cleanliness of body was 
ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God" was more honored in the 
breach than in the observance. 

There was certainly an abundance of food of various kinds, but fresh meat 
could only be had when a "butchering" took place, and every farmer was accus- 
tomed in the fall to salt down a hog or a side of beef for use during the long winter 
months. Poultry there was in plenty, and eggs, milk, butter and cheese, and veg- 
etables of various kinds. But the cooking" can hardly have been of a nature to 
tempt the modern appetite. 

Game must have been in abundance at first, but even as long ago as 1760 there 
was a law in force on the colonial statute book regulating the killing of deer, and 
forbidding it each year between the first day of January and the first day of August, 
under a penalty of four pounds for every ofifense. In several cases the writer has 
noticed in the ancient inventories the mention of wild pigeon nets, showing that 
our ancestors were prepared to take advantage of the great flights of pigeons that 
annually took place, and to have a great feast of these toothsome birds, besides 
using the feathers for beds and pillows.^ 

Troublesome game was more abundant than deer. In the issue of the N^ew 
London Gazette Oct. 10, 1766, appears a letter from Hartford saying, "There are 
the greatest number of bears come down among the towns that ever was known : 
they destroy great quantities of Indian corn and make great havoc among the 
sheep and swine. Last Tuesday morning a large He Ik^ar was discovered in an 
inclosure opposite the Treasurers and being j^ursred he took to ilie Alain street." 
etc.. etc. "In the evening he was roasted whole and a large com])any sup"d on 
him." 



1 Trumbull'.s History of Conn. Vol. I., p. 20, ed. 1898. says: "There were such incredible numbers 
of pigeons in New England, when the English became first acquainted with it, as filled them with a kind 
of astonishment. Such numerous and extensive flocks would be seen flying for some hours, in the morn- 
ing, th:U they would obscure the light. "' This continued until well into the eighteenth century. 



212 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Again, on Feb. 2, 1767, a Hartford letter says in same newspaper, "One night 
last week a panther killed nine sheep in a yard at Windsor." When such things 
could happen in towns as large as these it can easily be imagined how plentiful 
game was about Meriden. A bounty was paid for all troublesome game de- 
stroyed ; notably wolves. On one occasion Thomas Yale killed a she wolf which 
was about to litter. The town voted to pay the bounty for the old wolf but balked 
at the "young wolves that were in the belly of the wolf he killed."^ 

These illustrations of the primitive conditions then existing might be multiplied 
by accounts of the household work of the women, in weaving the wool into gar- 
ments, and the flax into linen for sheets and undergarments ; of home-made soap 
and candles ; and of the various domestic makeshifts for what is now to be pur- 
chased ready made at any store. But enough has been written to make us realize 
the truth of the statement made by Henry Adams in his History of the United 
States, saying that "neither their houses, their clothing, their food and drink, their 
agricultural tools and methods, their stock, nor their habits were so greatly al- 
tered or improved by time that the eorls and ceorls of Offa and Egbert would have 
found much difficult}- in accommodating their lives to that of their descendants of 
the eighteenth century."^ 

All worked with their hands, either at farming or in following some useful 
trade such as that of a blacksmith, a carpenter, a shoemaker, or a tanner. Most 
of the clothing was homespun, woven at home by the women, as well as made 
up into suits and gowns by them. 

It was common to apprentice young boys to a neighbor to learn a trade, and the 
l)apers and documents drawn up and executed on such occasions were of a very 
formal and binding nature. Daniel Hough, who lived at the corner of Curtis and 
Ann streets, was a blacksmith and nail maker. 

In 1746 his uncle, William Hough, the doctor, whose house still stands in Wal- 
nut Grove cemetery, placed his son, William, with Daniel, to learn the trade. The 
following is a copy of the document that was executed at the time: 

"This Indenture made this twenty-fourth day of March in the nineteenth year 
of the Reign of King George y® Second Annoq. Domini 1746. Between William 
Hough of Meriden in Wallingford in Xew Haven County in Connecticut Colony 

1 A gentleman who was a boy in Meriden in 1830, not long ago wrote as follows : It may interest 
some of your sportsmen to know that in 1830 the streams all the way from Black Pond to the "Corner" 
were the habitat of great numbers of speckled trout, and three-pounders have been taken from Pratts- 
ville pond by a boy with a short pole, a piece of twine, and a common hook baited with a worm. I have 
seen Sherman Lawrence about 1830, carrying a string of trout of large size, which he had caught with 
the primitive gear of that day, in the stream ju.st above the bridge at the "Corner." 

Lovers of the gentle art of Izaak Walton would have found a paradise in this territory during the 
eighteenth century ; but It is doubtful if trout were as highly e.steemed then as they are to-day. 
The writer has heard second-hand from one who was a boy then, that the streams were so full of trout 
that no effort was required to catch them. 

2 Vol L, pp. 16-17. 



EARLY HISTORY. 213 

in Xew England & his son William Hough on the one part and Daniel Hough of 
s*^ Meriden in County & Colony afores*^ Blacksmith & Xailer. on the other part 
witnesseth 

That the s*^^ William Hough minor 1)_\- & with the advice & consent of his father 
doth Hereby bind and put out Himself unto the s*^ Daniel Hough as an apprentice 
to Serve for the full space of six years to be compleated from the twenty-fourth 
day of this Instant March, During all which term of time the s^ apprentice his s'' 
Master & ]\Iistress shall faithfully serve, their Secrets keep and all their Lawful 
Commands obey : During s*^ term the s*^ apprentice shall not fornication committ 
nor Matrimony Contract, neither shall he spend his time in idleness, nor in any 
other unlawful way during all s'^ term, neither shall He purloin his s*^ Masters Es- 
tate, nor do any Rong thereunto, nor suffer it to be done by others without due in- 
formation thereof, nor absent himself from his s*^ master's service during all s*^ 
term : But shall do His Honest Endeavour to promote his Master's Interest & his 
s^ Master & ^listress shall faithfully Serve as an apprentice ought to do During 
all s** term. 

And the s*^ Daniel Hough doth Hereby bind and oblige Himself unto the s*^ 
apprentice that he will teach & instruct him or cause Him to be well taught and 
learnt in the art & m}stery of a Blacksmith and also of a Xailer and teach and 
instruct him in writing and C3'phering so far as to be able to keep a Book of ac- 
compts, and that he will well provide for the s*^ apprentice suitable Meat Drink ap- 
parel washing & lodging Both in Sickness &. Health During all s*^ term. And at 
the end of s*^ term, that he w'ill Dismiss the s*^^ apprentice with two Good Suits of 
apparel to all parts of his Body the one for work Days & the other for holy days. 
In witness whereof the partys Have Hereunto interchangeably set Hands & Seals 
the Day & Date first mentioned. 

Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of William Hough 

Theophilus Hall WW' l:oi-gh. 

Hannah Hall Daniel Hough" 

Whether the terms of this indenture were faithfully kept we do not know ; j^er- 
haps not, for on Dec. i6 of the following \ear Daniel sued Dr. Hough and attached 
his real estate in ]\Ieriden. Wm. Hough, Jr., afterwards carried on the blacksmith 
business in Rice's Farms in a sho]) near his home. These apprentices sometimes 
caused their masters trouble and now and then ran away. The following adver- 
tisement is from a X>w Haven newspaper : 

"Run away from the subscriber, (m Tuesday, the 4th inst. Sept. an ap])renlice 
by the name of Cull Malorx. about 20 years old, 5 feet high, light complexion. 
\\ hoever will return said boy shall receive one cent reward and no charges. All 
persons are forbid harboring or trusting said boy on penalty of the law. 

Joseph Twiss." 



214 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Evidently the notice was for the pnrpose of disclaiming all responsibility for 
bills the boy might contract rather than to get him back. Joseph Twiss lived on 
Colony street in the old Robert Collins place. 

Naturally the first industry to locate in Meriden, other than farming and some 
of the minor crafts such as shoemaking and blacksmithing, was milling. The first 
mill of which we have a record was one owned by James Hough. On May 14th, 
1730, he bought of the Way family two acres in the "bend of the Harbor where it 
was most convenient to build a saw mill."^ 

The "bend" was the name given to that part of Harbor brook where it changes 
from a northerly course and bends towards the southwest. Very shortly a grist 
mill was added and the old records sometimes mention one and sometimes the 
other. 

James Hough was the son of Samuel, who was proprietor of a mill somewhere 
in the vicinity of Spruce Glen or Gutter, just over the Wallingford line. Samuel 
in his will dated in 17 14 mentions the mill and gives it to his grandson Samuel 
who afterwards sold it to his father James, so that James at one time owned two 
mills. 

When Wall street was laid out in 1739 it terminated at Hough's Mills, accord- 
ing to the records, joining the road leading to Middletown. These saw and grist 
mills continued in possession of James and his son Phineas, during the greater 
part of the eighteenth century. 

The first outsider to obtain an interest in the mills was Joseph Shaylor, who 
on May 7, 1790, bought a quarter share from the heirs of Phineas Hough. His 
venture was not successful for a little later he was forced out on an execution for 
debt. Then Joel Mix and Jonathan Collins became part owners. On Dec. 15, 
1796, James Baldwin obtained a quarter interest in the saw mill, and the year 
previous Titus Brockett bought all rights in the grist mill, so that for a term of 
years it was known as Brockett's mill. James Baldwin eventually obtained both 
mills and also bought the James Hough homestead now owned by Gardner Rey- 
nolds. The mill, as every one knows, is still Baldwin property. That the saw and 
grist mills were contiguous is a natural inference, but just where each was located 
it is impossible to tell for the present mill is modern and so is the dam. Some 
thirty-five years ago when a new dam was being built it was swept away by a 
freshet ; the result was a flood that inundated that section then known as West 
Meriden.2 

There was another Hough mill in the town, still known by that name. It is 
located in the extreme western part on the Ouinnipiac river — almost in the town 
of Cheshire. The first mention of this property that the writer has been able to 



1 Wallingford land records Vol. VI., p. 329. 

2 In 1807 Samuel and William Yale bought a right in the saw mill which they continued to own 
for a few years. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



-^15 



discover was made in the year 1776, and then incidentally in the transfer of a piece 
of real estate near it. Probably the mill was established much earlier than this 
date. 

It was known as the Ephraim Hough^ mill and was nsed both for sawing logs 
and grinding grain. The illustration from a photograph taken twenty years ago, 
shows a building that is evidently quite ancient and may be the original grist mill. 
There is a tradition that corn was here ground and then carted to New Haven 
to be shipped to the West Indies. It is said that spoons were once manufactured 
in the old building. Certain it is that this mill and the vicinity was once a very 
busy place and the center of more trade than was then carried on in Meriden. 

It continued in the Hough family solely until 1784 when James Baldwin bought 
an interest in it — the same Baldwin who later purchased Hough mills in the north 



-^IJEjc: '' 


^^, 1 


jm^^^^^^^^ 











HOUGH S MILL. 



east section of the town. On Dec. 12, 1792, he sold his right to Caleb Atwater and 
later the property was acquired by a firm called Wadsworth, Hull- & Atwater. 
During the last century- it was for a long time owned by the Bristol family. It is 
now occupied by George McKenzie, who still grinds grain at the old stand and 
also uses the water power for polishing marble grave stones which are cut in the 
yard adjoining. 

In the east part of Meriden on Black Pond brook were a saw and a grist 
mill that should be mentioned. The earliest notice is in a deed dated Mar. 3, 1783, 



1 He was a son of Jame.= Hough, owner of mill in N. E. part of Meriden. 

2 Generals .James Wadsworth of Durham and Andrew Hull of Cheshire. 



2l6 A CEXTURY OF MERIDEN. 

in which Levi Hall gives to John Ives, Jr., a half interest in a grist mill on Black 
Pond brook, half a mile west of the pond. In 1785 the two owners admitted 
Joshua Ives into the partnership. Apparently the location of this mill was a little 
east of where the Charles Parker Co. spoon factory is now situated, the east end 
of a small pond still in existence marking the site. In 1785 Silvanus Nichols, of 
Middletown, bought this property, who in turn sold it to Joseph Driggs, of the 
same place in 1792. In 1794 Constant Miller bought it and had added a fulling 
plant to the establishment by 1796. \'ery shortly, the records call it solely the 
fulling mill and in the early part of the next century it has grown to the dignity of 
a clothier's shop, and is the property of Stephen ^Miller, who sold it to his three 
sons in 1816; in 1829 the records call it an establishment for "carrying on the 
clothier's and dyer's business and carding wool." On Nov. 2, 1837, Joseph Miller 
sold the mill to Samuel Cook, who conducted the business for a number of years. 

Quite a distance southeast of the Miller clothier's shop, in fact, near the dam 
or outlet of Black Pond was a saw mill that was probably run by Brenton Hall. 
It was then abandoned and probably disappeared, for on Nov. 9, 1796, Brenton 
Hall leased to Phineas Hall 2d, the "saw mill place where the saw mill formerly 
stood," and by the terms of the lease Phineas was obliged to erect the mill and 
give to Brenton half the net proceeds. It was apparently run for a number of 
\ears by Phineas Hall. Alany years later Edwin Birdsey owned a saw mill at 
the same location, where he later manufactured wooden drawer pulls, wooden 
combs and bone buttons. The shop was afterwards destroyed by lire. 

In the year 1735 John Merriam, Sr., owned a saw mill that was run by water 
power supplied by Sodom brook. The first mention of it was when he opened up 
a two rod highway, starting at the Country road just north of his house, and 
running west to his saw mill. As previously mentioned, this was the beginning 
of West Main street. The stream was at that early date called Beaver Dam 
brook. Sodom was at that time a name for a tract of country lying west of the 
State- School for Boys. This Merriam saw mill in all probability was situated 
where Nathan Fenn's mill was located many years after; The pond was drained 
off when the Waterbury railroad was built, and the railroad station stands in what 
was formerly the bed of the pond and is a short distance east of the old mill site. 
Merriam's saw mill is frequently mentioned in the records during the eighteenth 
century, and for a number of years after the nineteenth century had opened. 

The first notice found of Andrews' mill was in the year 1798 when Ezekiel 
Rice sold to Ambrose Hough a piece of land on which to build a grist mill and at 
the same time Moses Andrews leased to Hough a tract of land to flood when his 
dam should be built. The following year Hough disposed of the property and it 
was soon in the hands of Giles Foster and then included a kiln drying house, show- 
ing that a saw mill had been added, and later the records say a gin dis- 
tillerv was installed. Two vears later Eli Barnes, who was then livine' in 



EARLY HISTORY. 2\'J 

the house now known as the Calvin Coe place, bought the mill. It would 
be tedious to follow the different transfers until it finally drifted into the hands of 
the Andrews famil}- by whom it was run as a grist mill man}- }ears during the last 
century. The old establishment is idle now and it has ground its last bag of grain 
for the dam and pond have disappeared, and the old building stands as a monu- 
ment of departed days and conditions. For those who do not know the old names 
and places, it may be stated that the mill is on the road to Hanover or South ]\Ier- 
iden, a few hundred feet east of the Oliver Rice place. 

The reason that Ambrose Hough (who was a son of Ephraim Hough, owner 
of Hough's mill near Cheshire street) sold the Andrews mill, was because he had 
cast his e}"e on a site nearer the center of the parish. Cat Swamp, just south of the 
Curtain Fixture factor}- on Parker avenue, is the source of a small stream that runs 
north and crosses Broad near Liberty street and runs down near the reservoir on 
Hobart street, and finally makes its way westward under Center street and the 
Manning, Bowman & Co. factory until it comes to Harbor Brook. At the point 
near the intersection of Broad and Liberty streets it was known a hundred years 
ago as Roaring Gully. In the year 1800 Levi Curtis, who lived in the old Samuel 
Jerome house and owned a part of the fami, leased to Ambrose Hough a piece of 
land southwest of his house and extending west across the south end of present 
Hobart street to erect a dam and form a pond for his grist mill that he was to build. 
The land in the vicinity has now been filled in to such an extent that it is difficult 
to realize that there was ever a pond and a mill in that locality. The brook must 
have been a much larger stream than it is to-day to have gained such a formidable 
name as Roaring Gully. At about the same time Mi:»»Hough built a house in which 
he lived, that is still standing and owned by Walter B. Hall, No. 202 Liberty street. 
The position of the house so far below the level of the street is a strong evidence 
of how much filling in has taken place at that point. Mr. Hough's mill must 
have stood a short distance east of Center and north of Liberty streets. There are 
many people living who remember this pond called Jordan, in which the r>aptists 
formerly immersed their converts. 

In 1804 a gin distillery was added to the establishment and William Olds was 
admitted as a partner, and later Partrick Clark became a part owner. How long 
the mill and distilling plant continued to be used the wiiter has ''een unable tc 
learn; the last notice of it was in 1828 when it was owned by Jonathan Xicholson 
and Cyrus Manvil of New Haven. 

Fulling mills were necessary establishments in a community where most of the 
cloth worn was woven in the farm houses by the wives and daughters. Before 
this home-spun fa1:iric could be used it was necessary to have it treated in fulling 
stocks or troughs, where it was made thoroughly wet with warm soap and water, 
or fuller's earth in place of the soap. It was here vigorously pounded by great 
oaken mallets worked h\ water power. This process cleaned the web, and at the 



2l8 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

same time thickened and shrunk it. A nap was given by "teazehing" or scratch- 
ing the surface with a large prickly bur or thistle grown on a plant that was cul- 
tivated for the purpose and called fuller's teazel. If a color was to be given the 
cloth was immediately placed in the dyeing vats, and afterwards taken to the tenter 
field, where it was spread to dry. 

Naturally, there were shops and mills in Wallingford many years before any 
were established in Meriden. As a matter of fact, as long ago as 1746, there was 
a ship-building yard on the Ouinnipiac river that must have been on the other 
side of the stream opposite where the factory of R. Wallace & Sons Mfg. Co. is 
located. On Book 10, Page 208, of the Wallingford land records. Lent Munson 
transferred to Daniel Clark "25^ acres of meadow land on the west side of the river 
a little south of Parker's bridge near against the middle of the town at the Ship 
Building Yard." The word "ship" indicates that boats of considerable size were 
constructed, perhaps as large as a small-sized sloop. David Cook, of Wallingford, 
an active man at this date, was a ship owner and had vessels that were sent to all 
parts of the world, and were used in bringing negro slaves to this country. Who 
owned the ship-building yard no one knows. 

That section of Wallingford, now known as Yalesville, was once called Tyler's 
Mills. In the year 1748 Samuel Tyler, of that locality, owned a fulling mill which 
must have stood a little east of the present dam, for the meadow where it was 
located was bounded on the east by the river, but his clothing shop was on the hill 
west of it, perhaps where the Parker box shop now stands. In the year mentioned 
Tyler leased the mill and shop to James Hazard of Blanford, Mass., for the term 
of three years, with all utensils belonging to said mill for carrying on the clothiers 
trade, such as mill "tainters," hooks, shears, presses, dyes, dye stufif, coppers, etc., 
and also the help of his two sons, Lothrop and Samuel Tyler, who were to be 
taught the art and mystery of the clothier's trade. Tyler was "to provide Hazard 
with sufficient meat, drink, washing and lodging, and keep the mill in repair," and 
was to receive as remuneration half the proceeds. This lease appears on Book 
10, Page 494, of Wallingford land records, and is the first mention the writer has 
found of a fulling mill in the town of Wallingford. 

One of the mills in Meriden of this description has been mentioned. There 
were two others : the first was near the Ephraim Hough mill at the Cheshire line. 
The earliest mention of it was in 1769 when Ephraim Hough gave to his son 
Ephraim a piece of land on which stood a fulling mill he had built for him. It is 
mentioned again incidentally in 1793 and afterwards there is no further notice 
to be found. It stood just west of the grist mill. 

In the September 12, 1797, issue of the Connecticut Journal, New Haven, ap- 
pears the following advertisement : 

"Blue Dveing: The business of fulling, dveing and dressing woolen cloth blue 



EARLY HISTORY. 2I9 

(and other colors) is carried on by the subscriber: also, woolen, cotton, and linen 
}arn dyed bine. Those who wish for work done in the above business, are in- 
vited to call on the subscriber at his shop in Meriden, where he wishes to serve 
the public to their satisfaction. Noel Ives. 

Meriden September 12 1797." 

The writer is unable to positively identify the site of this fulling mill. There 
is, however, a strong probability that it was on that branch of Pilgrims" Harbor 
brook which flows north into Baldwin's pond. 

Many persons know the location of a huge trap-rock bowlder standing on the 
edge of the_ brook, about a quarter of a mile east of Gravel street, which is called 
Phebe rock. Children used to resort there years ago for picnics and afternoon 
excursions. Some three or four hundred feet south of this rock on the edge of 
the brook, can still be plainly traced, depressions marking the site of a wheelpit 
and raceway ; while some ways to the south are to be seen the remains of an ancient 
dam. There is not the slightest sign of a building or machinery. 

William Atwater, who has lived more than fourscore years and ten and is 
still in vigorous health, resides in a house on Gravel street, directly west of this 
mill site ; he led the writer to the spot one summer afternoon, during the year 
just passed. Trees and shrubs now shelter the place with a thick shade, and the 
brook glides quietly by on its way to Baldwin's pond to the north. William Hub- 
bard Yale, who died a few years ago an old man, once pointed out the site to 
Mr. Atwater and told him that long ago a fulling mill was located there, 
but whose it was he did not know, although he, his father and grandfather had 
owned the adjoining farm for a hundred years at least. There seems to the writer 
little doubt that Mr. Yale pointed out to Mr. Atwater the site of Noel Ives' full- 
ing mill and further evidence that this mill was located in about the spot mentioned 
is found in the following advertisement from the Middlesex Gazette of Mar. i, 
1797: 

"The Subscriber respectfully informs the Public, that he is about to set up the 
dyeing of Cotton and Linen Yarn Blue, at Meriden in Wallingford, one mile east 
of the Meeting House at the Clothier's Shop occupied by Noel Ives. Those that 
will please to favor hiiu with their custom may depend on having good colours and 
done with Dispatch by Josc])h Rogers." 

In the year 1781 a stocking weaving shop was established, somewhere, a])i)ar- 
cntly, on the Country road in Rice's farms, for in the Connecticut Journal under 
date of October, 1781, the following advertisement api)ears : 

'■James Vautie, stocking weaver. Has removed into .Meriden, about four miles 
north of Wallingford Meeting Hf)i'se, on the road to Hartford, where he carries 



220 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

on his trade of Stocking-weaving and asks the continuance of the Favour of his 
former customers, and others. Said Vautie wants a journey man Stocking- weaver, 
wdio may have constant employ and good wages. Also an Apprentice to said Bus- 
iness." 

In the issue of the Middlesex Gazette dated April 20, 1801, "Jonathan Yale in- 
forms the public, that he intends carrying on the business of Dyeing yarn blue 
and stamping handkerchiefs at his dwelling house in Meriden." 

On Colony street, on the east side, perhaps about opposite the foot of Wilcox 
avenue, was once a shop for manufacturing potash. The first mention of the es- 
tablishment was in the year 1771 when it was owned by John Barrett. In the 
Connecticut Journal July 30, 1777, appears the following notice: 

"On Thursday the 7th day of August will be sold at Robinsons tavern in Mer- 
iden ; The dwelling house, both potash works, and utensils, together with the land 
on which they stand, in quantity about an acre and a half, situate in said Meriden, 
being the same lately owned by Mr. Barrett. The potash works are as complete 
as any in the state : the house has been built but a little while and that with the 
other buildings are in good repair. The vendue will begin at three of the clock 
P. M. A title to the aforesaid several houses, barns &c will be given by the sub- 
scribers of said Xew Haven. 

Samuel Bishop Junior 
David Austin 
Pierpont Edwards" 

Matthew Bellamy bought the works and John Carter, Jehiel Preston and John 
Hooker were later owners. 

In the year 1795 Amos White bought the corner adjoining the present home lot 
of Eli C. Birdsey and erected a store, and we find in the Middlesex Gazette, under 
date of May i8th, 1796. the following: 

"New Goods: Just opened and now ready for sale, a few rods east of the 
Meeting House in Meriden, a general assortment of Dr}- Goods, Groceries and 
Hardware, which will be disposed of on very reasonable Terms for cash or short 
approved credit. Amos White & Co." 

The "Co." was a man named John Hooker, for he seems to have been 
closely associated with him in business. Amos White was later the first town 
clerk of Meriden. This store was probably the first one opened in Meriden. The 
lot was bounded on the east by Sabbath day house and horse shed lots according 
to the deed. 



i:aklv history. 



221 



Another store, started shortly after, was owned by Amasa Curtis, whose part- 
ner was Isaac Lewis, father of the late Isaac C. Lewis. It was at first on the east 
side of Curtis street near its junction with liroad but in the year 1800 it was 
located just opposite, in the old house which is still standing- in the point formed 
by Curtis and Broad streets. 

The business was carried on in the northwest room, and continued until the vear 
1808 wdien Amasa died, only thirty-nine years old. He built the house and bought 
the lot in 1799. of Benjamin Hart, the consideration being a beaver hat. There 
was just an acre in the plot and it was bounded on all sides bv streets, the high- 




AMOS CURTIS HOUSE. 

way running west from Curtis street being then in existence : it lias alrcad}' l)een 
described. 

The house was bought of the Amasa Curtis heirs by Amos, his Ijroilier. and 
most people know it to-da\- as the Amos Curtis i)lace. In it were born his children, 
the late William A., the late Svlvester J., a stockbroker of Xew York and the late 
Mrs. Edgar Alunson (Lucy Maria), of W'illiamsport. Pa. The writer has heard 
many times of the trips to X"ew York made by Amasa to buy goods for his little 
country shop: of how his wife and neighbors would gather around and throw old 
shoes after him as an omen of good luck, when he started on the perilous trij) to 



222 A CENTURY OF AlEKIDEN. 

the great citv, which involved perhaps several days in a sailing vessel on the waters 
of the Sound, or two or three days in a stage coach. 

Wallingford village, as compared to ^leriden in those early days, was a large 
town. There were several stores there, a short account of which may not be amiss. 

One was run by the immortal Roger Sherman, of New Haven, an ardent 
patriot, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. In an advertisement in 
the Connecticut Gazette of March lo, 1761, he speaks of his stores at New Haven 
and Wallingford. In two entries of the town records he levied execution on two 
different farms in Meriden showing that he must have had business in this vicinit}-. 

Under date of January 17, 1761, the Connecticut Gazette prints, "Jwst im- 
ported and to be sold by Samuel Holt, Wallingford, an assortment of English 
goods." 

Under date of March 4, 1778, The Connecticut Journal prints, "To be sold 
by Jason Tyler, of Wallingford: West India and New England rum, currant 
wine, Muscovado sugar of the best quality, indigo, pins, needles, choice bohea Tea, 
alspices, Dilsworths Spelling Books, white holland cambric, gauze, fine twixed 
dimothy, chintz, calico, mohair, snuff, white and black shammy gloves, white lead, 
Prussian blue, black ribbon, white tape, writing paper, a quantity of cyder ; Goshen 
peas and cheese, bar iron, cart tire, crooked and straight combs, scissors and jack- 
knives." What modern store in Wallingford can display a greater variety? 

The year 1779, Jan. 24, the same paper says, "To be sold for cash at the store 
adjoining Doctor Jared Potter's in Wallingford — Rum, wine, etc." Dr. Potter 
was one of the most prominent physicians in New Haven county and his home 
lot is now the site of St. Paul's Episcopal church. 

The same year the doctor advertises, "Rum. brandy, coff'ee. tea, pepper, indigo, 
nails, etc.," and again on March 24, 1779. "American manufactured steel to be 
sold by Doctor Jared Potter, in W'allingford." 

On June 23, 1779, the Connecticut Journal prints, "Excellent earthen ware by 
wholesale and retail, to be sold on as reasonable Terms as the Times w-ill admit of 
by Hosford and Hull at their Earthern Ware store in Wallingford near Capt 
James Rice's." 

On March 29, 1781, the Connecticut Journal tells us that "Hezekiah Johnson 
has for sale at his store in Wallingford, West India Rum by the barrel or gallon. 
New England Rum by do. glass, tea & dry goods," and on ^lay 31 the same paper 
says, "To' be sold by Newton Whittlesey at his store in Wallingford Dry Goods, 
knives & forks, spices, etc., together with West India goods." On Nov. 27. 1782, 
the Connecticut Journal announces. "Isaac Bull, druggist and apothecary in Wal- 
lingford Hereby informs his friends and customers in particular and the public 
in general That he has just received a fresh and general supply of the most use- 
ful medicines ; also sundry other articles, such as ?\Iadeira, Malaga and Port wines. 
Raisins, Figs, etc." 



EARLY HISTORY. 223 

On Dec. 5, 1783, "Oil of \'itriol of the best quality, by the C. T. or less Quan- 
tity, European and West India goods to be sold by the Subscriber: Caleb At- 
water." 

Dr. Potter had later formed a partnership with two other gentlemen, John 
McCleave and Elisha Whittlesey, Junior, which was dissolved on Jan. i, 1785, 
and the following notice printed : 

"The Partnership of Potter, McCleave & Whittlesey, is this day dissolved b}' 
mutual agreement — all persons indebted to them by book or note, are requested to 
make immediate payment, and those who have demands on said company, to ren- 
der their accounts for settlement — it being necessary to close their accounts speed- 
ily ; they flatter themselves, that this notice will have its desired effect." 

On Oct. 19, 1791, the Connecticut Journal prints: 

"Aaron Hackley has for sale at his store in Wallingford A Cood assortment 
of European and India Goods, wdiich he is selling as cheap as any of his neighbors. 
Said Hackley has set up a Button Factory in said Wallingford, where Gentlemen 
Merchants and others may be supplied with Hard Metal Buttons of various Sizes 
and Figures, wholesale and Retail as cheap and as good as they can be purchased 
on the Continent. All kinds of produce, woolen. Linen, Tow Cloth and Yarn will 
be received for any of the above articles. Cash paid for Block Tin, old Pewter. 
Brass & Copper by said Hackley: who wants a likely, health}- well-l)re(l Lad 12 
or 14 years old, as an Apprentice to the P.utton-Making Business." 

On August 26, 1 79 1, Caleb Atwater announces that he has gone out of bus- 
iness and desires all persons owing him to settle their accounts at once. 

On Nov. 28, 1791, the Connecticut Journal states: 

"Stanley & Carrington have for sale at their store in Wallingford a few rods 
east of the church, A General assortment of European and West India Goods, 
which they are now selling on the most reasonable terms. They want to pur- 
chase a number of likely Shipping Horses, and a quantity of barley, for which 
good pay will be made. They also want to purchase a f|uantity of Pork for whicli 
they will pay one-half in cash." 

On March 14, 1793, Samuel Tyler and Jarcd Kirthuul announce that the part- 
nership heretofore existing between them is b\- nnitual consent dissolved, and 
that all persons indebted to them for clothier's work done since Sept., 1788, are 
requested immediately to settle. This was at Tyler's Mills, now Valesville. 

On Marcli 2J, 1794. the Comiecticut journal states: 



224 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

'"To be sold 'by the Subscriber, Garden Seeds of all kinds. From that cele- 
brated garden belonging to the Shaking Quakers in New Lebanon. Those per- 
sons not only take pains to save the earliest and best seeds, but they import them 
once in two or three years from their friends in London. Asahel Benham. 

N. B. Some of the seed called Scarcity." 

On March 19. 1800, the partnership existing between Joshua Atwater and 
Thomas B. Cook was dissolved. 

On April 7. 1800, the following advertisement appears: 

"The Subscriber has constantly for sale warranted axes made by one of the 
best workmen at his shop in Wallingford. James Carrington." 

The following advertisement relating to the mills known as Tylers, now Yales- 
ville, appears in the Connecticut Journal: 

■'These are to inform the Public, That the subscribers have a machine now in 
motion, at Mr. Samuel Tylers Alills in Wallingford, on the turnpike road leading 
from Hartford to New Haven, where sheeps wool will be broke and carded into 
rolls on the shortest notice at 10 cents per pound : wool must be well picked & 
not more than one ounce of oil to one pound of wool. Rolls can be done up in 
sheets or blankets, and carried any distance without injury. Likewise batting wool 
broke in the best manner at 6 cents per pound. . . . All commands attended 
to by the publics humble servants, 

Strang, Woodruff & others. 

Wallingford, July 25, 1803." 

Besides paying so much attention to trade the citizens of Wallingford were 
interested in matters educational. The following notices appear in the Connec- 
ticut Journal : 

"The subscriber has opened a school in Wallingford for the purpose of instruct- 
ing young Ladies and Gentlemen in the Latin, Greek and English languages,. 
Arithmetic, Geography, Composition, etc. Tuition will be low, and no endeavour 
wanting to give satisfaction. George W. Stanley. 

\\'allingfor(l, July i, 1794." 

"Boarding School. The public are respectfully informed that a school for 
Young Ladies will be opened in Wallingford on the first day of May next, in the 
house formerly occupied by the Rev. Mr. Andrews but now by Mrs. Hall and her 
Daughter from New York, in which will be taught tambour work embroiderv and 
various kinds of fine needle work, bv ]\liss Hall: and to such as choose, reading. 



EARLY HISTORY 



22'- 



writino^, arithmetic and Geography, by the Rev. Mr. Hart: (uxhI acconiniodations 
will be provided by Mrs. Hall. 
Wallingford, April 16, 1795.' 

Choate School for Boys stands to-da\ on the site of Mr. Andrews' house. 

Truly, Walling-ford must have been a veritable metropolis to the people of 
Meriden. 

Taverns in those earl\- days were very important centers of life in everv com- 
nnmity. There the farmers congregated to learn the news of the outside world 




SITE OK THE OLD l!i:iA' 1 1 l-.K lAkM. 

.\irnw No. 1 indicates the site of the Gilbert or Belcher tavern : No. 2 indicates the site of the old 
stone house or fort, and No. .3 indicates residence of A. R. Yale adjoining. 

from the chance traveler, to get their mail, and to exchange notes and observations 
on crops and live .stock. \o one was i)ermitled to become an iund<eei)er wuhout 
the recommendation of the .selectmen, and a license obtained from the county court. 
It was a profession of eminent respectability, even if considerable li(iuor was sold. 
There was one tavern keej^er in Meriden who was relieved ot the necessity of 
"litaiiiin-- a license, and he was the owner of the stone house and I'elcher tavern 
i; 



226 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

on Meriden Farm. John Yale, who with jedediah Norton had bought the west- 
ern part of this old farm, in the division of the same with Norton, took the south- 
ern half which included the tavern. He ran the inn for a number of years and 
then gave it to his son, Nash Yale, in 1750. 

Nash continued as proprietor until 1763 when he sold it to Yale Bishop, of 
New Haven, perhaps a relative. 

In June, 1770, appears the following advertisement in the Connecticut Journal: 

"To be sold or let by the Subscriber: The noted House and Homestead in the 
Parish of Meriden, in the Town of Wallingford where he now lives, containing 
about one hundred acres with a suitable Proportion of Meadow, Pasture, Plow and 
Wood Land. The Buildings are all convenient, and in good Repair. The house 
is a licensed House by the colony. Whoever Purchases the Premises will have a 
right to keep a House of Entertainment: it lies on the Great Road leading from 
Boston to New York thro' Hartford and New Haven, and is tho't by good Judges 
to be the best stand for a Tavernkeeper in the Colony. The Purchaser may have 
credit for the whole a number of years, with good Security if required, on Interest. 
For the Terms either of purchasing or hiring, apply to the subscriber, on the 
Premises, who will give a good Title. Yale Bishop."" 

The wife of Mr. Bishop died in 1766 and lies in the old cemetery on Meeting 
House hill and on her tombstone it is recorded that she "was buried with her in- 
fant on her arm." 

There has been for many years a tradition that whoever owned the old tavern 
had a right to keep a place of entertainment forever, and its truth is settled by 
the statement in the advertisement. The right had been given by the General 
Court in 1662 when it granted to Mr. Gilbert the right to keep an inn. In other 
words the authority was above that of the county court to which every other tav- 
ern keeper in Meriden or the colony was obliged to apply. 

On Ma}- 24, 1773, an execution on the tavern was taken by Jonathan Fitch, 
of New Haven, and the place soon passed into the hands of James Jauncey of New 
York. As Mr. Jauncey was a Tory, the farm was confiscated during the Revolu- 
tionary war and sold by the state to Watt Hubbard. It is probable that Mr. Hub- 
bard kept a tavern here for a while and then disposed of it to Seth De Wolf. It 
subsequently passed into the possession of Asaph Merriam, who gave it to his son, 
Sidney. At what date its use as a tavern ceased the writer does not know. 

Mention has already been made of Josiah Robinson"s tavern, which was the 
really important one, according to the ancient almanacs. 

Aaron Lyman was given the right to keep a tavern in 1757 by the county court 
and the same authority conferred a like distinction on John Webb in 1752 and 17 S3- 
But the business was short lived in the case of these two gentlemen. Daniel 
Hough also maintained an inn for one year in 1767. Brenton Hall in 1765 and 



EARLY HISTORY. 22/ 

Uezakel Ives in 1769- 1772 and 1774 did likewise. Dr. Insign Hough bought the 
old Central Hotel property in 1792 of the heirs of Samuel Hall, the son of Rev. 
Theophilus, and in it he very soon started his tavern. The writer has been unable 
to discover the record giving him the authority to maintain an inn. We have al- 
ready read the notice in the New Haven paper giving an account of the dinner 
at his house at which sat down Esq. Aaron Lyman and his wife, Capt. John Webb 
and his wife, Phinehas Hough and his wife, Xoah Yale and his wife and the widow 
Sarah Yale, which would indiciate that they were in a public house. In the Mid- 
dlesex Gazette of Nov. 26, 1791, appears the following: "Lee Hall advertises an 
elegant two story House in Meriden ; good for merchant or tavern." ^Ir. Hall was 
executor of Samuel's estate. 

Letter writing was probabl}' not very common in Meriden in the eighteenth 
century, but taverns were used in lieu of post offices in small communities, and 
the post rider left there the mail to be delivered, and took thence letters to be sent 
away. We obtain a slight glimpse of the post rider in the issue of the Connecti- 
cut Journal under date of Feb. 2, 1770: 

"Last Monday evening, the Hartford Post, having arrived at his stage in 
Wallingford, and but just entered the House, when his Horse and Mail were 
taken away: The Horse was soon found, but the Mail was missing: after search- 
ing for several Hours, it was found, near a Mile from the stage, broke open, tho' 
none of the Letters were gone. The Villain who committed this most audacious 
Offence has not yet been discovered."" 

For the convenience of the traveling public which was constantly growing in 
numbers as the colony increased in population it was determined b}" the General 
Assembly to erect on the great thoroughfares, mile stones, which would tell the 
wayfarer his distance from the county town : so. at the October session, 1767. the 
following resolution was passed :'^ 

"Be it enacted by the Governor, Council, and Representatives in General Court 
Assembled, and by the authority of the same. 

That it shall be the duty of the selectmen in the several towns on the several 
post roads in this Colony, at the expense of such town to erect and kec]) up stones. 
at least two feet high, near the side of the common travelling road, marked with 
the distances from the county town of the county where such town lyes, according 
to the mensuration lately made by public order."- 

1 Conn. Col. Rec. Vol. XII., p. 60S. 

2 Alice Morse Earle in her entertaining book entitled "Home Life in Colonial Day.''"' has this to say 
relative to mile stones: "Benjamin Franklin set mile stones the entire way on the post-road from Boston 
to Philadelphia. He rode in a chai.se over the road ; and a machine which he had invented was at- 
tached to the chaise : and it was certainly the first cyclometer that went on that road, over which so 
many cyclometers have passed during the last five years. It measured the miles as he traveled. 



228 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

There are three of these old mile stones still to be seen in Aleriden, doubtless 
erected in conformity with this law. One is on the east side of Colony street in 
front of the Swift Company building, Xo. 57 ; another in front of the residence 
of Junius S. Norton, Xo. 596, and the third a mile north, in front of the old Eli 
Way farm, now owned by E. H. Higginson. 

There was for a short time another industry in Meriden that brought good 
luck to no one, except possibly to the workmen who labored underground to bring 
to light the hidden wealth of copper or gold that was supposed to lurk in certain 
localities in Meriden. A quite full account of this enterprise is given in Mr. Per- 
kins" Historical Sketches of Meriden. His information was gained from certain 
papers and documents in possession of Deacon Silas Rice : the Deacon is long since 
deceased but the papers are still in possession of his grandson, William B. Rice. 

Copper deposits or veins were discovered in Wallingford in the year 17 12, 
possibly through the prospecting of Gov. Jonathan FJelcher or his agents. At any 
rate in that year articles of agreement were drawn up between William Partridge 
and Jonathan Pelcher on the one part and a committee representing the inhabitants 
of Wallingford on the other. The right to dig for minerals was granted, and various 
acts were passed by the General Assembly to safeguard and protect the industry. 
The mines were dug in what is now the southeastern part of Cheshire near or on 
the old Bellamy farm. Other mines were established in Simsbury, in that part 
now set off as Granby, which later developed into the famous old X'^ewgate prison. 
How nmch copper was mined in Wallingford there is no way of learning. We 
know that Jonathan Belcher and his partners exi)en(led large sums in their ven- 
ture and that it resulted in loss to all concerned. 

As late as 1732 Mr. Belcher was still interested in the Wallingford mines, for in 
that }ear he sent a Mr. X'orth Ingham, of Boston, with a letter of introduction to 
Rev. Samuel Whittlesey of Wallingford, saying that Ingham was come to view 
the mines and that he was a partner with Mr. Con'^ Adam Wlnthrop, of Boston. 
Mr. Ingham was still living in the vicinity of the mines in 1740. Undoubtedly 
more copper was produced in the Granby mines than in \\"allingford. 

The mines in Meriden had no connection with the Wallingford operations and 
were sunk by an entirely different set of men. ( )n h^eb. 8, 1735-6, Edw. Burroughs, 
of Stratford, leased to Jeremiah Atwater, Xathaniel Merriam, Samuel Austin, ann 
others, a tract of land containing fifty acres for digging for all manner of minerals.^ 
The lease specifies that the land is located just south of the Belcher farm and in 
the east part of the lUirroughs farm. The s]3ot where the prospecting was done 

When he had riddeu a mile he stopped : from a heavy cart loaded with mile stones, which kept alongside 
the chaise, a stone was dropped, which was afterwards set by a gang of men." Mrs. Earle does not 
give the authority for this statement : but the writer does not believe Franklin was responsible for 
the mile stones in Meriden. The vote of the Colonial Court makes certain the pedigree of Connecticut 
mile stones. 
1 Wallingford land records, Vol. 7, p. 47R. 



EARLY HISTORY. 22i) 

is on a hill east of the Hartford trunpike about a mile north of Britannia street. 
IJeautiful specimens oi clear crystal quartz have been picked up on this hill l)y 
nianv now liviui;". and it was fondly hoped b}' our predecessors of a hundred and 
seventy years ago that here gold would be found. It is doubtful if anything more 
than a mere scratching of the surface was ever attempted by these gentlemen in 
their vain quest for gold. There is no evidence that actual mining ()])erati()ns were 
begun. 

( )n the hill in the western part of Walnut (irove cemetery are the remains of 
an ancient working known as Golden Parlor Mine. There are two adjoining 
shafts still to be seen which were excavated to a depth of twelve or fifteen feet. 
J-'rom the shafts, galleries or drifts led to the west a good man}- feet. The farms 
of Dr. William Hough and Timothy Ro\ s were adjoining and ran from the Coun- 
try road to the river on the west. That of Timothy's was wliolh' west of Dr. 
Hough's and the common boundary was somewhere on the hill or crest where 
the mines were dug. The Hough farm and quite a portion of the Ro\s holdings 
were during the greater part of the last centur\- in the possession of the Wood 
family, and the writer has been told by Xorman S. Wood and his nephew, Charles 
H., that when they lived on the farm it was possible to penetrate quite a distance 
into the old drifts. In one of the shafts the present superintendent of the ceme- 
tery. Fred F. Bowen, found quite a nugget of copper and also the remains of one 
of the ancient iron hammers, probably used by the workmen in the olden days. It 
is not positive that the present shafts were those of the Golden Parlor mine on 
the Roys lease or were made b\" those who were digging for copper on the Hough 
farm. The mines were not far apart. 

( )n the Wallingford land records under date of l*"eb. 2, 1735-''). ap])ears a sale 

of the right to mine copper on the farm of Dr. Hough by Thomas Foster to 

Nathaniel Bacon and Josiah Wetmore. of Middletown, for £20.^ ( )n l"cb. 20, 

1735-6, Dr. Hough executed a new lease of the property to Samuel Dwight. Seth 

Wetmore, Nathaniel Bacon, Josiah Wetmore and Edward Higbee of Aliddletown, 

( and Jonathan and Robert Collins of Aferiden: the consideration being "one-fifth 
' " •••7 ' 

part of all dug out upon said land at the end of ever\- month. ""- 

On March 13, 1736-7, Timothy Roys leased the right to mine copper on his 
side of the line, which perhaps subse(|uently grew into the Golden Parlor Mine.'" 
The lessees divided i\\) the propert\- in the following pro])ortions : lulward Higbee. 
1-3 part : Thomas Thomas, 1-6 jxu't : Walter Hender.son, 1-6 part ; John Way. 1-30 
part: Arthur Rexford, 1-15 part: IJenjamin Roys, 1-15 part: Samuel .\ndrews, 
1-15 liart : Daniel Higbee, 1-30 part, and unassigned 1-15 ])arl. 

Mr. Perkins co]:)ie(P the documents relating to this mine, in the possession of 
Deacon Silas Rice, and they are here reproduced : 

1 Wallingford land records. Vol. VII., p. 401. 

2 idem, p. 436. 

3 idem, p. 428. 

4 Historical SkeBches of Meriden. p. 7S rt sen. 



230 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

"Articles of Agreement made and concluded upon this twenty Seventh day of 
April Anno Domini 1737 Between Edward Higbee of Middletown and Walter 
Henderson of Hartford, both of y*" county of Hartford, and Thomas Thomas of 
New York, Arthur Rexford, Sam'^ Andrews, Benj Royse, all of Wallingford, in 
y® county of Newhaven, and Colony of Connecticut, and Daniel Higbay of Mid- 
dletown in y^ county of Hartford afores'd. and Josiah Griswold, Thomas Goodwin, 
Benjamin Stillman, John Pierce, all of Wethersfield in y*^ county aforesaid. Pro- 
prietors and Joint owners of a certain piece of land or mines in said Wallingford, 
as leased out to them by Timothy Royce of s^ Wallingford, as will appear by said 
Lease, reference there unto being had to carry on the work in said Mines, Wit- 
nesseth that we the s'd partys do covenant and agree to, and with each other, and 
do hereby oblidge and bind our Selves to Stand to, and perform the following 
articles viz : 

1. That the name of s<^ Mine, shall be Golden Parlour. 

2. That the Work to be done in said Mines shall be ordered by a vote of y® 
Alajority of y*^ owners, and y^ costs and charge arising on y® work in said mines 
shall be paid according to y*^ proportions of each owner's part. 

3. That each owners vote shall be in proportion to what part he owns. 

4. That if any owner or owners cannot attend y"^ meeting or meetings ap- 
pointed by y® Majority of y® owners in order to manage y® affairs of said mine, 
they shall have liberty to appoint any of y^ owners to vote or act in his or their 
behalf, and said owner so appointed shall vote or act therein, shall be Esteemed as 
good and valid as if the owner appointing was himself present. 

5. That Mr. Benj. Royce be a Clark to Enter and keep y® votes that may from 
time to time be passed by the owners or the majority of said owners untill y^ said 
owners shall chuse another in his room in which case y® said Royce is to deliver all 
y® votes he has Entered and kept in y® Hands of said owners. 

6. That the last Wednesday of July, October, January and April, be days. 
Stated for y® meeting of said owners at Meriden, to make up the acc'tts of said 
mine, and also to pay what Charge or Cost may arise between each Meeting to y® 
Satisfaction of y® undertaker, and if y® majority of y^ owmers shall think fitt to 
order a meeting on any other time or times besides those herein Stated v® meetings 
so ordered and y® affairs managed therein shall be good and valid. 

7. That these articles be committed into y^ Hands of y® Clark for y^ time be- 
ing, and if any of y® owners desire a Copy hereof, y® said Clark shall give it him at- 
tested under his Hand, he or they satisfying him therefor. 

In confirmation of y® above mentioned articles, we the subscribers, have here- 
unto Sett our Hands and Seals in Meriden, the Day and Date above mentioned 

Edward Higbee L. S. Samuel Andrus L. S. Thomas Goodwin L. S. 
Josiah Griswold L. S. John Pierce L. S. Benjamin Rovs L. S. 

Arthur Rexford L. S. Thomas Thomas L. S. B. Stilman L. S. 



EARLY HISTORY. 23 1. 

In Presence of 

Amos hall Moses Parse Jr W^m Hou^h'' 

Truly, the above is very much like a modern business document. 

"A Record kept by Benjamin Roys, Clark of the proprietors of the mines in 
the land of Timothy Roys in woUingford 

February y® ii 1736-7. Then the owners of the mines in the land of Timothy 
Roys in Wallingford,, being Regularly met together at the hous of John \Va\- m 
W'allingford, did then make up their Acounts of the Charge expended in the 
mines from 8 of November 1736 Which Charg did amount to the Sum of 86 £ 
4s 2d. 

At a meeting of the proprietors of the mines in the land of Timothy Roys in 
W'allingford, February y*' 11 1736-7. The said oneers did make A fair agree- 
ment with Arther Rexford, one of the owners, to Dig ten foot in the north Shaft 
of said mines keeping the Smoth wals east and west and about five foot wide find- 
ing himself Tools and materials for the Same to be done in five months, for which 
work the said proprietors did unanimously agree to give Said Rexford the Sum 
of eighty-one pounds — 81 £-0-0. 

At a meeting of the Proprietors of y® Mine in Meriden on y^ 27'^' day of A])ril 

Voted, that mr. Griswold Shold be moderator for Said meeting. 

That Thomas Thomas be an undertaker to carry on the work in Said Mine for 
y^ Space of three months next ensuing. 

That y^ s'd Thos. Thomas be allowed at the rate of fifteen pounds per month, 
for so much time as he spends in said service, the time of pay to begin when the 
Hands begin to work in said mine. 

That Arthur Rexford having desired to be released from a bargaui he made 
to sink a shaft of ten feet deep in s'd mine that he be released. 

At a meeting of y® proprietors of y® Mine in ^leriden on \® 2/^^^ day of July, 

\'oted That Mr Grizwold be Moderator for s'd Meeting. Also \'oted l)y a full 
\'ote the majority of y^ owners, that y'' owners according to their proportionable 
parts, pay to Georg Bell the Sum of fourty pounds, upon his finishing a job of 
work he had undertaken to do in the Golden Parler. viz : to sink twelve feet in 
the deeper Shaft nerest to doctcr houghs and to leave the bottom of the Shaft 
nere the wedth and length that it now is, to find him Self with all materials &c. 
nccisar\- and Sutable to carv on and finish Said work. 

And at s'd meeting, Julv v*" 2/ 1737, the s'd owners made u]) their acoimts 
which did amount to the sum of 132 £ 13s id." 



232 A CEXTUKV OF MERIDEN. 

These records comprise all the knowledge we have of die doings of the Golden 
Parlor Mine association. There is a tradition that a cargo of ore was shipped to 
England and the vessel was lost at sea and the owners were so disconraged by this 
misfortune that the mines were abandoned. 

But Dr. Hough was at work at the mines on his side of the hill 18 years later. 
At this time he was living in Haddam and the farm was the homestead of his son, 
\A'illiam Hough. Jr., the blacksmith. On .March 21. 1755. the son mortgaged the 
farm to his father and this clause occurs in the deed: "The condition of the above 
obligation is such that if the above William Hough shall allow his said father free 
liberty at the mines on the west end of his home lot to dig for ore as he shall see 
lit, and shall have liberty to cut timber for the use of the mines or digging drains 
or whatever shall be needfid for carrying on the work, and shall have liberty to 
pass to said mines, on the south side of his home lot, from the highwav, to the 
mines for carting,"^ etc., etc. 

These records make it very doubtful to the writer whether the remains of the 
shafts in the western part of Walnut Grove cemeter}- were those made by the 
Golden Parlor Mine Compan}- or by Dr. William Hough and his lessees. 

It is a singular fact that in 1754 the mining fever should have found a victim 
in one of Wallingfords fair damsels. That distinguished divine. Rev. Samuel 
Whittlesey, for many years pastor of the church in Wallingford, and one of the most 
popular clergymen in the colony, had a daughter, Katharine, who married on May 
8, 1759, the Rev. James Dana, successor in the pastorate to the Rev. Samuel. On 
Koy. 29th, 1754- Katharine bought of the heirs of Timothy Roys all right to the 
mines and minerals that had formerly been leased to the Golden Parlor Mining 
Co., and on December 4th'^ following she bought of Timothy, Jr., 18 acres, which 
contained the mines in (juestion. What she did with the proj^erty there is no record 
left to tell us. 

Mr. Perkins says that nearly one hundred and fifty years ago Dan Johnson 
bought large tracts of land in the Hanging Hills district in the hope of finding 
minerals in sufficient ciuantities to make the venture pa}' and mentions "Within the 
'Notch" is an elevation called 'Mining Hill," which is said by those acquainted 
with Geology to abound in indications of valuable minerals." Many will remem- 
ber the obstacle encountered by the city authorities when it was first proposed to 
locate the new water works or reservoir in the valle}- where "Mining Hill" is 
located. It was suddenly discovered or at least announced that the hill contained 
valuable deposits of gold and a large price was demandetl. The hill is now a 
thickly wooded island at the south end of ^Merimere. 

From what has been here recorded, it can readilv be seen that Meriden had 



1 Wallingford land record.s. Vol. XV.. p. 531 

2 Idem, Vol. XIII.. p. 231. 

3 Idem p. 2.''.0. 



EARLY HISTORY. 233 

(juite a mining" craze for a numl)er of years and much money must have been lost 
in the ventures, for no Cakimet and Hecla pU'.m ever dropped into the pockets 
of Meriden's homespun coats and troupers. 

A curious inference relative to the name Hanover may be drawn from the cop- 
per mining- industry on Milking Yard Hill, now a part of Walnut ( irove cemetery. 
This name was adopted for the village of Falls Plain, now South Alcriden. 
in the year 1832. Dr. Davis says in his History of Wallingford and Meriden^ that 
the name was decided on by the proprietors of the augur factory, and the result 
was announced to the people by Dr. Isaac L Hough, on June 6, 1832. This is 
doubtless so; but perhaps the name has an older pedigree than one might be led 
to believe l)y this statement. It is a fact that the workn'ien engaged in the co])])er 
mining industr}' in this colon\- were mostly liermans. This was the case in the 
iielcher mines in Wallingford and also in Simslxu"}', now Granby. In I'helps' 
History of Simsbury, (iranby and Canton- the names of three of these (Germans 
are preserved viz: John S}dervelt, Caspar Hoofman and John Christian Aluller. 
\'ery close to the mines in that town were the smelting works where the ore was 
crushed, refined and smelted and the locality was called Hanover, because these 
( iermans lived there, and the name of a large Cierman city was used to describe 
the settlement just as to-day we frequentl\- eniplo}' the name Dublin to designate 
a colony of Irishmen. 

The copper mining industr\- in Meriden was located on the hill just east of 
Falls Plain and it does not take a large share of imagination to fancy that while 
Hanover was formally adopted in 1832 to describe the new village, it ma\ reallx 
have been in use for a long time previously and applied to a localitx in the inune- 
diate vicinit}', just as the name Meriden, which belonged originally to the large 
farm in the northern ]:>art of this town, was formally ado]>ted in 1729 for the whole 
parish. 

PHYSICI.\NS. 

While the practice of medicine cannot perhaps be called an industry, but rather 
a science and a profesion, still it is always an important part of the daily life of 
every community, and the proper place to treat of the early medical practitioners 
of Meriden would naturallv seem to fall into that chapter dexoted to the home life, 
industrial pursuits and avocations of the j^eople. 

Incidentally two or three early physicians have been mentioned. The ])ioneer 
Dr. Ebenezer Cooper, is first heard of in Meriden in 1724 when, in partnershij) with 
a .Samuel l>utler. he bought of John Cole, the lioston schoolmaster, a tract of 350 
acres on the west side of the Country road north of the farm of luirtholomew 
Foster. 3 This land they .sold to Robert Collins, of Middletown. on .May 30. 1727. 

1 Page 162. 

2 Page 117. 

."• Wallinsford laiul records. Vol. V, p. lo. 



234 --^ CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

Dr. Cooper must have lived on this farm for his name occurs in a Hst of ]vleriden 
petitioners in 1725.^ 'He next bought a small tract in the southeastern part of the 
town and the house of Wm. B. Rice, corner of Paddock and ^liller avenues, occu- 
pies the site of the homestead of Dr. Cooper. He died in 1742 and \\as survived 
by his widow, Thankful. She was appointed administratrix of his estate at a pro- 
bate court held on jNIay 8, 1742, in Xew Haven, and an inventory was then filed 
which included the following items : 

House and lot : a great Bible : an old Bible : 5 books of sermons : a testament 
and psalter : i sermon, 7 paper books, a book of authors and a dictionary ; sundry 
bottles : phials and apothecary things : a lignimi-vitae mortar & pestle : i p^" small 
scales, box and weights : 3 seives : 3 Lances and 2 glasses. 

The estate was found to be insolvent and in the Colonial Records of Connec- 
ticut- at the May session appears the following : 

"Upon the memorial of Thankful Cooper, administratrix on the estate of Doc- 
tor Ebenezer Cooper, late of Wallingford, deceased, shewing this Assembly that 
the debts due from said estate sunnounts the moveable estate the sum of two 
hundred twenty six pounds eighteen shillings, and a penny : and praying for lib- 
erty to sell lands &c." 

The court empowered Capt. Samuel Hall to dispose of so much of the real 
estate as was necessary and he sold the homestead to Enos Curtis : he in turn on 
Dec. 17, 1744, sold to David Ives "I/4 acres with a dwelling house, barn, well and 
pump, standing thereon, being the homestead the late Dr. Ebenezer Cooper last 
dwelt in : bounded west by Divan Berry north by Benj. Ives and east and south by 
highways."^ Doubtless, the old physician lies buried in the cemetery on Meeting 
House Hill. 

The second physician. Dr. \Mlliam Hough, has been mentioned so often and 
so recently that it hardly seems necessary to add to what has been said except to 
note that he was a brother of James Hough, who owned the grist and saw mills 
where Baldwin's Mills are now situated. He was born in a house which stood 
somewdiere on the farm now called the Joseph Hough property just within the 
Wallingford line and south of the Yale fanns on Yale avenue. Dr. Hough left 
more mining impressions on the old records than medical memories in the parish. 
He was the vmcle of Daniel Hough, as has been mentioned. He removed to 
Cheshire parish and later to Haddam ; he was living in the latter place in 1755. 

Of the third physician. Dr. Alexander Wolcott, a few notices have appeared. 
He owned a farm here in 1735 through the heart of which ran Gravel street. It 



1 Dr. Davis' History, p. 144. 

2 Vol. VIII., p. 523. 

3 Wallingford land records Vol. XI.. p. 27 



EARLY HISTORY. 



23: 



is not certain that he Hved here ; at any rate for a very short time onh- : a brief 
sketch of him appears on page 112. 

Of the fourth physician. Dr. Isaac Hall, considerable is known. He is called 
by Mr. Perkins and Dr. Davis, Meriden's first physician. This was, doubtless, 
because the others had died or moved away so very long ago that all memorv of 
them had been utterly lost, even in the time of Dr. Isaac I. Hough, who doubtless 
gave Mr. Perkins some of his facts. 

Dr. Isaac Hall was the son of Jonathan Hall and was born probably in the 
village of Wallingford on July 11, 1714. He married Nov. 5, 1739. ]\Iary Moss. 
The writer cannot find that he owned land in the parish of Meriden until Oct. 13, 




ISAAC HALL, OR ROLLIX S. IVES HOUSE. 

1758, when he bought of Ephraim Hough, eight acres of land at Dog's Misery 
and doubtless built his house at that time which stood perhaps two hundred feet 
north of the present home of Rollin S. Ives, on Paddock avenue. The old site 
can still be seen at the corner where Misery Ear road bends to the northeast. It 
is said that the road has been changed and that it formerly ran just east of this 
house. Mr. Ives" house is said to have been built by Isaac Hall, the son of the 
doctor, perhaps about the year 1770. It is a dignified old farmhouse, large and 
commanding, and is in an excellent state of preservation. 



236 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



The writer has had the privilege of a careful examination of an old account 
hook^ once kept hy Dr. Hall. A portion only is left, hut sufficient to show that 
his practice took him at various times to Cheshire. Guilford, W'estbury, Middle- 
town, Middlefield, Xorthford, Durham and even Hebron. His charge always 
included travel to the patient which varied according to the distance. In Meriden 
the item is usually charged at one shilling. The medicine was a separate item, and 
included such drugs as elixir camphire. hypochondriac pills, iniiversal pills, \\'ar- 
wick powders. Elixir Proprietatis (commonly called nowadays Elixir Pro.). Bit- 









■>t3!-,^„^ A,^/i^eK'^'^J^'lyjf, 




,y-t-. 



':.0- 



• 'A 



\ 



"^-X 
^/"% 










P.VGE FROM IS.\AC HALL S ACCOUNT BOOK. 

ter powder, stinking drops (probably asafetida), rhubarb, contrayerva, viperane, 
salts of amber, etc. Among the list of patients we find the names of Deacon Eben- 
ezer Cowles on Oxhill. Stephen Perkins, whose house stands at the corner of 
Parker avenue and Ann street, William Merriam of Pilgrims" Harbor. Lazarus 
Ives, Samuel Penfield. John Hall. Elisha Scovill and Daniel Baldwin. 

Now and then he bleeds a patient, and finally we encounter an entry that fairly 
takes the breath awav when we ren^.ember that in those davs no merciful anaesthe- 



1 Through the coiiitesy of Ives W. and his sister. ;\nss Ellen Hart. 



EARLY HISTORY. 237 

sia had been discovered to comfort the poor sufferer. Un September 17. 1770. he 
was called to the home of Ebenezer Hubbard, of Middlefield. for which he charged 
■"travel 4s" and then comes the gruesome item "to burning his wifes cancer twice 
IS." This probably involved nothing more or less than searing it with a red hot 
iron. 

In those days smallpox was dreaded even more than it is to-day : one terrible 
scourge devastated the parish of Cheshire in 1732 when eighteen people died in 
a few weeks. The disease was always a possibility and ever\- known precaution 
was used to avoid it. The usual remedy for rendering a person immune was in- 
oculation and it was a custom to form neighborhood parties and take the infection 
together. In the Oliver Rice homestead is preserved a recipe to be t?ken during 
inoculation, of which the following is a copv : 

"A Receipt for the preparation for the Small Pox 

Take one Pound of Blue Flagg root pound it well boil it in a Gallon of Water 
to a paste, strain it through a lawn, then add to its fourth Manna, then half the 
Whole Castle soap Mix it well and make into Pills somewhat less than a small 
pea — A Dram is a dose for a grown Person — Take a Pill each morning after In- 
ncculation till the Symptoms come on."' 

In the Connecticut Journal for Jan. 31. 1793. appears the following adver- 
tisement : 

"Inoculation. The Subscribers beg leave to infomi the public That they are 
carrying on the business of Inoculation at the house of Col. Isaac Cook, a place 
extremely well situated for the purpose about one mile east of the meeting house — 
Any person desirous of receiving the infection may depend on the utmost punc- 
tuality and attention by their most obedient servants 

Aaron Andrews and 
Bilious Kirtland" 
■'Waliingford Jan 22 1793" 

The writer has been told that Dr. Isaac Hall for a time carried on an inocu- 
lating establishment in a house that once stood on High Hill in the southeastern 
part of Meriden. 

He died iNIarch 7. 1781. His inventory included 

Books on Physick. £18 j o 

Medicines and bonles. ....... *--JO o 7 

His son Jonathan was also a physician and probably practiced for a short 
time in Meriden and removed to Xew Hartford. X. Y.. in 1787. 



238 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

In the Middlesex Gazette, under date of March 16, 1793, appears the following 
notice : 

"Inoculation — The subscribers who the last season, inoculated in company for 
the Small Pox, are now carrying on the same in the eastern part of Meriden, six 
miles west of this city (Middletown) at Matthew Yales House, very convenient 
for that purpose. The same successful- method will still be pursued — whoever 
wishes to receive the Infection by Inoculation, will have the closest Attention paid 
them, by the Publics humble servants John Dickinson 

Middletown Jan 12 1793 William B. Hall 

N. B. Apply to said Dickinson or Hall, in this city or at Brenton Hall's Esq 
near the Pest House." 

There is a tradition in the Julius Hall family that there was formerly a pest 
house located on High Hill road a little east of its junction with Thorp avenue, and 
it probably was the house mentioned in the advertisement. Brenton Hall's home 
was in the extreme eastern part of Meriden, and to a person in Middletown it 
would be near the pest house. 

The introduction of vaccination in Meriden took place in 1814.^ At a town 
meeting held April 23rd of that year it was "voted to appoint a committee of two 
persons in each district to introduce the kine pock innoculation into this town. 

Dr. Isaac I. Hough and Dr. Theophilus Hall for the Center district. 

Partrick Clark and Matthew Foster, N. \\'. district. 

Phinehas Hough and Eleazer' Scovel, N. E. district. 

Samuel Baldwin, Jr., and Ira Hall, E. district. 

Othniel Ives and Ivah Curtis, S. E. district. 

Ichabod Wood and Moses Cowles, S. W. district. 

Dan Andrews and Levi Allen, W. district. 

John Plymert, PlMuert district. 

Voted That any person who is inoculated in this town for the Kine Pock by 
Dr Eancher may have the priviledge of being innoculated for the Small Pox free 
of expense under the Superintendance of Physicians of this town." 

Dr. Theophilus Hall was a grandson of the Rev. Theophilus and was born in 
Meriden April 20, 1773. He married Mar. 24, 1803, Bethia, daughter of Eph- 
raim and granddaughter of Benjamin Merriam, whose farm house stood where 
the Meriden House is located. He occupied the parson's old homestead. Not 

1 In Dr. Rufus W. Matthewson's address at the 86th Annual Meeting of Middle.sex Co. Medical Soc. 
in April 1877 it is stated that "in 1801, a few months after 1st vaccination on this Continent, Dr. 
Jonathan Hall with Dr. Insign Hough introduced vaccination in this vicinity beginning with a Mr. Pad- 
dock of Meriden and a Mr. Bradley of Middletown. who were induced to become subjects for experiment 
and in view of the uncertainty of the results the physicians agreed to attend the men each on alter- 
nate days for 3 weeks." 



EARLY HISTORY. 



239 



much is known of his Hfe here and he died at the age of 42 on Sept. 26, 1815, in 
Lenox, Mass., where he had gone on a visit. 

Dr. Insign Hough, son of Daniel, the blacksmith, was born in the old house 
at the corner of Ann and Curtis streets on Sept. i, 1746, and began to practice in 
1769. In 1792 he bought of the heirs of Samuel Hall the house which he soon 
turned into an inn, known at first as Hough's tavern and later as Central tavern 
or hotel, which stood at the corner of Broad and East Main streets, and now re- 
placed by the residence of Francis Atwater. Here he combined the professions 
of medicine and tavern-keeping. He was successful in both callings. He had 
apparently retired from business of all kinds some time before his death in 1S13. 



his mantle falling on 
his son. Dr. Isaac I. 
Dr. Insign has been 
described as of a 
genial and lively dis- 
position, and quite 
slight in body, al- 
though his son was 
a man of enormous 
proportions, weigh- 
ing at one time fully 
350 pounds. 1 

Dr. Isaac I. 
Hough was a man 
of influence in the 
community, enter- 
ing largely into 
the industrial enter- 
prises of the town, 
and his success as a 
physician was excel- 
lent. 




DR. LSAAC I. HOUGH. - 



His face indi- 
cates character and 
strength, and his 
enormous bulk is in 
evidence in the por- 
trait. He was born 
in 1 781 and never 
married. He died in 
Aleriden Feb. 26, 
1852. Alany people 
still living remember 
the bluff old doctor 
and his kindly ways. 
1 lis size made it nec- 
essary that every ar- 
ticle of furniture he 
used should be built 
especially for him. 
His chair was so 
large that an ordi- 
nary ])erson was lost 
in it. If calling on 
have two chairs ti") sit in. Flis 



any one he always found it necessary to 
coffin was made several \ears before his death and stored in a loft in his 
carriage house. Many anecdotes are still told of him and the following is 
a good one on the doctor: His friend Captain Roswell Cowles occupied 
a house that stood on the site of the old town hall : he was a mason builder and 
also made the tombstones of the town, his stoneyard being located on the site 
of the George R. Willmot place, on the opposite side of Main street. One day in 

1 Mrs. Breckenridge in her RecoUeftions of a X. K. Town writes entertainingly of her grand- 
father, Dr. Insign, and her uncle. Dr. Tsaac I. Hough. 

2 From an oil painting in the possession of Miss Ida C. Tibhals. 



240 A CEXTUKV OF mi-:kidi:n. 

passing- the place. Dr. Hough saw the captain standing in his stoneyard, and 
drawing up his horse to the side of the road, began to chat, and finally remarked, 
"Well, Captain, I suppose you keep a stone for each person in town, duly in- 
scribed with the name, and date of birth, and are only waiting to fill in the date 
of death." "Yes," said the captain, "that's right, but in the case of your patients, 
I can calculate the date of death so closely that it isn't necessary to leave it blank." 
His tavern at the corner of Broad and Main streets was a famous place, and 
kncnvn the country roimd : it stood just half way between Hartford and Xew 
Haven on the old turnpike, and was the headquarters for stage coach passengers, 
for here horses w'ere changed and a stop was made for meals, and his acquaint- 
ance with travelers, of course, was large and he knew many of the prominent 
figures of this and other states. Although, of course, liquor was dispensed at his 
bar he never drank himself, and, in fact, used his influence to dissuade others from 
the practice. In Dr. Davis' History of Meriden is a verse that was composed and 
told to the doctor to his great enjoyment. 

"Dr. Hough, he keeps good stufif, 
And lives just under the steeple 
By hook or by crook, he keeps his good looks 
.Vnd takes the cash from the people." 

It was largel}' through Dr. Hough's ettorts that the turnpike from Aleriden to 
Middletown was built in 1809: he and Hezekiah Rice of the latter place being 
the incorporators. Late in life Dr. Hough lived for a short time in what is now 
known as the Rogers' block, corner South Colony and Alain streets. He died in 
the hous-e owned by Henry C. Butler on the site of which dwelling now stands the 
First National Bank building. In 1825 he formed a ])artnership with Dr. W'yllys 
Woodward. 

Dr. Woodward was born in Southington in 1801 and graduated from Yale Med- 
ical school in 1823 and soon after located in Meriden. He died Mar. 31, 1842. 

The following is a list of physicians who succeeded those named, and wdiile they 
were of a considerably later date, still it is so long since they were among those 
living that the present generation has almost forgotten them. 

Succeeding Dr. Woodruff was Dr. Benjamin Catlin, for nearly forty years 
active in this community, and one of the foremost citizens of the town. Dr. 
Wm. H. Allen was a conspicuous figure during the decade from 1840 to 1850 and 
Dr. Gardner Barlow from 1845 to 1850 is still remembered by many of the older 
inhabitants. Dr. Edward W. Hatch for a number of years, until 1858, was an 
active practitioner, when he became superintendent of the State School for Boys. 
In. 1850 Dr. Timothy F. Davis began to practice in the town and for eighteen 
years was an active and prominent physician. 



EARLY HISTORY. 24 I 

In or about the year 1850, Dr. H. A. Archer moved to Meriden and at first 
located in the house now occupied by Dr. Tait. He became well known in the 
community and afterwards moved to the old Robt. Royce place in South h^arnis, 
where he continued his profession. 

In the issue of the Connecticut Whig April 7, 1854, appears the prospectus of 
the Meriden Water Cure Company. The responsibility for the institution was Dr. 
.Archer's but John, Charles and Edmund Parker and others were financially inter- 
ested in the undertaking, and the sanatorium was located in the present homestead 
of Dr. Tait. A start was made with a flourish of trumpets and much was expected 
of the hospital, but the project was short-lived and soon died a natural death. 

Dr. Grove Herrick Wilson came here during the hard times of 1857 and soon 
built up a lucrative and successful practice, and the balance of his life was passed 
in Meriden. He was of the homeopathic school. 

Dr. Asa H. Churchill came here in 1858, and for many years was in active 
practice, but during the latter part of his life practically gave up his profession and 
followed another calling. Dr. Chas. J. Mansfield was a physician here for many 
years with a very large and lucrative practice and had a host of friends and fol- 
lowers. He died a comparatively young man a few years ago. 

Dr. John Tait has been active in the practice of his calling for more than 
fifty years in this town, and from 1854 to 1870, Dr. James Wylie, a brilliant and 
tireless physician, ministered to a host of people, many of whom still remember 
his successful career. Dr. X. Xickerson, a faithful and conscientious j^hysician, 
who, altiiough still with us, came here long enough ago to be classed among 
these mid-century physicians, is too well known to need extended comment. 

Biographies of other physicians of more recent date will be found in another 
part of this volume. 



16 



242 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 



CHAPTER XIV. 

As has been already stated, it is not probable that there was ever an Indian 
settlement in any part of the territory of Meriden. Nevertheless, Indians fre- 
quently resorted here for game, and in journeying from the Tunxis \'alley or the 
country about Hartford to the waters of the Sound at New Haven, they followed 
a trail which led through this valley in the general line of Colony street. 

There were, however, Indians living in Meriden after it had become a separate 
parish — probably a few stragglers from some tribe, perhaps of the Quinnipiacs 
at East Haven. There is a tradition in the Julius Hall homestead on Alurdock 
avenue, that during cold weather two or three of these stragglers were in the 
habit of coming to the home of Daniel Hall, the first of Wallingford's pioneers 
in the Dogs' Misery Country, and asking to be allowed to warm themselves before 
the white man's fire. These red men were said to live somewhere northwest of 
the old homestead. 

Mention has been made of a large bowlder lying on the bank of Harbor Brook 
about a quarter of a mile east of Gravel street, which is called Phebe rock. It is 
said to be so named because the phebe birds build nests in the crevices of the rock. 

But there is a deed on file in the Wallingford land records^ which indicates 
that the word Phebe formerly was used to locate a certain tract of land in the 
vicinity of this rock. It was a part of the Penfield farm that had previously been 
the property of Dr. Alexander Wolcott. Nathaniel Penfield on Mar. 16, 1774. 
leased to Joseph Shaylor, a tract of land containing one acre and ninety rods that 
was Ijounded west on what is now Gravel street and east on Phebe Quive land. 
At that time there was no one in the parish of Meriden of that name owning land, 
and never had been. Besides, this strip of land was wholly in the farm of Nathan- 
iel Penfield ; his neighbor on the east being Daniel Baldwin. This name sounds 
very much like that of an Indian. Two or three persons whose opinions are of 
weight in such matters were consulted and each one thought it the name of an 
Indian woman. Now was there ever in Meriden an Indian woman named Phebe? 
The records of Rev. Theophilus Hall were consulted, and the suspicion was con- 
firmed. In his record of baptisms are found the following entries : 

"May 9 1737 Baptized Phebe an Indian woman privately upon a sick bed." 
On May 14, 1737, in the parson's record of deaths appears: 
"Died Phebe an Indian Woman in my house." 

1 Vol. 19, p. 445. ; 



EARLY HISTORY. 243 

On Feb. 20, 1744, the following entry was made: 

"Died Phebe an Indian child in my house." Doubtless, a child of the first 
Phebe. 

The day after the death of the first Phebe occurs : 

"May 15 1737 Baptized my Indian children Patience and Anthony." 

Again on Dec. 27, 1741 : 

"Died an Indian child at ^Ir Sanfords." 

While one person's opinion is as good, perhaps, as another's in such a ques- 
tion, where absolute proof is impossible, still there is a very plausible inference 
■suggested by these facts. 

While probably phebe birds build nests around the lonesome old rock, still 
they cannot have given the name of Phebe Quive to the land adjoining. The 
fancy is liable to arise in one's mind that an Indian woman of this name was 
.a squatter on the land, that she became very ill and that the good parson went 
to see her and told her of the danger of death without faith in Christ and signaliz- 
ing that faith by the act of baptism : that then he took her from her rude shelter 
to his house where she died five days later, but not until she had his promise to 
Isaptize her children, which he proceeded to do the day after her death. 

Children for years have been in the habit of going to this rock on excursions. 
Perhaps they used to visit the Indian woman there in the old days, and the 
•survival of the custom was simply a habit, for children are alwaxs imitative and 
like to do what their predecessors have done. It is possible with such suggestions 
to let one's imagination run riot ; it is a harmless form of amusement, but as these 
annals should deal only with actual facts as recorded, it is beyond the province of 
Ihe writer to attempt to weave a romance. 

In the vicinity of New Haven at the time Wallingford was settled, viz. 1^70. 
there lived an Indian named Rum Tom. He seems to have been a ])eculiar old 
tellow who was always getting into trouble through his love of firewater. There 
are several entries on the records of the county court of his being brought before 
the grand jury on the charge of drunkenness and wanton mischief. His invar- 
iable plea was that some white man had sold hin^either "cyder" nv rum. and that 
lie had partaken of it intending no harm. Both the white man and Rum Tom 
Avere invariably fined and commanded to do so no nmre. ( )n one occasion he 
very nearly caused the death of Isaac Royce. of Wallingford, who afterwards 
owned a large tract of land at Milking Yard or Royce's farms. We will let Isaac 
tell his own story as he did to the court on Nov. 8. 1676. 

"Isaac Royce of Wallingford complained y^ as he was going home the 6^'* this 
instant bctweene Sunsett and dav light shutting- in he saw fire ujion the playnes 



244 -^ CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

& coming towards it & pretty neare there was a gun shott off & he heard the 
bulhtts flv but how neare to him he knew not & it appeared to be Rum Tom as 
he saw after. Rum Tom being called to answer S*^ That he strucke fire but he 
was sorrv he did soe : he S*^* he had drunke two cups of cydar that he scarce knew 
what he did : after nmch debate with him about it Rum Tom was dismist & or- 
dered to pav Isaac Royce for his dayes attendance & charge at the ordinary." 

This was positively Rum Tom's last appearance, and the facts above recorded 
comprise all the information the writer has been able to glean relating to Indians 
in ^leriden and Wallingford. 

NEGRO SLAVES. 

There is no fact in our early history more difficult to realize at this day than 
that our ancestors were holders of negro slaves and that they bought and sold 
them as they did horses and cattle. 

Any one, however, who burrows among ancient papers and documents is liable 
at the very beginning of his researches to run against the evidence so forcibly, 
and the facts accumulate so rapidly that he is soon almost persuaded that all the 
early property owners were slaveholders. 

Such is not the case, however, but slaves were sufficiently numerous in Meri- 
den and Wallingford as elsewhere in Connecticut, to make this phase of colonial 
life a very interesting one. It was a general custom all over the country and in- 
deed wherever the negro was domiciled. 

The earliest record that the writer has been able to discover of a negro slave 
belonging to a Meriden man is contained in the will of that "trusty friend," Na- 
thaniel Royce, dated April i, 1718. and proved in the probate court on June 15, 
1726. One clause in the will bequeaths to his wife his negro woman. 

The records of vital statistics kept by Rev. Theophilus Hall abound in bap- 
tisms of the children of negro slaves, and in accounts of deaths and burials. 

They were as carefully recorded as those relating to white people, although 
with perhaps a little less dignity. For instance, we meet with such entries as 
"March i 1741 baptized London servant of John Webb," "Sept 12 1742 baptized 
Primus servant of Lazarus Ives," "April 24 1748 baptized negro child of John 
Merriam." There are just twenty of these entries. 

The parson also recorded the deaths or burials of thirty-four negro servants 
entered as. for instance : 

"1737 Aaron Lymans negro." 
"May 7 1741 Dyed Eben^'" Sanfords negro boy." 
"October 1746 two negro twins of Lemuel Hough." 
"Dec 20 1746 London servant to lohn Webb." 



EARLY HISTORY. 245 

"June 8 1758 my negro child Gin." 
"June 29 1758 my negro child Rose." 

On the other hand although the baptisms and deaths are so carefully entered, 
one will look in vain in ]\lr. Hall's notes for a record of the marriage of a negro 
couple. In fact, there are only three or four such notices in the town records of 
\\"allingford. Perhaps slave couples were married by a justice of the peace, but 
that there was a marriage service is beyond question. That the marriage was 
performed in a different manner from those of white people might seem possible 
if one can believe that there is a kernel of truth in the following tradition : 

Noah, the ancestor of Julius Yale, was the owner of a slave named Chatham 
Freeman, who earned his freedom by serving in the place of his master, as a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war. The story goes that when he at last became a 
free man he told his former master that he "wanted to be married just like white 
folks." According to the Wallingford records, Noah Yale emancipated Chatham, 
his wife jMercier and child Jube on April 29, 1782. 

Some little time after the marriage he came to Mr. Yale and said he wanted 
to be "unmarried as I never can stand it to be married to that woman." On 
being told that there was no remedy- — that now he was married he must stay so, 
he went away exclaiming, with uplifted hands, "Oh Massa what I gwine do, what 
1 gwine do?" Chatham afterwards made the best of his bargain, became a land- 
owner and lived in a house that fonnerly stood on Paddock avenue just north of 
the driveway leading to the house of Charles Z. ]\Iurdock. Another negro named 
Cato Freeman, perhaps a brother of Chatham, lived in a house just over the line in 
Wallingford, on Misery road. Its site is now occupied by the homestead of John 
Francis. Fowler's "Historical Status of the Negro in Connecticut," has this to 
say : 

"Pews were set apart for the negroes in the meeting-houses, where they gen- 
erally were present ; they were often questioned about the sermon heard on the 
Sabbath. They joined the church, if qualified ; their children were often offered 
in baptism, by their believing masters or mistresses. They were encouraged to 
marry and rear families. Some of these facts I get from ancient church records : 
some from tradition ; and some from statements which T heard, when yoimg. made 
1)}' owners of slaves, or by those wIk) were l)red u]) in families with llicni. In 
some of these records of baptisms and marriages, the names of the negro children 
and the names of their masters and mistresses who offered them in I>a]Jtism, are 
given ; and the names of their masters and their consent to the marriage, are given.'' 

The negro was bought and sold withotU the dignity of a record of tlie event 
on the town books. He passed with the delivery of a bill of sale, which was con- 
sidered sufficient evidence of the new ownership. 



246 -\ CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

The following is a copy of a document that is preserved in the Oliver Rice 

homestead : 

"Bond to fulfill Indenture 

I the subscriber Silas St John of Sharon do Promise and oblige myself and 
heirs to fullfill in every particular a certain Indenture Dated Sept. 21 1758 
whereby George Trashen a Malato Boy is Bound to Ezekiel Rice Esq'' Late of 
Wallingford Deceased and to his Heirs the said servent falling into my hands by 
Heirship and other Contracts, I stand Obliged & bound to fulfill to said servent 



V. Cut f^ a^J feJ^ <^^ M.^g.,%r^yc.fn .%^ ^/ 7^-^-1^^..- ^ 










fjaMt^%K.'^^^ 



\A\A. OF SALE OF SLAVE GIRL. 

when he arives to the Age of freedom all the perticulers mentioned in said In- 
denture and Indemnify all the Heirs of the estate from any burden or charge 
from that quarter, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the 3''<^ day 
of March 1767 Silas St John" 

Ezekiel Rice 
Ezra Rice 
Esther Blakslee" 

The above is a fac-simile of a bill of sale preserved in a Meriden household. 



EARLY HISTORY. 247 

The following appears in Dr. Davis' history : 

"Middletown July 8, 1760 
Received of Ahel Curtis (of Meriden) Forty Pounds In full of a negro Boy 
Called Ben, about nine years old, which s'^ Negro Boy I IVomis to warrant and 
Defend against all Lawful Claims & demands of any Person whatsoever as wit- 
ness my hand. 

George Phillips" 

The laws of the colony relating to slaves were very strict. Granted the ex- 
istence of slavery, such laws are absolutely necessary for the preservation of the 
institution, for a slave is a species of property that can steal itself. 

"Xo negro, mulatto or Indian servant" could go from one town to another with- 
out a ticket or pass in "writing under the hand of a Magistrate or the owner of the 
slave." If the slave could not show such ticket on demand he or she was treated 
as a runaway and was seized and returned to the owner. Xo slave was allowed 
to be absent from home after nine o'clock at night without a special order from 
the master or mistress. X'^o free negro was allowed to travel without he or she 
had a certificate testifying to such condition of freedom.^ The state of the poor 
negro slave was certainly not an enviable one. 

And yet notwithstanding these various laws and restrictions they were 
treated with much kindness and consideration. It was not an uncommon act for 
a master to embody a clause in his will making his slaves free, and even distribut- 
ing a certain amount of the estate for the support of the slave or freedman. Capt. 
Titus Brockett, of Wallingford, who died in 1773. by the terms of his will, gave his 
slaves, Esau and Grace, their freedom after the death of his widow, and the widow, 
Mary, at her death in 1777, left for the support of the dusky couple the use of 
her homestead so long as they should live, together with cows, household furni- 
ture and farming utensils. 

The Rev. Samuel Hall, of Cheshire, who died in 1776, willed his negro slave, 
Charles, to his widow to wait on her as long as she should live and when she 
should die Charles was to choose which son he would live witli and if not able 
to earn his living, some of the parson's property was to be used for his support. 

Capt. John Webb, who died in 1799, left to his servants. Daffy and Joe. whom 
he had previously emancipated, a considerable amount of propcrtx fur their su])- 
port. Joe and Dafi^y Prinn afterwards lived in a house on Paddock avenue on 
the east side of the street a number of hundred feet south of the turnpike. .V 
slight depression by the roadside filled with stones still marks the .site nt' tlic old 
house. The son of Joe and Dafify, Robin, married the daughter of Chatham Free- 
man and after the latter's death, he and his wife lived in Freeman's old house, near 



1 Acts & Laws of His Majesty's Colony of Conn. Ed. 1TG9. 



248 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

the entrance to Mr. j\Iurdock"s driveway. A son of Chatham Freeman, Lemon, 
Hved in a house that formerly stood near the north end of Swayne avenue. Lemon's 
son Richard died in this house some fifteen years ago. There are still many peo- 
ple who can remember Robin Prinn, who was once in great demand on man\' 
occasions, for he and his violin were famous the country round. 

But, notwithstanding the general kindness with which the negro slave was 
treated, he yearned for freedom and once in a while took French leave and set out 
for "fresh woods and pastures new." It must have been difficult for the fugitive 
to get away to any distance, and even if he gained the shelter of another colony he 
was again liable to be impressed into new service and virtually kidnapped. As 
soon as the master was aware that his servant had run away he hastened to the 
nearest town where a newspaper was published, and inserted an advertisement. One 
of the earliest of these notices inserted by a Wallingford man appears in the Con- 
necticut Gazette under date of Oct. 21, 1758, and reads as follows: 

"Run away from Nathaniel Curtis of Wallingford 3 weeks ago a negro man 
named Jack aged about 23 or 24 years mark'd with the small-pox, a middling 
stature strong and well set. can read and talk good English. He had on a blue 
home-spun cloth coat. Whoever wall bring home the said negro & secure him 
and give notice to the subscriber so that he may get him again shall be handsomely 
rewarded besides all necessary charges paid by 

Nathaniel Curtis" 

"Wallingford Oct 6 1758" 

In the Connecticut Journal of Nov. 5, 1777, is the following: 

"Twenty dollars reward. Run away from the Subscriber of Wallingford on 
the night after the 27th instant a Mulatto Boy, named Adam about 20 years old, 
about 5 feet 6 inches high, well made except his right leg crooking in, talks good 
English, and can write and read and its probable may have forged a pass: had 
on and with him when he went away a beaver and felt hat, 2 checkt shirts, one 
woolen, the other linen, two pair shoes, A Rifle Frock, a brown homespun vest, 
and an old red Duffil Great Coat. Whoever will return said boy to the Sub- 
scriber, shall be entitled to the above Reward and all necessary charges paid by 

EHhu Hall" 

"Wallingford Oct 28 1777"" 

As already noted, Parson Hall had five slaves, and a story- has come down to 
the present day, which is without much doubt, based on fact. In the days when 
the parish still worshipped in the little church on Meeting House hill, the parson 
was the owner of a slave who was surly and unruly and whom it was sometimes 
necessary to chastise. One Sunday morning the parson was obliged to whip this 
negro, and then went to his duties at the church. Some one saw what looked like 



EARLY HISTORY. 249 

a fire at Mr. HalTs house which could be easily seen from the church. 
So the congregation hastily adjourned and on reaching the house found 
that the surly negro had set fire to a ha\' rick closcl}- adjoiniug it. For a time 
it looked as if the house would be destroyed but by hard work it was saved. A 
short time after, this negro climbed into a chestnut tree in the southern part of 
the farm, and falling, broke his neck.^ 

in the Connecticut Journal for April 22, 1774, we read that "Last Wednesday 
Lemon, a negro slave (owned by Mr John Ives of Wallingford) was brought to 
Gaol in New Haven for abusing an Indian (lirl."" ( )n the following week "ihe 
boy was sentenced to sit on the Gallows with a rope al)out his neck one hour, and 
to be whipt 39 Stripes at a Cart's Tail. Which sentence was immediately ex- 
ecuted." 

David Cook, a man of affairs of Wallingford. who has been mentioned as a 
shipowner and doing a business of importing negroes to be sold as slaves, at one 
time got into serious difiiculty with the Colonial government, through the action 
of his son. Phinehas, in kidnapping a swarthy white man and selling him as a 
negro slave. Phinehas was a sea captain and commanded one of his father's ves- 
sels. This swarthy man was a Portuguese and his story told in his own words, 
reads like a romance, and it would be impossible to improve by either cutting out 
or adding to it : so it is given as he told it to the General Assembly on February 
9- 1757: 

"The ^Memorial of Joseph Deming (otherwise called Joseph De Mink) now 
residing at Goshen in the county of Litchfield Humbly Sheweth — That your Mem- 
orialist was a free born Subject of the King of Portugal, a Native and an Inhabitant 
of the Island of Brava in the Indies one of the Cape De Verde Islands where your 
memorialist's Parents not Long Since were, and he hopes are yet Living. That 
sometime in the month of March A. D. 1755 by Leave of his Father he went to 
the Island of Bonavista one of the Cape de Verde Islands under the Dominion 
of the s"^^ King of Portugal, but a few Leagues Distance from \'' Memo'*"^^ Xative 
Island. That after some Short Stay at said Island of Uonavista your memorialist 
was Seeking an Opportunitv to return home, and falling in Company with one 
•Mr Phinehas Cook, then Master of a N'essel lying at Anchor at said Island of 
BcMiavista (who belonged to Wallingford in the s'' Colony of Connecticut) & he 
enformed your [Memorialist that he was bound to Barbadoes. and in his Way should 
])ut in to s^' Island of IJrava. where }'our memorialist was going and would freely 
give your memorialist a Passage home to his Parents. That when the said Cook 
was ready to Sail \our ^Memorialist took Leave of his Friends and went on Board 
s'^ \'essel. and witliin a .short .S])ace arri\ed in ."^ight of said Island and j-'xpected 
to be put on Shore, but to \our memorialists amazement, the s'' L'ooke Steered oH' 



1 This story was told to tlie writer by Willard Hall and his sistpr. :Mrs. Oallup. 



250 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



and soon after arrived at Barbadoes, and there kept your ]vIemorialist Confined 
& would not Suffer him to goe on Shore, and in a few Days afterwards sailed for 
New England. That after our Arrival at New England your memorialist was 
Delivered up to j\Ir David Cook of sd Wallingford, owner of said Vessell and 
Father and Employer of the s*^^ Phinehas Cook who together with the said Phine- 
has immediately proclaimed that y'' memo^*'* was a Negro being lately brot from 
someparts of Guinea, and presently sold your memorialist to Mr Noah Waddams 
of Goshen aforesaid for a New Negro and as a Slave for Life, for the price of 
Fifty-two pounds ten shillings Lawful mony, with whom your memorialist has- 
ever since Lived and Served and from whom much kindness and pitty has been 
Shewn. That the s^ Mr Waddams haveing been Long since Satisfied that your 
memorialist is no negro nor any Thing resembling, a Native of Guinea, saveing 
in his Tawny and dark Complexion which is but Common to the Portuguese Na- 
tion Especially in the Southern Plantations and being also satisfied that your 
memorialist was very wrongfully taken away from his Native Country and Friends 
and greatly grieving to retain him as a Slave while Convinced of the Fraud and 
Injury done him. He the s"^^ Mr Waddams did sometime in the beginning of this 
month of February attempt to relieve your Memorialist and to that End bro't his 
action against the sd David Cooke, for Selling your Memorialist being a free man,, 
as a Slave &c. That the said Cooke being Served with the Process immediately 
Compounded with the said Mr. Waddams, and Obliged the said Waddams to re- 
turn your memo^^* back to him. the Consequences whereof your memorialist 
greatly dreads, and has now^ reason to expect soon to be disposed of in some parts 
remote where he can have no relief. 

Your Distressed Memorialist therefore begs the Speedy aid and interposal of 
this Honor'^i® Assembly that your Hon'"*5 would commiserate him as a poor youth 
seperated from all his former Friends helpless in himself and Exposed to the 
Rapine conceived by y^ said Cooke. That your Honours would give me Leave- 
to appear in y'' Presence, and to Convince your hono'''^ by Countenance, by my 
Education by my proficiency in reading and writing of the Portuguese Languages 
and by other Evidence. That I am no Slave or Native of Guinea. 

And that your Honours would A^ouchsafe me the same Protection that a Sub- 
ject of the King of Great Brittain could reasonably Expect from the King of 
Portugal, or from any of his Government with whom there has been, and with 
whom there hopefully may be Subsisting the most Lasting Friendship. And that 
y'' Honours would at Least appoint me a Refuge where to fly and a Guardian to 
undertake In my Defence, till it be Decided whether I am a free man or not or 
otherwise relieve your Memorialist and as in Duty bound ever prays. ^ 

Thos Seymour Jun'' 
Prochein Ami To the Memorialist" 

1 Vol. 11., Miscellaneous Documents, No. 88, State Library. 



EARLY HISTOKV. 25I 

As a result of this petition the General Assembly decided that De Mink was 
a freeman and a subject of the King of Portugal, and was brought to this country 
against his will, and David Cook was ordered to pay to De Mink £30 damages 
and £4 to pay his passage back to the Cape de \'erde Island. Cook was also fined 
£20 and costs, and Capt. Thomas Seymour, of Hartford, was appointed guardian 
to De Mink to assist him in procuring passage to his native country. 

Let us hope that he got safely back to his family and friends. Xo matter how 
generously a slave was treated by his master the institution was an iniquitous one 
and such a story as that of De Mink must have made many realize what a blight 
on civilization it was to hold in bondage one's fellow man even if the color of his 
skin was black. It is only just to David Cook to say that De Mink's story was not 
believed in \\'allingford. 

The first public condemnation of the sin of slavery made in W'allingford seems 
to have been contained in a sermon delivered by Rev. Samuel Andrews preached on 
a day of General Fast July 10, 1775. Mr. .\ndrews was the minister of the Epis- 
copal church there and a pronounced Tory in his views. Speaking of one of the 
vices of the people in which there should be reform, he said, "And here, as we 
profess to be now contending for those liberties which God and nature have given 
us: and in common with us, to all the human race: is it not worth our serious con- 
sideration, whether our detaining in captivity, a part of our fellow creatures, can 
be reconciled with our principles of liberty, and if not, to examine whether it is not 
necessary, either to change our principles, or let the oppressed go free : for how 
can we expect God will work that deliverance for us, which we refuse to give to 
others ?" 

The Declaration of Independence, and the circulation among the people of the 
general ideas and principles of civil liberty soon made luany realize the absurdity 
of keeping the black man in servitude. The feeling against the traffic in slaves 
had become so strong that at the October session of the General Assemblx 1774 
it was enacted that whoever "shall import or bring any Indian negro or niolatto 
slave or slaves into this Colony to he disposed of" "shall forfeit and jiay to the 
Treasurer of this Colony the smn of one hundred pounds." and the State Assembly 
at the October session 1777 enacted "That if any owner of any slave shall ap])ly to 
the selectmen of the town to which he belongs for liberty to emancipate such slave 
it shall be the duty of such selectmen to enquire inln the age abilities etc of such 
slave, and if they are of the opinion that it is likely to be consistent with the real 
advantage of such slave, and that it is probable that the slave will be able to sup- 
port his or her own person etc: such selectmen shall give to the owner of such 
slave a certificate, and that the owner of such slave hath liberty t<T emancipate such 
slave." 

This was a decided step towards the gradual emancii>ati(in of all slaves. And 
the result was that the town l)Ooks now began to bear recrirds rif slave transactions 



252 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

for the first time ; but instead of being" transfers of the negro as a chattel, they 
were the blessed harbingers of the complete freedom of the negro race in Con- 
necticut. 

The Wallingford books contain many entries of the emancipation of negro 
slaves under the new law. 

On Sept. 24. 1778, "I Rachel Johnson for divers good reasons and causes but 
more especially because I believe all mankind should be free I do hereby manumit 
my servant maid Dolly who is about 8 years of age, that is I do make her free 
from all bonds that she is under to me when she shall be 18 years of age." 

Dec. 7, 1778, "I Ruth Alerriam emancipate my woman servant Rhoda." 

Aug. 19, 1778, John Hough emancipated his man servant, Cuff, and woman 
Kate. 

May 29, 1780, Gould Gift Norton and wife, administrators of the estate of Dr. 
Amos Hall, emancipated negro servant Ishmael. 

Nov. 26, 1780, Martha Doolittle emancipated servant Rose. 

Dec. 18, 1780, Miles Johnson emancipated Phillis. 

March i, 1781, Ruth Merriam emancipated Lilly. 

Mar. 26, 1 78 1, Jno. Barker emancipated Jubie and Peter. 

Jan, 10, 1782, Dr. Jared Potter emancipated Jack. 

Feb. 19, 1782, Samuel Street emancipated Cuff. 

June 21, 1782, Elisha Brockett emancipated Nancy. 

Jan. 20, 1795, Turhand Kirtland emancipated his negro Isaac. 

Aug. 6, 1795, Edward Barker emancipated Cato Warner. 

Dec. 17, 1798, Abner Rice emancipated negro woman Violet. 

Oct. 12, 1786, Thomas Hall made an agreement with his negro servant Cato 
that if in the opinion of his neighbors, David Hall, Jacob Francis and Edward 
Fenn, at the end of three years, he had faithfully served his master during all the 
interval, he would emancipate him. At the end of the three years the neighbors 
duly certified that in their opinion Cato had faithfully carried out his part of the 
contract and he was duly made free. 

But death was the only emancipator of man}- of these faithful old servants. 

The pace of the state, however, was steadily towards the freedom of the slave 
and in 1784 it was enacted that, 

"Whereas sound public policy requires that the abolition of slavery should be 
effected, as soon as may be consistent with the rights of individuals and the public 
safety and welfare," "no negro or mulatto, born after Mar. i, 1784, should be held 
as a slave after reaching the age of twenty-five. "^ 

The holding of slaves was not absolutely forbidden in Connecticut until 1848.^ 
In the year 1833 there was founded the New Haven Anti-Slavery Society and a 

1 Stelner's History of Slavery in Conn. Johns Hopkins University Studies pp. 30-31. 



EARLY HISTORY. 253 

missionary movement was started which caused a rapid growth of AboHtion sen- 
timent all over the state. 

In the year 1836 a like society was started in this town called the Meriden 
Anti-Slavery Society. Its constitution stated that it was auxiliar}- to the American 
Anti-Slavery Society. It no doubt aroused a considerable local sentiment and 
119 names constituted its roll of members. The leaders of the movement were 
evidently Walter Webb, Harlow Isbell, Fenner Bush, Zina K. Murdock, Julius 
Pratt. Homer Curtiss. Major Elisha A. Cowles and their wives. Mr. Curtiss had 
Mr. Isbell were ardent members of this society and labored earnestly in its behalf. 
The former was engaged to a considerable extent in the so-called "underground 
railroad" movement and his son. Homer A. Curtiss, remembers as a boy the mid- 
night visits of fugitive slaves, on their way to Canada or others havens of security, 
requesting either a hiding place or assistance to continue their journey. 

At one time two colored men named Eldridge and Jones came north as jockeys 
and grooms to the two famous racing horses Phantom and Fashion. On reaching 
Philadelphia these men were told by the Quakers that they were free under the 
law. They, accordingly, escaped from their masters and made their way to Mer- 
iden, and Mr. Curtiss gave them employment in his lock shop situated where the 
factories of Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co. are now located. Their owners later 
ascertained that the ex-slaves were in Meriden and wrote to the sheriff ofifering 
him a reward if he would kidnap and return them. The sherilY took the letter 
to Rev. Mr. Perkins who wrote them that under no circumstances would they be 
allowed to regain possession of the men. Soon after, one of the owners appeared 
in person and demanded of Mr. Curtiss that he give up the men, and blustering 
and threatening the intervention of the U. S. government. Mr. Curtiss was not 
frightened and ordered the man from his premises. No further effort was made 
to take the runaways but for a long time they were very timid and scarcely dared 
to go on the streets. They lived here many years. 

Mr. Isbell w'as so carried awav by the abolition movement that he removed to 
Kansas to assist in the attempt to make it a free state. 

In the fall of 1837 a Rev. Mr. Ludlow was requested to deliver a lecture in 
j the church now called the Center Congregational church, on the subject of slavery. 
The meeting was broken up by a mob: ancient eggs and a miscellaneous assort- 
ment of articles were thrown at those attending the lecture, until as one man who 
was a participant expressed it, "they looked like a lot of pumpkin ])ies." Blows were 
struck and altogether a most disgraceful attack was made on those who were 
laboring for the good of a down-trodden race. A full account of this riot will 
lie found in Dr. Davis' History, p. 502 



254 



A CEXTURY OF MERIDEX. 



CHAPTER XV. 

When Wallingford was a frontier town of three or four hundred inhabitants 
and New England was almost an unbroken wilderness, when a journey from 
Hartford to New Haven was an event to be contemplated with concern, and the 
forests were the abode of wild beasts and savage Indians, it is not surprising that 
imagination should have been active in conjuring unknown terrors and that the 
belief in witches, which from time immemorial had been the common heritage of 
the people of all lands, should have been particularly prevalent in the towns of 
New England. 

It is difficult in this age of wide education and altruism to understand this su- 
perstition, and still harder to realize that Wallingford had its acute attack of this 
mental phenomenon. Hardly any one is acquainted with the facts in the case; 
indeed, the occurrence is barely mentioned in the "History of Wallingford and 
Meriden," and even then the name of the accused family is given as Denham. 

Some facts relating to this case have come to the attention of the writer, and 
they are sufficiently interesting to be given to the public. It is best to give the 
names as they appear in the records, because no descendant can possibly object 
to such a course. It is no disgrace to have had as an ancestor one who was sus- 
pected of witchcraft. Three reasons present themselves as probable causes of 
suspected cases of witchcraft. Sometimes it was the unconscious homage which 
stupidity paid to superior ability, in other cases, the unfortunate martyr was simply 
a victim of a conjunction of circumstantial evidence, and, again, the results were 
brought about by the devious and tortuous workings of unprincipled and malicious 
persons. The unhappy family, which was the center of the witchcraft excitement 
in Wallingford, was thoroughly respectable, and we can only conjecture as to why 
it was the victim of this morbid superstition. 

However, the witchcraft trials of Connecticut did not result in such tragedies 
as those of Massachusetts, which culminated in the horrors of Salem in 1692. A 
list of trials and executions in Connecticut can be found in Orcutt's History of 
Stratford and Bridgeport, p. 156. New Haven County seems to have escaped with- 
out one of these legal murders. 

Among the first planters of Wallingford in 1670 was Joseph Benham, son of 
John Benham, an immigrant at Dorchester, Mass., in 1630. John was undoubt- 
edly the ancestor of all the Benhams in this part of the country. Joseph married 
in 1657 Winifred King, of Boston, and when the homestead lots were assigned in 
Wallingford in 1670 he received one a little below what is now Center street, on 



EARLY HISTORY. 255 

the east side of Main street. We know little about Joseph in his relations to his 
neighbors and townsmen until 1691. He seems then to have had some disagree- 
ment with the selectmen which caused him so far to forget himself that he was 
guilty of some rather strong expressions regarding the fitness of these gentlemen 
-for their official positions. In those days, speaking lightly of dignitaries was not 
permitted ; in fact, our present free and easy manner of criticizing the acts of our 
public servants would have been looked on with horror and as something not to 
be tolerated. At the County court held in Xew Haven June 15, 1691, Joseph 
Benham was presented for trial. It is better to let the records tell the story in 
their own quaint phraseology : 

'■Joseph Benham of Wallingford presented for speaking words in Reproach 
3.g^ ye townsmen (selectmen) of Wallingford viz*^ that they were noe more fit for 
townsmen than Doggs w*^"^ was upon ye last tuesday in Aprill and was now proved 
ag*^ him in Court by 3 witnesses & ye substance of ye accusacon confest by himself 
lor w*^*^ he was fined to pay 5^ into ye County treasury before ye ist of Xov. next 
for his soe traducing & vilifying s'^ townsmen." 

We are not enlightened by the records as to why Joseph so far forgot himself 
as to make possible so serious a charge and punishment. He may have been a 
man of violent temper, or he may have been provoked beyond endurance by the 
acts and gossip of his neighbors and subsequent investigations by the "townsmen." 
It is somewhat difficult to-day to realize the condition under which our ancestors 
lived in these early Puritan days. To us now it would be intolerable. The or- 
ganization of each community was aptly described by the old Puritan gibe, 'The 
world belongs to the saints, and we are the saints," and woe betide the poor un- 
fortunate who had fallen under the ban of his fellow church members. 

''Considerations of the methods of interpreting Scripture and of theological 
theories which were in credit will suggest explanations of the morbid vigilance" 
exercised by every church association. "In those days Xew England men meant 
as they professed. Their convictions, covering the whole length and breadth of 
their creeds, laid a wide basis for imagination and emotion." Every one felt at 
liberty to spy upon the acts of his neighbor, and that this was thoroughly done 
no one will doubt who has made an examination of early church records. What 
to-day is considered the act of a scandalmonger and busybody was then felt to 
be the part of a conscientious man's duty. It can easily be imagined that life in 
such a community was not pleasant. They were a sturdy lot. and thoroughly lived 
up to their lights. 

The next appearance of Joseph and his family was under decidedly distress- 
ing circumstances. Of course, we cannot tell whether this situation was the re- 
sult of underhanded work of malicious persons, or simply an explosion of the 



256 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

pent-up emotions and morbid imaginations of persons sincerely believing what 
they reported. Let us again turn to the records : 

"At a meeting of ye authority of Xew Haven, 25th of July, 1692. 

Joseph Benham of Wallingford appeared according to summons before ye 
Authoritv this day And being Examined upon Complaint and evidence being 
brought ag*^ him that he had lately threatened to charge his gun with two Bullets 
& shoot Goody Parker if she come into his house about such matters or things upon 
w^^ examination he ye s*^ Benham Confest ye s*^ threatning words in p^ being as 
he s^ provoked by ye s*^ Parkers casting some refleccons (in her speech) about 
witchcraft upon his wife yet not intending mischiefe to s*^ Parker & blaming him- 
self for his passion & such threatning expressions. The authority having con- 
sidered ye case & finding (besides his p*^ Confession) ye s*^ threatning w*^^ clearly 
proved by 2 witnesses viz* Sarah How Sen^ & Abigaile Atwater did order ye s^ 
Joseph Benham to acknowledge him selfe & his estate bound in a Recognizance of 
50^ to ye County treasury that he shall keepe ye kings peace towards all theire 
]y[agties Subjects Especially ye s*^ Joseph Parker & Hannah his wife & theire fam- 
ily. And his s*^ Recognizance to stand good ag* him untill November County 
Court next and then he to appeare for his Release as ye Court shall see Cause & 
in y® meane tyme to pay just fees for y® psecution." 

Evidently Joseph did not relish the conscientious motives of his neighbors in 
seeking to show that his wife was in league with the devil and guilty of the mon- 
strous crime of witchcraft. Conscious of her innocence and resenting this pry- 
ing into his domestic afifairs, we can easily understand the wrath of the 
outraged husband and his desire to plant two bullets in the body of the over-anxious 
Goody Parker. This Joseph Parker (whose wife was Hannah Gilbert) was a 
son of William Parker, of Saybrook, ancestor of all the Parkers in this vicinity. 

But the gossip regarding Winifred Benham had now grown to the proportion 
of a great scandal, and was the subject of anxious solicitude to Rev. Mr. Street, 
pastor of the Wallingford church, who, no doubt, was greatly disturbed to think 
the devil had gained possession of the body and soul of one of his flock. At this 
same court, viz. 25 July, 1692: 

"The Rev^^ Mr. Street appeared before Authority & he & Airs. Street, Deacon 
Hall & Goody Parker menconed many pcular things as grounds of suspicion of 
Witch Craft reflecting upon Goody Winifred Benham then alsoe psent whereupon 
the Authority desired and advised Mr. Street and others of Wallingford consernd 
to consid'' of ye matter being weighty & to p'^pare such evidences as could be come 
at for ye further discovery & conviction of ye p'ty suspected if guilt or clearing 
if Innocent & ye s^ suspected p^'son being a member of theire church twas left w*'^ 



EARLY HISTORY. 257 

Mr. Street y*^ he & ye church should consicF \x^ did or mi^^ht belong to them hop- 
ing God wold direct y""" on theire seeking Council! from him or w^"*^^ to y*^ purpose 
& soe ye matter was dismist & left till next County Court." 

Doubtless the time until the November session of the court was anxiously spent 
by the Benham family. The whole of New England was stirred up by the ter- 
rible tragedies taking place at Salem and other towns. It was fortunate for Win- 
ifred Benham that the trial was postponed until November, for by that time a 
great revulsion of feeling had occurred, and ministers and magistrates were re- 
penting bitterly the awful horrors enacted in Massachusetts. Poor Winifred was 
I >u hand in Xew Haven in November, and the record is as follows : 

"A County Court held at New Haven the 2^ Wednesday in Nov 1692 

Present Robt Treat Esq. Gov. W™ Jones Esq. Dep. Gov. .Andrew Leet Assist. 
Capt. Moses Mansfield Mr. Thomas Trowbridge County Com'" 

"Winifred Benham of Wallingford being sumoned to appcare at this Court 
for examinacon upon suspicon of Witch Craft was now present. And ye witt- 
uesses were called to testify what they had to say in the case & accordingly gave 
in theire testimonyes in writing w^''^ were Redd in \e hearing of the s'' Winifred. 
And she being called to say what she had to say for her selfe her generall Answer 
was that she knew nothing of ye matters testified and was not concerned therein. 
She alsoe gave in some testimonies for her selfe w*^"'' were Redd. 

"The Court having heard & considered all ye evidences ag*^ ye s'^ Winifred 
Benham and not finding sufficient grounds of conviccon for further i)rosecution 
(at present) of ye s^^ Winifred Doe therefore at this tyme dismiss \e buissnes yet 
advising the s*^^ Winifred Benham solennily to Reflect u])on ye case and grounds 
of suspicon given in and alledged ag^ her. And told her if further grounds of 
suspicon of witchcraft or further evidences shold a])peare ag' her by Reason of 
niischiefe don to ye bodyes or estate of any preternall acts ])r\(l ag' her she might 
justly feare and cxs]iect to be brought to her tryall for it." 

Presumably Joseph & \\'inifre(l breathed more freelx on their return journev 
as they thought of the peril she had escajjcd. lUit her life in WnllingfonI could 
not have been pleasant thereafter. Her neighl)f)rs looked at her askaiice. and 
every act and word must have been scanned and twisted to suit the desires of 
those who sincerelv believed she spent her nights riding on a bntomstick in com- 
pany with the devil. Thev had a daughter, Winifred, who nmst have shared 
much of the unhappine.s.s of her niotlier's life. This strained situation continued 
for five years with no outbreak. 

At last human nature can stand it no longer, ller neighl)ors are convinced 
that all their misfortunes are (\\-n: to Winifred's intiniac\ with his satanic majesty. 
And poor little Winifred, onlv thirteen years old. is now believed to ride tandem 



258 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

on the broomstick with her mother in her nightly peregrinations with the devil. 
Just try to fancy what a life this poor child must have led! On Aug. 31, 1697, all 
her neighbors are again in New Haven, determined that Winifred and her daugh- 
ter shall surelv pav the just penalty of their monstrous crimes and persecutions. 

"A special County Court by order of the Gov'' held at New Haven the 31^* Qf 
Augt 1697. 

Present Robt. Treat Esq'' Gov'' W"' Jones Es'^>. D. Gov'' Major Aloses Mansfield 
Assist. 

"Complaint being made to the Authority by Ebenezer Clark Joseph Royse & 
John Moss Jun'' all of Wallingford ag*^ Winifred Benham Sen'' & Winifred Ben- 
ham Jun'" her daughter that Sarah Clark daughter of Ebenezer Clark, Elizabeth 
Lathrop and John Moss son of y® s*^^ John Moss Jun'" were frequently and sorely 
afflicted in theire bodys by ye s*^ Benhams, mother & daughter or theire Appar- 
icon and as they strongly suspect by theire means or procurance by y® Devil in 
theire shapes. And therefore desire y® Authority as Gods Ordinance for theire 
relief e strictly to examine ye s*^ suspected persons. In order to a due tryall of 
them yt a stop may be put to theire sufferings ; prevention of such mischeifes 
among them for the future. 

"The Court having seriously considered the Accusations & Informations on 
good testimony given ag* Winifred Benham Sen'' & Winifred Benham Jun'' upon 
suspicon of them for witchcraft, they or the devill in theire shapes afflicting sundry 
young persons above named. As formerly accused & suspected in ye yeare 1692. 
And finding clere & Sufficient ground of suspicon ag*^ them after strict examina- 
tion of ye s^ persons apart & severally see just cause to bind over the said Ben- 
hams mother & daughter to appeare at ye next Court of Asst-'^ in October next at 
Hartford in ord'' to theire further examinacon & tryall personally. And the hus- 
band of s<^ Winifred Sen'' gave 40^ Recognizance for theire appearance accord- 
ingly or that they be secured in person for theire s*^^ tryall. And s*^ Benham to pay 
ye charge of this County Court, Charges 21^ exem" granted for s*^^ 21 shillings. 

Also ye Death of s*^ young child to be inquired into w*'' w*^ ap- 
peared of spotts on s<^ child and ye like spots on s<^ Benham quickly vanishing." 

What transpired between the date of this Court and that in Hartford 
we do not know ; but mother and daughter were quickly released when the 
case came to trial, as appears by the following extract from records in the office 
of Secretary of State in Hartford : 

"Att a Court of Assistants Held at Hartford October 7"' 1697 Capt Dan'' 
Clark also at this (Court) as attorney in behafe of our Soveraign Lord the King 
appeared in Court and accused Winifred Benham Sen'" and Winifred Benham Jun'' 



EARLY HISTORY. 



259 



both of Wallingford for having- faniiUarity with Sathan the enemy of God and 
mankind and by his aid doing many preternatural acts by mischievously hurting 
the bodies and Goods of Sundry persons viz*^ of Jno ]\Iosse Jun'' J()sei)h Rovs and 
Ebenezer Clark with Divers others to the Great Damage and disturbance of the 
Public peace, &c. This bill of charge with the testimonies Relating thereunto 
being referred to the consideration of the Grand iur\- they Returned upon the bill 
Ignoramus." That is "not proven." 

Fortunately, a more enlightened feeling had grown u\) in the colon\-, and for 
this reason mother and daughter were henceforth not publicly persecuted, but 
doubtless the memory of these terrible experiences never forsook them. From 
the late Dr. Charles J. Hoadley. state librarian, the writer had the assurance that 
this was the last witchcraft trial in Connecticut. 



26o A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Meriden and Wallingford in the Wars. 

KING Philip's war. 

Wallingford's share in The Indian War of 1675-6, commonly called King 
Philip's, was doubtless thrilling to the inhabitants even though it was not suffi- 
ciently stirring to gain a notice on the records of the colony. The actual war be- 
gan in an attack by the Indians on the town of Swansea in Massachusetts, just 
west of Fall River, on June 20, 1675. Troops were immediately raised in Bos- 
ton and Plymouth and sent against the Indians, and Deputy Governor Leete of 
Connecticut sent men to Stonington to defend that part of the country. 

As towns were sacked, inhabitants butchered, and disasters multiplied, the 
alarm through the New England colonies soon became general. How intense 
the feeling was may be gathered from the following statement in Trumbull's His- 
tory of Connecticut : 

"As the Indians had lived promiscuously with the English in all parts of the 
country, they were generally as well acquainted with their dwellings, fields and 
places of worship as themselves. They were perfectly accjuainted with the roads, 
times and places of resort. They were at hand to watch all their motions, to at- 
tack them at every difficult pass and in every unguarded moment. Except some 
of the thickest settlements and the center of the towns, the country was a vast 
wilderness. This enabled the enemy, not only in small skulking parties, but in 
great bodies, to make their approaches undiscovered, almost to the very midst of 
them : and under cover of the night to creep into their barns, gardens and out- 
houses, to conceal themselves behind their fences, and lie in wait for them on the 
roads and in their fields. Sometimes they concealed themselves before their very 
doors. No sooner did they open them in the morning than they were instantly 
shot dead. While the English were hunting them in one place they would be 
slaying the inhabitants and plundering and burning in another." 

Although the towns in Connecticut did not suffer from attacks owing to the 
friendly attitude of the Indians of this colony there was no telling how soon the 
wily King Philip would win them over by his arts and blandishments, and the 
towns of Connecticut knew not how soon the hurricane that had broken loose in 
Massachusetts would sweep into this vicinity. 



EARLY HISTORY. ^6 1 

The gathering" storm looked ominous to the people of Wallingford and on 
August 2^, 1675, they met in town meeting and i)assed the following votes: 

"In respect of the present danger of the Indians it was ordered that y® in- 
habitants secure themselves and the principall of theyre goods by fortifying about 
two houses w^'^ houses are to be Mr Samuel Streets and Lieutenant ]\lerrimans & 
that this work of fortif\ing be set upon the 28^'^ August by y'' whole town, & 
followed until it be effected & whosoever fails, to pay a fine of 5 shillings." 

"Also that every man bring his amies & ammunition compleate upon the Sab- 
oth day y"^ he may be able in a fitt posture to do service if need require." 

"That y^ select guard serve as sentinells on y® Sabath and y*^ rest of the town 
^\■ard 4 men ever}- Sabbath and 2 every weeke day & be warned by order from y® 
Constable by y*^ watch & called & \'^ they begin to ward when the watch l)reaks 
up and hold on till y® watch be sett again : \^ they begin and end at y^ dawning 
and shutting in of y*^ day : and y'^ both watch & ward come to y® constable and \^ 
theire arms ma}' be viewed if they be according to law : this until! further order, 
provided notwithstanding y^ select guard is not hereby freed from warding on 
y® weeke days : it is alsoe ordered \^ \^ driun beat at y® setting and breaking up 
of y® watch." 

Sept. 2'\„ 1675 'Tt was ordered y* y® day workers for y® cutting of Brush be 
performed y*^ next Monday & Tuesday being y*^ 27^'^ & 28*^'^ instants & y® Drum 
to beat in y*^ morning & y^ persons to work meet at Eleazur Peck's house & so dis- 
tribute 4 parts to work at y® view part of y® town & y^ other 3 persons towards 
y^ lower end of the town & that is about y*^ South." 

"Sept 28 1675 It was ordered & agreed hoping it ma\ be no oft'ence to y*^ Hon- 
orable Council that as in other towns they have abated of y*^ number ap])ointed for 
warding considering y® necessities of occasions and inability to hold to ward on 
4 qurts of y*^ towne everv day ; w'e also have j^resumed to make some abatement 
for y^ present until more danger a])])ears or our superiors see cause to reduce us 
to our former injunction." 

"Oct 5 1675 It was ordered y^ those persons \^ live at that end of y*^ towne 
where Mr Moss liveth viz Mr Moss Mr Brocket Serg*^ Doolittle b>hn lleach Sr 
Eliasaph Preston W"^ Ebnatha. if they see cause to fortif\- an\' nf their house? 
which they can agree upon for their safety in their time of danger w hat their first 
charge is shall be defraved out of y® town treasury: alsoe y* an}- that are willing 
to be assistant to make flankers at Lieut. Merrinian's barne shall have ^Xwv.^ recom- 
pence out of y® town treasury." 

"Dec 4 1675 Y® towne consented to be at y® charge of fnnir\ing one house at 
y® lower end of y® towne where Serg*^ Doolittle liveth." 

"Mar 4 1675-6 these persons were allowed to belong to y*^ lower garrison .Mr. 
Moss Eliasaph Preston W'"^ Ebnatha John Peck Jerenn'ah !I<>w Saml I'.rockett 
Jabez Brocket Insign Doolittle John Beach." 



262 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

"]Mar 4 1675-6 'Mr Moss Lieut ^Merriman & Benj. Lewis chosen a committee 
to see to the fortifications y^ they be made sufficient according to y^ true intent 
of y® councils order Mar 3 1675-6."' 

During the latter part of 1676 all danger from the Indian insurrection being 
deemed at an end, on "Oct 4^^ it was agreed y^ all y® labor that has been bestowed 
upon fortifications shall be waved & no account be made about them." 

The back of King Philip's insurrection was broken by the terrible fight which 
took place in what is now South Kingston, R. L. Dec. 19, 1675. It was called 
the Swamp Fort fight because the Idians had erected a fortification or palisaded 
fort on some solid ground surrounded on all sides by a horrible swamp. Xo battle 
with the Indians fought in Xew England can compare with it for fierceness and 
bloodshed except the terrible slaughter of the Pequot Indians in 1637. In this 
Swamp Fort fight the power of the Indians was completely shattered in that part 
of the country. Eighty Connecticut men were killed and wounded in this battle, 
one W'allingford man, Nathaniel Merriman, Jr., apparently being among the num- 
ber of those slain. Nathaniel ]»klerriman, Sr., was made Captain of Dragoons for 
Xew Haven county on Xov. i, 1675. ^^ ^ meeting of the Governor and Council, and 
was probably engaged in this fight, judging by the votes of the town of Walling- 
ford at a later date. 

On Jan. 26, 1684-5, "tlie town showing their respect to those that were em- 
ployed in the countrys service in the war do grant unto Lieut Merriman 10 acres 
and to the brothers of Xathaniel ^Nlerriman that was slain at the fort fight 10 acres: 
as to the rest of them 5 acres apiece which they are to take up together in some 
place viewed bv the townsmen that may not be predudicial to the town, highways 
and other grants excepted."' 

Feb. 14. 1686. '"the town granted to Lieut. Merriman 8 acres of his soldiers land 
joining to a swamp. 

The town voted that John Moss, Jr., should have his 5 acres of soldiers* land 
in the common field." 

April 9, 1688, "town granted Jabez Brocket 5 acres of land for his services in 
the war joining to his father's 40 acres." 

X^ov. 16, 1687 "town granted Samuel Brocket 5 acres of land for his service 
in the war joining to his swamp land." 

Dec. 2/, 1687, "town gave Joseph Benham, Jr.. 5 acres of land for his service 
in the war joining to his 20 acres on the east side." "Also John Doolittle for his 
service in the war 5 acres at a place called Jonathan IMeadow." 

April 9, 1688, "town granted Roger Tyler 5 acres of soldier land." 

Samuel Hough (father of James Hough who established Hough's, now known 
as Baldwin's ]\Iill in the northeastern part of ]\Ieriden). was also a soldier in King 
Philip's war. In his will dated in 1714 he mentions his soldiers land in the X'ar- 



E-\RLY HISTORY. 26^ 

rag:an5ett countn\ and in Bodge's "Soldiers in King Philips War," his name oc- 
curs among the volunteers ( Xo. 135)* who were granted land in Xarragansett 
Township by Connecticut in 1701 as a reward or pension for ser^^ces in the war. 
At the time of his enlistment he lived in Norwich and did not remove to \\'al- 
lingford until about 1680. 

From the foregoing notes the roll of honor of Wallingford men engaged in 
King Philip's \\'ar is made up of the following names: 

Lieut. Xathaniel Merriman. Joseph Benhara, Jr. 

Xathaniel ^lerriman. Jr., John Doolittle, 

John !Moss. Jr., Roger Tyler, 

Jahez Brocket Samuel Hough 
Samuel Brocket 

LOUISBURG EXPEDITIOX. 

In the early spring of 1745 the Xew England colonies sent out the troops on 
the Cape Breton expedition that resulted in the capture of the strong French cita- 
del or fortress of Louisburg and tilled all the colonies with joy and exultation, and 
surprised the military" authorities of England. The names of a few Wallingford 
men have been preser\-ed who took part in the expedition. One was Xathaniel 
Beetle who lived in the first societ}- and was appointed at the Februar\- session 
of the General Assembly, "Lieutenant of a company in the regiment of foot to be 
raised and sent from this government on the expedition against his Majesty's ene- 
mies at Cape Breton." .\nother was Samuel Royce. of Meriden parish, son ot 
Deacon Ezekiel Royce. At the October session of the General Assembly appears 
the following: "Memorial of Capt. Ezekiel Royce of Wallingford praying this 
assembly to grant to him the siud of £26-11-3 money old tenor to be paid out 
of the publick treasury- of this colony for that he expended the same sum on his 
son Samuel Royce lately arrived from Cape Breton to Xew London sick & there 
dyed a soldier in the service of this colony." The petition was granted. 

On the Wallingford record of vital statistics appears the following: 

"Men of Wallingford who died in Cape Breton. 

Elihu Yale Dec 31 1745 Samuel Mott Mar 5 1745-6 

Jesse Dutton Feb 4 1745-6 Thomas Holt Feb 2j 1745-6 

Thomas Hitchcock Feby 3 1745-6 Diodate Jones Mar 18 1745-*' 

Ebenezer Culver Feb 6 1745-6 Eleasaph Munson Feb i 1745-6 
Xathaniel How Feb 2j 1745-6 



264 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS. 

During the series of campaigns beginning in 1755 and ending in 1762, com- 
monly known as the French and Indian Wars, WalHngford seems to have been 
represented, although to what extent it is impossible to state. 

A number of muster and pay rolls, which narrowly escaped the junk dealer 
and destruction, have been printed in Volumes IX. and X. of the Connecticut His- 
torical Society collections. 

These rolls, although of course very incomplete, and a few entries on the Wal- 
lingford death records, furnish all the information we have relating to the partici- 
pation of men in this vicinity, in these very important wars, which sealed the des- 
tiny of this continent so far as the influence of France was concerned, for at the 
close of this struggle it was settled, once and for all, that the English speaking 
races were to be the masters from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 

In the muster roll of a company under the command of Col. Elihu Chauncey. 
of Durham, in the year 1755 appear the following unmistakable Wallingford, Mer- 
iden and Cheshire names :^ 

Sergt. Laban Andrus Jos. ]\Ioss 

Corp. Evan Roice Thomas Merwin 

Samuel Penfield Jacob Francis 

Solomon Yale Abr"^ Hall 

Aaron Yale Titus Hall 

Thomas Yale Dan^i Bates 

Abel Curtis John Sutlifif 

Joseph Waye Elihu Atwater 

Benjamin Fenn John Hitchcock 

John Davis Elisha Steele 

Jawkins Hart Moses Beach 

Street Hall, of Wallingford, was made captain of a company of Connecticut 
men "on the pay and encouragements"- of N^ew York, in the same year, but ap- 
parently there were no men from his home town in his command. 

The colonies won a rather barren victory at Lake George on September 8th 
and two Wallingford men met a hard fate in the field. Abijah Ives, Jr., in Major 
Isaac Foot's Company, lost an arm in the battle^ and James, the son of Evan Roys'' 
was killed at the same time ; while Moses, the brother of Abijah Ives, Jr., died Nov. 
13, 1755,* and Justus Kellogg^ on X'ov. 17, 1755, both in camp. 



1 Conn. Hist. Soc. Col. Vol. IX.. pp. 48-49. 

2 Idem p. 65. 

3 Idem p. 87. 

4 Wallingford record of deaths. 



EARLY HISTORY. 265 

No names of Wallingford men can be found in the rcjlls of 1756, Init in the 
campaign of 1/5/, Ephraim Preston,^ of WalHngford, was made captain in Col. 
Lxman's Regiment and we find the following representatives of Wallingford or 
iNIeriden families in his command : 

Ebenezer Prindle Levi Munson 

Hezekh Brocket Ichabod Stark 

Timothy Bristol Henry Cook 
.\mbruse London 

These men were in service from eight t(j nine months and probablv were in 
Fort William Henry on Lake George, under the command of Col. Monroe, 
who was forced to surrender by the Marquis Alontcalm on August 9th. for one 
member of the company. Israel Calkins, was carried a prisoner to France.^ 

In the same campaign was the following company from Wallingford and Mer- 
iden : 

Samuel Hull, Captain - Charles Peck 

Enos Brooks, Lieutenant Samuel Doolittle 
Ebenezer Bunnell, Lieut (of Cheshire) Abraham Stanley 

Joel Holcomb, Ensign Hawkins Hart 

Benj. Culver, Sergt. Asa Francis 

Stephen Culver, Sergt. Charles Yale 

Elnathan Ives Corp. Diamond Berry 

Isaac Roys Corp. Joseph Merriam 

Joseph Miles Tim'^ Roys 

Daniel Doolittle John Ives 

Giles Doolittle Joshua Ives 

Samuel Tyler Leml Collins 

Thad^ Carter Ebenezer Mattoon 

Street Yale Elijah Scovel 

Amos Hosford Xath' Cook 

In the campaign of 1758 when General Al)ercn)n>bie made an unsuccessful at- 
tempt to capture Fort Ticonderoga. and gallant Lord Howe was killed in the first 
charge, there was one company present in which were a few .Meriden men. Daniel 
Hough was ensign of Ca])tain Wadsworth's Comixany and with him as a ])ri\ate 
was his future son-in-law, Benjamin Curtis, as well as Moses Curtis, who died 
July 21. Abraham Hall. Isaac Cook. Jr.. and IJenj. Re.xford, -^ and the Wallingford 
death records give us the following information: Jose])h Thorp died in battle on 

1 Conn. Hist. Soc. Col.. Vol. I.\.. pp. 192-3. 

2 Idem pp. 234-5. 

3 Idem Vol. X., pp. 45-6. 



266 A CEXTURY OF MERIDEN. 

September 13, Dr. Jesse Lewis died in camp October 20 and Benjamin Cook died 
in the government service at Stillwater, N. Y., on October 28. In the same cam- 
paign Caleb Atwater was injured in Rogers' fight August 8th,i and Abner Curtis 
was in a Southington company under Captain Lewis. 

In the campaign of 1759 the following Meriden men served in a company un- 
der Captain Amos Hitchcock, of New Haven ; Abner Curtis, ensign ; Nathaniel 
Yale, corporal; Ephraim Berry, Benjamin Curtis, Benjamin Rexford, Samuel 
Royce and Ichabod Stark. ^ 

Winfield S. Curtis, of Meriden, a descendant of Abner Curtis, has in his pos- 
session an old powder horn bearing this inscription : "Ensign Abner Curtiss's^ Horn 
made at Crown point Sept 26 1759." He was made ensign of 7th company in 
regiment of foot commanded by Nathan Whiting colonel Mar. 22, 1759 and 2d 
lieutenant of same regiment Mar. 24, 1760, according to commissions preserved 
with the powder horn. The Wallingford records tell us that Moses Doolittle died 
at Lake George Nov. 13, 1759. In the campaign of 1760, Abner Curtis was second 
lieutenant of Captain Hitchcock's company, and with him were Abraham Hall, 
Ephraim Berry and Ambrose London, of Meriden and XN'allingford,"* and in a 
Southington company under Captain Clark were Benjamin Culver, first lieutenant, 
Daniel Hall and Michael Mitchell and probably Ebenezer Prindle, of Meriden and 
Wallingford.'' 

In the campaign of 1761 Ebenezer Prindle and Waitstill Yale, of Meriden 
served in Captain Fitch's company and in Captain Hitchcock's company served 
Samuel and William Andrews and Abraham Hall^ of Meriden. In the roll of 
the company it is stated that the latter man died on Sept. 17, and this statement 
is confirmed by the Wallingford death records. 

In the campaign of 1758 a number of Meriden antl Wallingford men were 
engaged in transporting supplies to the army at Lake George. In the issue of 
the Connecticut Gazette of Dec. 30 that year appears a communication reading, 
"whereas there has been a great number of teams employed in his ^lajestys ser- 
vice to the northward in carting, and it appears that the contractors intend that 
the owmers of the teams shall pay for all the Indian corn and forage that they had 
the whole of the time * " * * '■' and likewise they do not intend to pay 
but for five days out of seven before the forces went over the Lake," etc, etc. ; the 
letter then sa}'s that a man has been sent to Albany to find out what can be done 
and that all must act together, and appointing a meeting of the ow'ners on January 
10 at Air. Hinsdale's tavern at the Great Swamp (Kensington). This letter is 

1 Conn. Hist. Soc. Col. Vol. X., p. 92. 

2 Idem rP- 137-S. 

"?, Abner CurUs lived in Hanging Hills Woods district just west of the Allen farm. He removed to- 
Farmington in 1764. 

4 Conn. Hist. Soc. Col. Vol. X., pp. 198-99. 

5 Idem pp. 266-7. 

6 Conn. Hist. Soc. Col. Vol. X., p. 272. 



EARLY HISTORY. 267 

signed by the following" Aleridcn men : Jedediah Norton, Elnathan Ives, Timothy 
Foster, John Cole. Titus Ives and Edward Collins, and by hdiakim Ilall, Street llall 
and David Cook, of Wallingford. 

The next meeting was called for Febrnary 7 at Mr. Robinson's tavern in Mer- 
iden. \\hat was the otitcome does not appear. 

REV0LUTI0NA1<^' WAR. 

These various campaigns of the French and Indian War, in which the Amer- 
ican people had played so glorious a part, taught them their strength as a military 
force, trained officers and men in the game of war, and made them begin to real- 
ize, dimly perhaps, the manifest destiny that the future had in store for the Amer- 
ican people. 

r.oth England and the colonies had gone to great expense in prosecuting these 
cani])aigns, and although the Americans were already saddled with a great debt, 
England was determined to get their aid in assisting her to pay for a war, which,. 
as her statesmen said, was waged purely for the benefit of the colonies. Conse- 
quently the stamp act was passed, and every one knows with what fury the news 
was received in this country. 

Before the colonies knew that the obnoxious law had been repealed Walling- 
ford freemen met in town meeting on January 13, 1766, and voted the following 
ringing preamble and resolution : 

"Whereas it appears from ancient Records and other Alemorials of incontesta- 
ble Validity that our Ancestors with a great Sum purchased said Township at their 
own Expense, planted with great Peril, possessed and defended the same : (and we 
were free born) having never been in Bondage to any ; an Inheritance of inesti- 
mable \"alue. 

Voted and Agreed, that if any of said Inhabitants shall introduce, use, or im- 
prove any stampt vellum, parchment or Paper, for which Tax or Tribute is or 
may be demandable, such Person or Persons shall incur the Penalty of 20'^ — to 
be recovered by the Selectmen of said Town for the 1'inic being, for the use of 
the Poor of said Town. 

This order to continue in I-'orce until the ne.xt meeting of said Inhabitants in 
Town meeting." 

This act was one of rebellion and independence: it was not like a riot, where 
the body politic can plead non-participation : it was the solenni vote of the free- 
men in town meeting assembled. 

That this was a much bolder note than was soimdcd by any other town of the 
colonv at that time seems certain, for Bancroft mentions it in his History of the 



268 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

United States^ in a way that shows he thought it deserving of special notice, and 
the press of the period spread it broadcast through this and neighboring colonies. 

The obnoxious act was repealed in January, 1766. That a second one should 
have been voted by Parliament in 1767 seems like the act of insane men and almost 
justifies a belief in the old saying: "Whom the Gods would destroy they first 
make mad." 

The rapid succession of events which followed, intensified the excitement and 
ripened the American people for armed resistance and independence. The "Bos- 
ton Harbor tea party," the Massachusetts Act and Boston Port Bill were fitting 
preludes to the coming drama, and at last the mutterings of the great Revolution 
began to be heard. What had been but a little fleck in the sky now overcast the 
whole heavens and sorrow and anxiety filled the hearts of all. 

Meetings and resolutions agitated the whole American people and Wallingford 
was no exception to the rule and the following letter which appeared in the Con- 
necticut lournal of September 9, 1774. is an evidence of the feelings that existed 
in this community. 

"Wallingford Sept i 1774 

Although there are too many among us of tory principals ; yet there are God 
be thanked not a few true sons of Co)istitutio)ial liberty. As a demonstration of 
this about an hundred of these respectable gentlemen did on Monday last as a 
public proof of their sentiments and patriotic resolutions at an elm tree in this 
town sacred to Hhert\ erect a Liberty Pole an hundred and ten feet high : on 
which thev have this day hoisted a pendant bearing Liberty and underneath the 
British Union Flag bearing the words The Congress in honor of the general Con- 
gress which are to meet this day at Philadelphia : and to testify their warmest and 
sincerest wishes that a spirit of Liberty, Union, Wisdom and Firmness may pre- 
vail in that respectable and important Body: and kindle more and more through 
every class of men in British America." 

On Nov. 27, 1774, a town meeting was held at which a committee of corre- 
spondence was appointed '"'to receive and communicate such intelligence as may 
tend to maintain Peace and Union in this and neighboring colonies," and a vote 
of thanks was given Dr. Dana for opening the meeting with prayer and for his pa- 
triotic speech. 

The situation in Wallingford only serves to illustrate the conditions all over the 
country ; correspondence on the vital questions at issue was flying from town to 
town : meetings were being held, resolutions passed and the line of cleavage be- 
tween England and the colonies was growing wider and wider. Events moved 
fast and at last the storm breaks. 

1 Vol. III., p. 172 Ed. 1883, author's last revision, says "The town of Wallingford voted a fine of 
20 shillings on any of its Inhabitants 'that should use or improve any stamped Vellum or paper' : its 
Sons of Liberty were ready to 'oppose the unconditional stamp act to the last, extremity, even to take 
the field.' " 



EARLY HISTORY, 



269 



At ten o'clock on the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere stands waiting on 
the Charlestown shore watching the belfry of the old North church in Bos- 
ton, to learn by a prearranged signal if the British troops are to leave Boston 
that night in an expedition to seize Adams and Hancock at Lexington. At last 
the lights are hung out, the signal is given, and into the blackness of the night 
Paul Revere spurs his steed on that immortal ride. The alarm is given and all 
along the line the British find the farmers prepared to receive and give them a 
warm reception. 

The news of the day at Lexington and Concord spreads like wildfire through 
the colonies. Patriots hesitate no more and ardent, eager men go hurrying to- 
wards Boston. Wallingford sends two companies, one from Meriden under 
Captain John Couch and the other from the older parishes under Captain Isaac 
Cook. 

Under Captain Couch were 38 men as follows : 



John Hough, Lieut. 
Divan Berry, Ensign 
Ezekiel Rice, Sergt. 
Samuel Hall, Sergt. 
Phineas Hough, Corp. 
David Ives, Corp. 
Daniel ^LAIullen, Fifer 
Ephraim Merriam, Fifer 
Benjamin Rice, Private 
Bela Warner 
Joseph Shaler 
-Moses Hall 
Samuel Collins 
Jonathan Vale 
Ensign Hough 
Enos Ives 
Isaac Livingston 
1 benjamin Hart 
Christopher At water 



Samuel Rice 
Nathaniel Yale 
Rufus Hall 
Phineas Lyman 
Joel Hall ' 
John Butler 
Gideon Rice 
Samuel Johnson 
John Alerriam 
John Pearce 
Seth Smith 
Asael Deming 
Israel Hall. Jr. 
Aaron Hull 
Elnathan Ives 
Epaphras Knott 
John Allen 
Sannicl Briggs 
Moses r)aldwin 



I nder Captain Cook were 59 men as follows : 



James Peck, Lieut 16 days 

Samuel Barnes, Ensign 8 days 

Samuel Culver. Sergt 8 days 

Asael Coolev, Sergt 8 davs 



Isaac Doolittle, Clerk 

Miles Sperry 

1-jios Mix 

Ambrose Cook . . . . 



8 days 
8 days 
8 days 
8 davs 



^70 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



Amos Austin 8 days 

Samuel Mattoon 8 days 

•Gideon Bristol 8 days 

Joel Moss 8 days 

Caleb Hull 8 days 

John Ives, 3''^ 8 days 

.Samuel Merriam 8 days 

Giles Cook 8 days 

Joel Matoon 8 days 

Samuel Hall, 3'"^^ 8 days 

Daniel Slead 8 days 

Jonathan Slead 8 days 

Samuel Hull 8 days 

Rice Hopson 8 days 

Giles Curtiss 8 days 

Peter Peck 8 days 

Abner Avered, Jr 8 days 

Joseph Bartholomew 8 days 

Amasa Yale 8 days 

Chester Hale 8 'days 

Aaron Ives 8 days 

Amos Mix 8 days 

Archelaus Allen 8 days 

Ambrose Ives 8 days 

Oliver Hitchcock, Jr 8 days 

Titus Hall 8 davs 



Jesse Street 8 days 

Ebenezer Warner 8 da}s 

Chas. Culver 8 days 

Joseph Wolcott 16 days 

Calvin Hopson 16 days 

John Booth 16 days 

John Slade 18 days 

Timothy Hart, Jr 18 days 

Nathaniel Hart, Jr 18 days 

Ephraim Chambers, Sergt. ... 34 days 

Daniel Johnson, Sergt 34 days 

Amos Fowler 34 days 

Amos Davies 34 days 

Daniel Bailey 34 days 

John Mecar 34 days 

David Ward 34 da}s 

Stanton Richardson 34 days 

Daniel Smith 34 days 

Charles Tuthill 34 days 

Samuel Mills 34 days 

Benjamin Chrittenden 34 days 

Thomas Dudley 34 days 

Jesse A'orse 34 days 

Daniel Lindsey 34 days 

Samuel Benham 34 days 



The Meriden men were out only seven days, hardly time to go to Boston and 
return. They doubtless received notice while on the march that their services 
were not needed. The news of the Battle of Concord reached Wallingford by noon, 
on Friday, the 21st of April, and the companies set out on the expedition on the 23rd 
and 24th. James Lockwdod writing from Wallingford under date of April 24th, 
says : "Col. Wadsworth was over at this place most of yesterday and has ordered 
twenty men out of each company of his Regiment, some of which had already set 
off and others go this morning * * * * * The country beyond here are 
all gone."^ Samuel Kilbourn rendered an account for ferrying "across Connec- 
ticut River at Hartford" in the Lexington alarm Capt. Couch, of Meriden, with 
18 men, 4 horses and i waggon. ^ Also Capt. Cook of \\'allingford. 



1 Record of Conn. Men in the Revolution, p. 4. 

2 Idem p. 24. 



EARLY HISTORY. 27I 

Shortly after the alarm the Legislature issued the first call for troops. The 
regiment was recruited in Xew Haven county and about Sept. 28 it marched to 
the Northern Department and took ])art in operations along Lakes George and 
Champlain under General Schuyler. 

Captain Isaac Cook, of Wallingford, was in this campaign and in his c<;)m- 
l)any were the following Meriden men who had been in Cai)t. Couch's company 
during the Lexington alarm : 

John Hough, ist Lieut. Isaac Livingston 

Samuel Hall, Sergt. Phineas Lyman 

Israel Hall ?\Ioses Hall 

Gideon Rice Rufus Hall 

John Pierce Jared Benham 

In the Siege of Boston, which took place after the Battle of Bunker Hill, there 
Avere certainly ]\Ieriden men engaged, although the only official record of service 
is that of Captain John -Couch. ^ Doubtless, several of the company he commanded 
at the time of the Lexington Alarm were with him before Boston. He was in 
Col. \\'adsworth's regiment which reached there towards the end of January, 1776. 
The names of only two men in Capt. Couch's Company have come down to us in 
a trustworthy form. Among the papers in the Oliver Rice homestead is a letter 
written by Ezekiel Rice when in camp at Roxbur\- in the early part of that year. 
The letter mentions the name of another Meriden man as with him, viz. Samuel 
Scovil. 

"These lines to my family and all friends, wishing them health as through the 
goodness of God I enjoi at present except a Bad Cold but not sick. Our people 
are all well so as to eat there aLowance for it is as (jood for soldiers as can be ex- 
l)ectc(l: we have a pound of good Bread a day: 17 ounces of ])ork and _' i:)ound of 
Beef Salt or 2^ fresh for 3 days: not any saus only jieas one day in a week: we 
have a good house to quarter in all the Company in one House the Sergeants and 
tlie Corprils and Drumer are in one Room and a man freed from Duty to Cook for 
[us]. I have not time to write much of the Sercomstances of things: there hath 
not P.en any fireing from one Camp to the other sence we came Hear: the Regclers 
went out 3 days after our arivel at Night & took six prisoners at Dojesters [Dor- 
chester's] pint and burnt 5 or Six housen and barns: three of the prisoners are Re- 
turned back: one man 2 women: the others arc there: on the 22 instant I was on 
gard and had the comand of the ( iard at ihe Left hand fort down l)y the Neck, 
our Centery is about 80 Rods out on the ]\lash the advance gard with in alxnit 60 
or 70 Rods of them. I had jest sent the Corperil to Relieve the Sentry when En- 



1 Conn. Hist. Soc. Col. Vol. VIII.. p. i:U. 



272 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

sign Lyman came to me about 6 Clock at night and told me that he had liberty from 
the General to trv for there gard. I emedietly went the Rounds to the Sentry and 
told them and in Half an Hour from that time he with ten men took of there ad- 
vance gard which consisted of 3 men only which he Brought to our gard : he went 
around then in the Dark of the evening in the storm of snow' and hail and cam the 
way that their Relief come and they thought it Relief for them till he demanded 
their amies ; the}- are sent to Head Quarters : the same night between one and two 
of the Clock I was ordered to bring the advance gard back in sight of the Brest 
work which I Did and told them to be still and I would go and see if the Regelers 
had set their Sentry again, when I went under the covert of a fence within about 
12 or 15 Rods of their Lines where I staid about a quarter of an hour and could 
here nor see nothing : I went to the chimneys where their Station was but there was 
no gard their that night : the above was their advance gard. We expect to go on 
to Doj esters pint very soon and there an action will come on I expect. We have 
Hard Duty once in three Days on gard or on feteeg [fatigue] it is thought that 
the enemy will Due their best if we strike Doj ester. We Have had 7 or 8 Hun- 
dred men to cut fasheans [fascines] for a week past to cajy there, and how soon 
we shall go I know not. I cant write no more for it is allmost dark. I would be 
glad to have some of our friends come and see us and the extrordinary things which 
are Hear for which I presume they will not Begrug their time and expense 
* * * * * " * I am Auctions to hear from Home for I have not heard 
a word sence I set out and Rather than fail I would give something to have some 
of our Brothers come and see us : let them take the old mear if they want a Horse 
if she is in good state. I want not for money at present tho we have Received 
none. We have sider at 2 Dolers a barril : we hope to Receive our bills but it is 
unsertain when 

I must Desist tho with Reluctance and Recomend }'ou my Dear and our chil- 
dren with myself to the Disposal of a kind providence who orders all things for 
the Best hoping in Due time I shall be Returned in health and safty to you. So I 
remain your Affectionate friend and Husband Ezekiel Rice 

Roxbury Camp February y® 25 

My duty to our Parents 

Samuel Scovil is sick wath the plurisy in the horspital tel Asahel to call Dady 
and I hope I shall hear him in a Short time.'' 

\\'ithin eight days after this letter was written Washington had found a place 
for the fascines, for on the night of March 4th Dorchester Heights was seized and 
when morning dawned the British saw with astonishment the hastily constructed 
fortifications and the siege guns in place, and on March 17 they evacuated Boston. 

The British having departed General Washington and his army set out for 
New York, and that the Meriden men went with him is certain although there is 
no official record of the fact. 



EARLY HISTORY. 2/3 

Hut there are two letters in existence that prove this: one was written just 
before the battle of Long Island which occurred Aug", ij, 1776. It is as follows: 

"Xew York, August 24th, A. D., 1776 
To Mr Oliver Rice of Meriden with care 

Dear Cousin 

After my regards to you I take this oppertunit}- to write to you and hojie 
that these Lines will find \'ou well as they Left me and I pray God to continue 
my health to me : it is a very sickly time wnth us here there has Six Died out of 
our Regiment sence we came here two of them out of otir Company. I have no 
great Xews to write only that the Regulars have Landed on Long Island and our 
men make all the preparation to Defeit them that is possible. ]\Icriden Melisha 
has got in all well : there is a fine Number of men on our Side and with the hel]) 
of God we shall be able to Conqur our enemy. I shall write no more at present 
r.ut |)lease to send me a letter so I remain your Loving Cousin and Humble Scrvt 

Joseph Rice 

Give my regards to all inquiring friends. I would send Aunt Deborah but 
paper is very Dear and so please excuse me." 

But the Continental troops did not win and the army was compelled to move 
out of Xew York. The next two letters were written by Ezekiel Rice, and evi- 
dentl\' do not display very bright hopes as to the future. 

"New York Sept. 7 1776 
Loving wife These leave me in comfortable Helth as I wish they may find you 
and all our family: we are moved 2 miles out of the City. We have no tents l)ut 
Brush and many of our people are sickly : our living is very poor our Docters 
have no things to Docter with and many of our folks Die. But none out of Mer- 
iden yet tho there are many sick ; there is no likely Hoods of any being Dismist 
with out there is somebody to helpe them home : they did Dismiss a number at 
first and some of them well which made the Generals very shar]> and at jiresent 
they wont Releas any. I do not expect to be Released until the Regiment is: if 
T have my health and I know not when that will be. I wish it might l)e soon for 
1 want to come home more than ever I Did before. Noah Austin is gaining some. 
1 would be glad that you would send me a horse as soon as you hear that the 
Milishe are Dismist: if it should come to New York I would not care: there is 
no news to tell you of " '•' ''^' ''■' * * * * I want to have you write me 
a line for I have not heard from you one word sence I come from home — 
Sister Deborah my sincere Love to you and all the family 

I am &c 

Kzekicl Kice." 
18 



2/4 -"^ CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

"New York Sept 8 1776 
I take a minits time to write a line to you in the open field while I trust and 
hope }ou are at publick Worship which I am Deprived of. Yesterday I wrote to 
you by a Hartford man which he was to leave at the Widow Robinson: we are 
a mooveing to day about a mile further from the city. Last night the cannons 
began to play on our fourt at Hell gate and they continue their fire today: it is 
expected that the enemy will exert them selves to the utmost against us and per- 
haps we are in the greatest Danger of all most any as we expect they will land 
near by us : we know not when the trying hour will come on but it is expected soon 
by the wisest men in the Army. God grant us success. We are very sickly with 
the Camp Distemper and many Die therewith and no Doubt but that many will 
be wounded and fall in the Day of Battle and why not I as well as any. I pray 
God prepare for all events, there is no likely whods of our being Dismist soon as the 
situation of the Army is as it is. As to Business it is Sabath Day and I cant write 
much. But conduct it as well as you can with out over doing: provisions of all 
sorts are extreme Dear: the Inhabitence give five Dolers a 100 for flower; mutten 
9 pence a pound and other things as high and some higher in proportion. But 
I must Dissist. Commending you to the wise Disposal of our all wise God fer- 
vently. Asking his grace for me and each of you that we may be kept by his all 
mighty power through faith to Etarnel Salvatision through Christ. I am very 
Desirous to here from home once more as I have not since I came from there. I 
ask a Remembrence with you at the Throne of Divine grace as each of you have 
with me. Farewell my loving wife, Dear Sister and all the family. 

Ezekiel Rice 
To Mrs Lydia Rice 

My duty to my Parents and love to all. I have sent Brothers and Sisters and 
friends this is the forth leter." 

The Continentals were compelled to evacuate the island of Manhattan and 
then retired to White Plains where the British again attacked them on Oct. 28. 
But some time before this battle took place there had evidently been an encamp- 
ment of some sort where some Meriden men were stationed for a letter dated there 
seems to show that such was the case. 

"White Plains Augst 19 1776 
Miss Shailer These lines leve me in halth, hope they will find you so. I 

w^ant to have my shirts which you mentioned sent by the first opportunity that 

Presents. My complyments to all friends. 

These from yours, Joseph Shailer 

White Plains August the 20th since I wrote the above Elijah Hall hath come 
into camp, Saith Mr Cobin is a coming down on Monday next. I should be glad 



kj 



EARLY HISTORY. 2^5 

you would send me the art of speaking it l\Ir Cobin would take the trouble to 
bring it I will reward him well for it Vours Sincerely jo. Shailer 

(Addressed) 
For Miss 

Rachel Shailer: ]\leriden" 

Following" is another letter of later date from Joseph Sha}lor or Shailer to Eze- 
kiel Rice: 

"Constitution Island (West I'oint) 
Feby 12 1781 
Dear Sir 

These leve me in health ; I ariv'd saif in Camp in four Days after leaving Mer- 
iden. Camp afifairs are as usule. all hands hearty : we have Just enough to keep 
soulc and body from parting, but hope for Good times: Our Newengland Lines 
have Done themselves immortal Honour, in bairing with jiatience, those incon- 
veniences for which the Southern Troops have revolted, tho they were much better 
provided then our line * * * * * * * * ^: * * * =!: * ^: 

Pleas to make my Compliments to sister and all Friends. 

I am sir ^ or.r .Most obedient 

Jos. Shailer 

Jose])h Shaylor^ served continuous!}' in the arm\' from the begimiing to the 
end of the war and attained the rank of ist Lieutenant, and was a member of the 
order of the Cincinnati. He was in the battles of Long Lsland. White Plains, and 
took part in the storming and capturing of Stony Point under "■Mad" Anthony 
Wayne on July 15, 1779, one of the most brilliant exploits during the war. 

It is doubtful if the Meriden men whose letters have been given, viz: l'>.ekicl 
and Joseph Rice, were in Capt. Couch's company at the time of the campaign in 
Xew York City and vicinity for the captain was at that time in Col. l>radley's 
battalion in General Wadsvvorth's brigade which "was stationed the greater part 
of the summer and early fall of 1776 at Bergen Heights and Paulus Hook (now 
Jersey City). In October it moved up the river to the vicinity of Ft. Lee, then 
under General Greene's command. In November most of the regiment was sent 
across the river to assist in defending Fort Washington which on the fall of the 
fort November 16 was captured with the entire garrison. "- 

Captain Couch was taken prisoner and also the following Meriilen men in his 



1 Hi.s home was on Gravel street ou the west ^\de, a little south of Baldwin avenue. It was in thi.s 
bouse that the minority party of the church held their services after Rev. .John Hubbard began to 
preach. Mr. Shaylor later moved to Ohio. 

2 Conn. Men in the Revolution, p. 41-1. 



2^6 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

company : Gideon Ives, John Pierce, Nathaniel Yale,^ Samuel Rice, Jonathan Hall, 
Benjamin Austin, Gideon Rice, Stephen Atwater and Moses Hall. 

John Couch was in a British prison on Long Island for some time after this 
capture. In the State Library at Hartford in Revolutionary War documents, Vol. 
XII., pp. 130-181, are preserved various receipts for money conveyed by the state 
to men in prison on Long Island, 1777. John Couch's name is among the num- 
ber of those signing. He evidently gained his freedom during the year, for he 
appears as captain of a company in a militia regiment ordered to Peekskill in 
1777. His name does not again occur among the records. 

Isaac Hall, Jr., son of Dr. Isaac Hall, was apparently captain of a company 
of militia which was in 1776 attached to a regiment of Light Horse. In 1777 he 
was in service in New York and "parts adjacent," and in 1779, according to some 
old military papers found in the Wallingford town vault within recent years, men 
were detached from Capt. Isaac Hall's company to go to Greenwich, and his name 
appears in the roll of those companies doing service in the Tryon invasion of Xew 
Haven, 1779. 

Divan Berry was second lieutenant of a company in Bradley's battalion, Wads- 
worth's Brigade, and was at Fort Washington but it does not appear that he was 
captured. From July to November, 1776, he was second lieutenant in Prentice's 
company and was at Ticonderoga under General Gates. In the year 1779 he was 
a captain under Major Smith's command, and was on coast guard duty at Horse- 
neck near Greenwich this state, during the time of the British expedition up the 
Sound under Tryon. In 1780 he was a captain in the 17th regiment. 

John Hough was a lieutenant in Capt. Isaac Cook's Company. On Sept. 28, 
1775, the regiment was ordered to the Northern Department under General Schuy- 
ler and was engaged in operations along Lakes George and Champlain. They 
assisted in the reduction of St. John and were stationed for a while at Montreal. 
Many soldiers in this company became sick and were mustered out Oct. -Nov. 
John Hough was also in Captain Hammond's company. Third battalion, under Col- 
onels Spencer and Wooster in 1776 and 1777, which did service in this state. In 
October, 1777, he was in Colonel Baldwin"s regiment ordered to Fishkill. In 
1779 he was a captain in a company that served during the Tryon invasion and 
in 1780 he was captain in the Seventh militia regiment. 

Asaph Merriam enlisted in the Sixth Connecticut regiment on April 24, 1777, 
and served three years and was made a pensioner in 1832. He was in Captain 
Couch's^ company at the time so many were captured in 1776, but he was not made 
a prisoner. The Sixth regiment saw a great deal of service. 'Tt went into camp 
in Peekskill in the summer of 1777, but frequently was detached on expeditions or 



1 Mrs. Nathan Baldwin says Nathaniel Yale, who was a carpenter, was sent across the river to do 
some work and was not captured. 

2 Conn. Hist. Soc. Col.. Vol. VIII., pp. 206-207. 



EARLY HISTORY. 2/7 

outpost duty on the line above Kings Bridge. It served in Aug.-Oct. on the Hud- 
son, in Parsons Brigade, under Putnam, and engaged in all movements made in 
consequence of enemy's move against Fort Montgomery. It wintered '77-/8 at 
West Point, and assisted in constructing permanent fortifications, etc. In oper- 
ations of 1779 it served with Connecticut division on east side of Hudson, and 
perhaps engaged at storming of Stony Point July 15, '79. On discovery of Ar- 
nold's treason, it was ordered to West Point in anticipation of advance of the 
enemy." Lieut. Joseph Shaylor was with this regiment. 

Chatham Freeman, the slave of Noah Yale, who earned his freedom by serv- 
ing in the room of his master during the war, was in this regiment for three 
years. He was made a pensioner in 1818. Others who served in this regiment 
were Moses, Rufus, and Jonathan Hall, Levi Robinson^ and Joseph Coban. 

In the month of October, 1777, Lieut. Colonel Baldwin's regiment of militia 
was ordered to the Hudson at Fishkill to aid the Continental army. They were 
out perhaps thirty days, and probably saw no active service. In the regiment 
were these Meriden officers, viz. Capt. Bezaleel Ives. Lieut. John Hough and 
Capt. Dan Collins. 

The following accounts of service by various !\Ieriden men have been ex- 
tracted from Record of Connecticut Men in the Revolution : 

Abner Andrews was in the 5th Regiment and served 3 years and was most of 
the time stationed on or near the Hudson river. 

Lamberton Clark is mentioned by Mr. Perkins as among the men from ]\Icr- 
iden who served, but he enlisted in Middletown and did not move to Meriden 
until some time after peace was declared : he was drummer in Col. Sherburne's 
regiment, and also served with Capt. Heart in the ist regiment. 

Benjamin Rexford was in Capt. Leavenworth's company in the 6th regiment 
for 3 years and saw most of his service near the Hudson. 

Fdnnmd Merriam was a corporal in Capt. Robertson's company in the 2d reg- 
iment and also in the 4th regiment: he was stationed at West Point in 1783. 

David Roberts, a pensioner in 1818. was in Capt. Shepherd's company in Gen- 
eral Wolcott's brigade at Peekskill in 1777. and was also in Capt. Johnson's com- 
pany, \\''adsworth's brigade at Fort Washington in '76, and was made prisoner: 
his residence was in Middletown, however, until after the Revolution. 

Jotham Hall, a pensioner in 1818, served in Capt. Richards company. 2i\ Reg- 
iment, and was in General Lafayette's army at the siege of Yorktown. 

James Baldwin, at the time a resident of Cheshire, was in Capt. Barnes' com- 
pany, militia regiment, 1777, enlisted in Capt. Sizer's company in a regiment of 
artificers, 1778, and was at Brandywine. Germantown, ]\[onnn>uth and elsewhere. 
in service with the regiment: he was a pensioner in 1818. 



T Grandson of Capt. .Tosiah Robinson. 



2^8 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Ephraim Alerriam was a tifer all through the war and was with Capt. Couch's 
company when Ft. Washington was captured in 1776: but the records do not say 
that he was made prisoner : he was in Capt. Barker's company under Lafayette at 
the siege of Yorktown and in Capt. Potter's company, 2d regiment, at West Point, 
in 1783. He was a pensioner in 1818. 

Isaac Atwater, a boy of sixteen, was in the campaign around New York in 

1776 and retreated with the army to Harlem and White Plains. 

Josiah Merriam was in the first troop of Col. Sheldon's Light Dragoons from 

1777 to 1783, and saw service at Germantown and under Gates against Burgoyne. 
David Hall, a pensioner in 1818, was in Capt. Edwards' company in Col. Wa- 

terbury's regiment on sea coast duty in 1781, but began his military career in 
Capt. Couch's company and was at Fort Washington in 1776 but according to 
records was not made a prisoner. In 1777 he enlisted in Captain Leavenworth's 
company of Sixth regiment and served three years. 

Joash Hall was in the Danbury Raid April, 1777; his horse was killed under 
him, for which the state reimbursed him. 

Abner Rice was in Captain Couch's company and was with the command at 
Fort Washington but evidently not taken prisoner. 

Samuel Rice was paid a bounty by Wallingford to serve in 1781. 

Black Boss, a negro slave of Abel Curtis, is stated in Perkins' Historical 
Sketches, to have been a soldier in the Revolution : on a roll or report of the town 
of Wallingford 1779 in the State Library, appears the name of Boston negro, next 
to the name of Chatham negro. 

Archelaus Allen, a soldier in the Lexington alarm, and afterwards in Capt. 
Street Hall's company in the 7th regiment, is generally accounted a Meriden sol- 
dier in the Revolution, but he did not move from the ist society to Meriden until 
after the war. He was the grandfather of the late Deacon E. C. Allen, of Meri- 
den, and the late John Allen, of Saybrook. 

Ebenezer and Joel Cole were both in Capt. Couch's company in 1776 and 
probably they were the Meriden men whose Christian names were the same but 
whose surname was Cowles. 

Nathaniel Douglas, Justus Rice, Joel Hall and Thomas Spencer were in Capt. 
Couch's company but, according to the records, were not captured. 

Solomon Rice, who was also in this company, shared the fate of Capt. Couch 
and for some time languished in a British prison on Long Island. 

Samuel Collins was first a musician and later a sergeant in Conn. Line from 
1777 to 1781 and went south to Yorktown under Gen. Lafayette. 

Phineas Hough was a corporal in Capt. Russell's Company, W^ads worth's Bri- 
gade, and died in the army August i, 1776, just after being promoted sergeant. 
Benjamin Hart and Wait Rice were both pensioners, so they must have served. 
Israel Johnson was a corporal in Capt. Hall's company and enlisted for three 



EARLY HISTORY. 279 

^eal"s in I'J'J'J- Isaac Rice was at West i'oint in 1781 in militia regiment and Jotliam 
Kice was at Yorktown in Lafayette's arm\ in 1783. 

Xo doubt other Meriden men saw service in the Continental arm\ , l)ut their 
names in the official records, if there the\ occur, cannot be positivel}- identified as 
belonging to men from this vicinity. The lack of a middle name, an almost uni- 
versal custom at the time, and the failure to give the addresses of the great ma- 
jttrity of the soldiers in the records, makes it general!}' unwise to assume an ad- 
dress. 

The iJritish expedition up the Sound, under ( icucral Tryon, came to anchor 
in Xew Haven harbor about midnight on Sunday, Jul} 4, 1779. X^o doubt beacon 
fires and scurrying horsemen soon carried the news through the surrounding coun- 
try, and probably by daybreak of the 5th. the various militia companies in this and 
adjoining parts of the state were on the march for Xew Haven. 

The British troops, about 3,000 strong, were landed at daybreak on the east 
and west shores, and X'^ew Haven was soon in possession of the enemy, and several 
buildings w^ere fired, a number of people killed and numerous outrages committed. 
( )n the East Haven side there were many encounters with the local militia and 
shar]) fighting a good part of the da}'. 

The swiftly gathering companies from up the state soon convinced the British 
that their position was untenable and on the evening of the 6th they embarked and 
set sail for Xew York, stopping on the way at Fairfield and Xorwalk. where they 
committed greater devastation and havoc than at X'ew Haven. 

From Meriden two companies and from Wallingford one, marched to Xew 
Haven, probably starting on the morning of Jul\- 5th. Idie rolls of these com- 
panies as preserved in the State Library and ])rinted in the Conn^'Cticnt TIi>toricaI 
Society Collections, \o\. VHL,^ are as follows: 

Capt. Collins' Company. 

Dan Collins, Caj^t. Jesse Mcrriani 

James Hough, Lt. Stephen Perkins 

Brenton Hall, Ens. James Cabon 

Saml Hall, Sergt. iienj-'^ Hart 

Benjamin IMerriam ."^and Johnsou 

.Amos Ives, Sergt. Titus Merriam 

John IMerriam Sergt. \\'m. Merriam 

Daniel James, Corpl. Joseph Merriam 

I'-zra Rice, Corpl. A'alc I'isho]) 

.Sanborn Ford, Fifer John Barns 

Johu Couch John Ives 

ISezaleel Ives Abel ("urtiss 



1 Conn. Men in the RevoUition, pp. 102-.1. 



28o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Timothy Ives 
Timothy Foster 
John Miles 
VIoses Hall 
Caleb Merriman 
Elisha Scovil 



Jared Benham 
Moses Hall, Jr. 
Insign Hough 
Daniel Hall 
Isaac Hall 



Capt. Hough's Company. 1 



John Hough, Capt. 
Nathaniel Merriam Lt. 
Thos. Foster, Ens. 
Serj. Joseph Edwards 
Serj. Timothy Hall 
Serj. Jonath'^ Yale 
Serj. Comfort Butler 
Serj. Giles Griswold 
Marshall Merriam 
Elisha Merriam 
Phinehas Hall 
Phinehas Lyman 
Edward Collins 
Enos Hall 
Daniel Mekye 
Jn*' Morgan 
Caleb Merriman 
Thos. Spencer 
Amasa [Merriam 
Giles Foster 
Ozius Foster 



Jeremiah Farrington 
Simeon Perkins 
Amerton Yale 
Elijah Scovil 
Elijah Yeomans 
Elisha Curtis 
W}llys Mekye 
John Yale 
Moses Way 
Jesse Merriman 
Abner Way 
Israel Hall 
Wyllys Bishop 
Daniel Yale 
Nathaniel Yale . 
Asa Brown 
David Scovil 
Samuel Merriam 
John Robinson 
Samuel Rice 



Capt. Stanley's Company of Wallingford ist Society, 
in two alarms : one to New Haven on July 5, 1779. and the other to Fairfield July 
8, 1779. 



Captain Abraham Stanley 
Lieut. Solomon Doolittle 
Ens. Benjamin Preston 
Sergt. Charles Hull 
Sergt. Elihu Yale 



Sergt. John Davidson 
Sergt. Daniel Parker 
Sergt. Abner Rice 
Corp. Jotham Ga}"lord 
Corp. David Johnson 



1 Conn. Men in the Revolution, pp. 192- 



EARLY HISTORV. 281 

Corp. Joel Rice Ebenezer Hull 

Corp. Isaac Doolittle Eliakini Parker 

Drum. Ebenezer Moss Stephen 1 leach 

Samuel Ives \\'illiam Atwater, Jr. 

Joseph Doolittle, Jr. Nicholas Jones 

John Doolittle Jonathan Johnson 

Jedediah Button Daniel Hitchcock 

Charles Parker Abel \\'ard Atwater 

Joel Hough jchie! Rice. jr. 

Joshua Parker Abijah Ives 

Oliver Doolittle James Prout 

Lent Hough Levi Parker 

John Lewis l-'rancis Wilcox 
Caleb Merriman 

The writer's lack of familiarity with the names of those resident in W'alling- 
ford and Cheshire makes it impossible for him to fully treat the Revolutionary rec- 
ord of soldiers from those towns as he has tried to give those from Meriden. Tiie 
names of the officers, however, are so consj^icuous in the records that it is an easy 
task to give a brief record of each. 

Colonel Thaddeus Hall was certainly the most prominent military official in 
Wallingford during the war. He was born in 1728 so that he was not a young 
man when hostilities began. He served under Washington in the campaign of 
1776 and then bore the title of major. He was stationed at first near Fort Lee 
and then at White Plains and later took part in the battles of Trenton and Prince- 
ton. He was made a colonel in October, 1776. He took part in the battle of Still- 
water September 19, 1777, and was under General Gates in his campaign against 
P.urgoyne to the northward. 

Lieutenant Colonel Street Hall received his commission July 6, 1775, and was 
also appointed captain of the Second company: on Sept. 14. 1775. Washington or- 
dered the regiment to Boston, and he served there until December that year. It 
does not appear that he saw other service, 'although ]x^ssibly he was in Colonel 
Charles W^ ebb's regiment at White Plains. Trenlon and Princeton in I77'> and 

-111- 

Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Cook, who had charge of a company in the Lexing- 
ton* alarm, was also captain of the Seventh comi)any in General Woostcr's regi- 
ment in 1775. and first was stationed at Harlem and Long Island and later marched 
to General Schuyler's department and took part in operations an~)und Lakes George 
and Champlain, and afterwards was stationed at Montreal. He was appointed 
major January 10. 1780, and in June, 1783. he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. 

Captain Nathaniel Bunnell was appointed second lieutenant of the Ninth 



282 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

Company, First Regiment, Alay i, 1775, and served around New York and later 
at St. Iohn"s and Montreal. In 1776 he was a captain of Seventh company, Fifth 
Battalion, and was at the battles of Long Island and White Plains. He was at 
Peekskill in 1777 with his company, to serve in aid of Continental Army, and in 
1779 responded to the call during Tryon's invasion of New Haven, but the roll of 
his company is not given. He was apparently a Cheshire man. 

Captain Ephraim Chamberlain was commissioned first lieutenant on January 
I, 1777, and was promoted to captain November 13, 1778. He was continuously 
in service until 1781. In the Seventh regiment he was at Peekskill in 1777 and 
in September with Washington in Pennsylvania ; was in the battle of German- 
town, wintered at Valley Forge and in June, 1778 was in battle of Monmouth, 
and at storming of Stony Point in 1779. 

Captain Jarius Wilcox, Lieutenant Titus Hall and Lieutenant John Osborn 
in 1777 were in a company attached to a regiment of artificers, whose duty it was 
to serve under the directions of the quartermaster general. It was a pioneer and 
construction corps and saw service at Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. 

Captain Stephen Osborn and Lieutenant Samuel Hough were in a company at- 
tached to the same regiment. 

Lieutenant John Mansfield was in a company of the Fourth regiment and later 
in Connecticut Light Infantry, serving from February-November, 1781, under 
Lafayette: he was in service from 1776 to 1783, and while under Lafayette led a 
"forlorn hope" at an assault on a redoubt on October 14 and was wounded and 
complimented in Colonel Hamilton's report. He was a pensioner in 1818. 

Lieutenant Lemuel Hitchcock, of Cheshire, was a sergeant in Captain Bun- 
nell's company in 1776, and saw service at Battle of Long Island. He was made 
lieutenant of a company in the Eighth regiment and fought at Germantown, Fort 
Mifflin, Mud Island, Pa., wintered at \'alley Forge, and was at the assault on 
Stony Point. He was a pensioner in New York state in 1818. 

Lieutenant Titus ]\Ioss was in Captain Street Hall's company at the siege of 
Boston. 

Lieutenant Levi Munson was engaged in the Montreal expedition under Colonel 
Ethan Allen in 1775 ; he was captured with the others, and sent a prisoner to Eng- 
land, and subsequently sent to Halifax where he was confined in a dungeon several 
months. He served in the Sixth regiment from 1777 to 1780, and his most ser- 
ious engagement was at Stony Point. 

Lieutenant Ambrose Hine began as a corporal in the Eighth regiment in 1777; 
saw service at Germantown ; wintered at A'alley Forge, and was at battle of Mon- 
mouth ; he was promoted to second lieutenant in the Fifth Battalion, Wadsworth's 
brigade. 

Lieutenant Thomas Shepard was appointed second lieutenant in Captain Cook's 
company. First regiment, and saw service in the northern department under Gen- 



I 



EARLY HISTORY. 283. 

eral Schuyler at Lakes George and Champlain in 1775. He was captain of mil- 
itia in Tryon's invasion of Xew Haven but his company is not given. 

Lieutenant James Peck took jjart in the Lexington Alarm, was an ensign in 
Captain Cook's company of the First regiment in 1775 and served under General 
Schuyler in the northern department; in 1776 he was in Colonel Ward's regiment, 
and took ])art in battles at White Plains, Trenton and Princeton. 

Lieutenant Linus Hopson was in Captain Sizer's comi)any in regiment of ar- 
tificers. 

Lieutenant Hawkins Hart was in Captain lUmneU's ccjmpany in Fifth Bat- 
talion of Wadsworth's brigade and took ])art in l)attle of Long Island in 1776. 
J-ater was in a troop of light horse. 

Lieutenant Miles Hull was also in Captain llunncU's company in 1776. He also 
marched to the front in Tryon's invasion of New Flaven in 1779 as a captain. 

Ensign David Hitchcock was also in Captain Bunnell's company in 1776. He 
was also a captain in the Tryon invasion. 

Ensign Samuel Culver, who was in Captain Couch's compan\ at Fort Wash- 
ington in 1776 was a prisoner from June 29, 1779, to June 2. 1781. 

Ensign Jonathan Slead, who took part in the Lexington Alarm, was commis- 
sioned ensign in the Seventh regiment in 1777, and saw service at Germantown, 
and wintered at Valley Forge, and perha])s the privations and cx])osurc killed him 
for he died March 10, 1778. 

The following oflficers joined the order of the Cincinnati : 

Lieutenant John Mansfield, Lieutenant H. Peck, Captain Fphraim Lhamber- 
lain and Lieutenant Joseph Shaylor. 

Dr. Jared Potter was surgeon of the First regiment in 1775 and again of the 
Fifth battalion, Wadsworth's brigade, in 1776. 

.As the first enthusiasm of the war wore away it was found necessar\- to make 
an inducement for men to join the army: accordingly on Marcli _^ i . 1777, it was 
"voted, that the town will give a Bounty to those that engage in the Continental 
service. \'oted that each soldier that engages in the Continental service for the 
quota of Wallingford shall be paid by the town the sum of five pounds lawful 
money by the year for three years imless sooner Discharged: to be paid by the 
beginning of each year." 

This payment of bounty was carefully recorded, and in April. I77<». the town 
reported to the State War Dej^artment a list of all those to whom bounties had 
been paid. A second report was made in December. 1779. and at various times lists 
were furm'shed of those soldiers whose families were assisted by the (own during 
their absence in the field. 

These reports are all on file in the State Lil)rary and from ihem the following 
li'-t has been prepared of those men of Wallingford who were in the service of 
*he government during the Revolution, but not members of militia companies. Tt 



284 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



includes all those who were in service during the years 1778 and 1779, according 
to the best knowledge of the selectmen, and many during the years 1776, 1777, 1780 
and 1 781. It embraces Wallingford, Cheshire and Meriden, but does not give the 
commissioned officers. 



Andrew Andrews 

Amos Andrews 

John Anthony 

Titus Atwater 

David Burns, Cheshire, 

Moses Barns 

Roswell Beach 

Asa Beach 

Asa Bellamy 

Samuel Blakeslee 

Elisha Bishop 

Benjamin Bristol, Cheshire, 

Ebenezer Brockett 

William Brinton 

James Brown 

Daniel Bradley 

Levi Bunnell 

Joseph Clark 

Daniel Cady 

Abel Clark 

Aaron Clark 

Divan Clark 

Joseph Coburn 

James Coburn 

Samuel Collins, Sergt, 

Elihu Cook 

George Cook 

Joel Cook 

Johnson Cook 

Warren Cook 

William Cook 

Thomas Davis 

Israel Dodge 

Thomas Dudley 

Edmund Field 

lotham Ford 



Jonathan Ford 
Benjamin Ford 
Ebenezer Fox 
John Francis 
Anthony Goodsill 
William Grant 
Aaron Hall 
Benajah Hall 
Daniel Johnson Hall 
David Hall 
Elisha Hall 
Jotham Hall 
Moses Hall 
Rufus Hall 
Samuel Hall 
Titus Hall 
Benjamin Hart 
Titus Hart 
Timothy Hart, Sergt, 
John Hastings 
Charles Heydon 
Benjamin Hndrie 
Ambrose Hine 
Ichabod Hitchcock 
Levi Hitchcock 
Thomas Hitchcock 
Samuel Holt 
Samuel S. B. Hotchkiss 
Samuel Hoyt 
John Hulbert 
Daniel Hummiston 
Abijah Ives 
Thomas James 
Benjamin Johnson 
Eliakim Johnson 
David Johnson 



EARLY HISTORY, 



285 



Israel Johnson 

John Johnson, Cheshire, 

Luther Johnson 

Charles Jones 

Samuel Jones 

Thomas Jones 

Benjamin Kendrick 

Luke Kerns 

Charles Kimberly 

Hezckiah King 

Abel Lewis 

Chauncy Lewis 

Ebnezer Lewis 

John Lewis 

Charles London 

Eliada Matthews, Cheshire 

Charles Merriman 

Enoch [Nlcrriman, Sergt, 

Josiah Merriman 

Asaph Merriam 

Edmund Merriam 

Ephraim Merriam 

James ]Miles, Sergt., 

Barnabas ^litchell 

Enos Mix 

Amos Mix 

Thomas Mix, Jr. 

Andrew Moor 

F'enoni Moss 

Tsiah Moss 

Reuben Moss 

Almond Munson 

Lent Munson 

Orange Munson 

" "Toney, negro, 

*Lemon Cumber, negro, 

* Boston, negro. 

*Chatham Ereeman, negro, 

*Samson, negro, 

''' Prince Hotchkiss. negro. 



'•'Job Hull, negro, 
*Dick Ereedom, negro, 

* Sharp Yale, negro, 
*Adam 3tlolatto 
*Buel, Affrica, 

* Peter, negro, 
Timothy Page 
Benjamin Parker 
Amos Parker 
Abram Parker 
Elisha Parker 
Elijah i'arker 
John Parker 
William Parker 
Timothy Parker, Sergt, 

Charles Peck, Sergt. Art., Cheshire, 

Jehiel Peck, Sergt. Art., 

Jesse Peck 

Samuel Parsons 

John Perkins 

Samuel Perkins 

Eldad Porter 

Medad Potter 

John Prince, Sergt, 

James Prout 

William Trout 

Benjamin Rexford 

Benjamin Rexford. Jr. 

Jotham Rice 

Levi Robinson 

Elmer Russell 

Jill) Sanderson 

John Sled 

Hull Shepherd 

Daniel Smith 

Seth Smith 

Samuel Spencer 

Samuel Spellman 

Selali Stedman 

David Stone 



Probably s]av< 



^86 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

Abel Thori) Jesse \'ose 

Amasa Thorp Gideon Webb, Cheshire 

Amos Thorp Joel Willmot 

Thaddeus Todd Lemuel Willcox 

James Tibbels Joseph Wolcott, Jr. 

Peter Tibbels Samuel Wright 

Levi Tyler Nash Yale 

Nathaniel Tyler Waitstill Yale 
Job Tyrrell Total 169 men. 

In the expedition to Lakes George and Champlain in 1775 were several Meri- 
■den men in Captain Cook's company. Many of the soldiers were taken sick and 
the following bills were paid by the state for medical attendance to Meriden men. 

Dr. Insign Hough presented a bill for going after Benjamin Austin to Still- 
water, N. Y., on October 30, 1775: 

To Horse hire 130 miles at 2^ per mile . . . £1-1-8 

To my time 8 days at ^g per Day .... £1-4-0 

To cash paid expenses on said Journey . . . 18-5 

Simeon Perkins presented a bill for bringing home his apprentice Jared Ben- 
ham from beyond Albany. 

Lieutenant Joseph Shaylor was taken sick at Putney, Vt., after the northern 
<;ampaign and "was tended 16 days" at an expense of £1-10-0 and then was 
obliged to hire a man and a horse to bring him home, a distance of 190 miles at 
an expense of £6-16-18. 

John Stanley, of Wallingford, presented a bill for going to Fort George for 
his sick brother, Salmon, in Captain Cook's company. 

Dr. Aaron Andrews, of Wallingford, presented a bill for doctoring Charles 
Hall and Ephraim Chamberlain, two sick soldiers in Captain Cook's company. 

John Austin, of Wallingford, presented a bill for going for his sick son. Amos, 
six miles this side of Albany. 

A soldier on his way home from the campaign was taken sick at Edward Col- 
lins' home in Meriden and could go no further, so there he stayed helpless for 
six weeks, with Doctors Insign Hough and Isaac Hall attending him and Mr. 
Collins furnishing nurses and watchers. The quantity of rum and brandy ad- 
ministered to this sick man was prodigious during the two weeks when he was 
"worst." He finallv recovered and went on his wav. but his name is not given in 
the bill. 

The Wallingford records give a few particulars relative to mortalities in the 
service, viz. : 



KAKLV HISTORY. 28" 

Archable McLean, soldier, belony;iiig to company of Col. Street liall, died in 
camp near Boston, Xov. ii, 1775. 

fas. Frazer, a soldier, a regular, died Jan. 25, 1777. 

Hliah, son Capt. Benjamin and Alary Hall, died in camp at Xew York Aug. 

4, 1776- 

Abraham, son Abraham and Barbary Ives, died in army July 29, i/j(^*. 

Ambrose, son Abraham and Barbary Ives, died in army Sept. 4, 177^). 

William, son Samuel and Ehzabeth Aierriam, died at Xew York in battle with 
the enemy Sept. 16, 1776. 

Pitt, son Laban and Prudence Andrews, killed in battle at Greenwich, denied 
quarter by the enemy June 29, 1779. 

JUitler, son Charles and Sarah Ives, died a prisoner in Xew "S'ork with the 
enemy Aug. 15, 1779. 

As there was no manufacture of salt in this countrw the question of su])ply was 
an im])ortant one. A quantity was finally imported at Boston, and the state dis- 
tributed it pro rata to the different towns. ^ Its division among the inhabitants of 
Wallingford was a burning issue for some time and during 1777 there were many 
votes passed at town meetings relative to the matter. At a meeting held Dec. 
4, 1777, a committee to distribute it was appointed and it was voted "that the 
committee set off the quantity of salt for every thousand pounds in the list, which 
they shall class, and appoint some meet person head of said class to receive the 
salt that belongs to said class. 

"V'oted that the head of every class of a thousand ])Ounds that receives the salt 
that belongs to every class respectively shall ]iay to the selectmen of said town 
the cost of bringing said salt from Boston." 

At the same meeting they chose a committee to take care of the families of those 
in the Continental service. 

On Dec. 16, 1777, they "voted a tax of three pence on the pound for the ben- 
efit of the soldiers and their families that are now in the Continental army." 

C)n April 12, 1779 "voted relative to keeping the powder and stores belong- 
ing to said town, that the selectmen view the old Powder house and if they think 
proper, to repair the same, or otherwise to build a new one to put the town stores 
in." 

Un June 26, 1780, a committee was api:)ointed "to concert some measure for 
raising soldiers to fill up the Continental armw" 

Ucbanoii. C'ouiiiil of Safety Oct. 2 1770 
1 "WliPi-pas the great cry and want, of the nece.ssary article of salt thrpatens to disturb the p\ibllrk 
peace and safety of the state, that it makes it absolutely necessary in order to supply both the pub- 
lick and private necessities of the people and that in the most private and speedy method, therefore 
voted and resolved that a suitable number of vessels be provided at publick expense to be sent under 
convoy in order to get a speedy supply of that article and Capt. .John Deshon [of New Ix)ndon and 
ancestor of the late Rev. Dr. Deshon of this city] is appointed as an apent to carry this resolve Into 
execution." Capt. Deshon got the salt. 



288 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

"Voted that whosoever demands more for any merchandize, labour or any other 
article than he or they shall demand in Hard Money, or shall refuse to receive or 
pass the money lately emitted by the General Assembly of this state for any greater 
discount than he or they would for hard money ; he or they shall be deemed as 
trampling on the Public Faith, and we will withdraw our commerce from him and 
esteem him unfriendly to his country." 

The struggle for independence was long, arduous, and discouraging, and the 
amount of money raised by taxation was an almost crushing burden for the dif- 
ferent towns. 

But at last the dawn came, and the glorious news of independence and peace 
was trumpeted the length and breadth of the land. 

Note — Although not printed in chronological sequence this extract from the Connecticut 
Gazette supplements the town vote appearing on page 267. 

"At a meeting of the true sons of Liberty in Wallingford, in New Haven County, on the 
evening of the 13th day of January, 1766, after duly formed by choosing a moderator and 
a clerk, the following resolves were come into, viz. 

Resolved i That the late act of Parliament called the Stamp act is unconstitutional, 
and intended to enslave the true subjects of America. 

Resolved 2 That we will oppose the same to the last extremity, even to take the field. 

Resolved 3 That we will meet at the Court House in New Haven, on the third Tues- 
day of February ne.xt; and we desire all the sons of liberty in each town in the county 
would meet there b\- themselves or representatives; there to consult what is the best to be 
done in order to defend our liberties and properties and break up the stop to public affa'rs. 

Resolved 4 That this meeting be adjourned to the first Tuesday of February next, there 
to choose our representatives to attend the aforesaid meeting. 

.\ true copv, examined 

P. P. Clark." 

WAR OF 1812. 

With the exception of scattered Indian wars the American people were to 
dwell in peace until the second war with Great Britain in 1812. In one of these 
Indian wars, that of General St. Clair's unhappy expedition to the Northwest Ter- 
ritory in 1 79 1, a few INIeriden men were engaged. On the records of the First 
Congregational church are entered the following notices : 

Sept. 1791, Mr. Hotchkiss died in the army. 

Nov. 1791, Mr. Goodrich killed in the army. 

Nov. 1 791, George Hall died in the army. 

Feb. II, 1791, Joseph Shaylor, Jr., slain by Indians at Fort Jefferson. ^ 

Beyond these facts nothing has been learned. 

The war with England in 1812 was not popular in New England for one of 
the results was the embargo of the port of Boston and the effect was disastrous 
on the business interests of this section of the countrv. 



1 This item from tombstone in Broad street cemetery. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



289 



Xevertheless, Aleriden men did military service in this war and a goodly num- 
ber enlisted, but the writer has not been able to learn that they were ever engaged 
w ith the enemy. The records seem to show that they were stationed either at New 
Haven or Xew London for the period of a few weeks, viz. : from Sept. 5 to Oct. 
20, 1814. 

In the old Merriam house on Johnson hill in the west part of the town, is 
preserved a little blank book in which is recorded the roll of a company. It is 
that of the Second company in the Second regiment, commanded by Col. Elihu 
Sandford. In it are found the following names that were certainlv of Meriden: 



Capt. John Butler 
Lieut. Elisha A. Cowles 
."^ergt. Matthew Foster 
^ Darius Benham / 
Salmon Hall 
Asahel Curtis 
Samuel Curtis 
Ira ]^Ierriman 
James \\'right 
Abel Peck 
John Collins 
Levi Allen 
John E. Bradley 
William Andrews 



Lemuel Butler 
Elah Cam}), 2d. 
^^'illiam ^^lerriam 
William Merriam, 2d, 
Arba Merriam 
Stephen Morse 
Benjamin Buel 
Florus Cook 
David Clark 
Theophilus Hough 
Hervey Johnson 
Sylvester Merriam 
Simon H. Smith 
Solomon Smith. Jr. 



This roll corresponds with the published records of the state. 

In the Mexican War of 1847 there is evidence of but one Meriden man who 
served, and that was Lemuel O. Anthony, who enlisted in Co. F, 4th Inf., on April 
8, 1847, and died July 14, 1847. 

The account of the Civil war of 1861-65. from the ])en of Colonel Charles L. 
Upham. appears in Part 11. 



290 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



CHAPTER X\II. 

According to an eminent authority "in Connecticut the Tories were probably 
more numerous than in any other New England Colony. "" The same authority 
says this was on account of its proximity to New York : but this reason does not 
seem satisfactory. A more probable cause was the strength of the Church of 
England among the people. The growth of this communion was remarkable from 
about the year 1740. It began at a time when religion was at a low ebb in all the 
New England colonies : and when the attempt to arouse the people to a realization 
of their low spiritual condition resulted in the movement known as the "Great 
Awakening." A revulsion from such methods caused many of conservative 
ideas to fly to the bosom of that church which had previously been so detested by 
the colonists. But the question may be asked why should a member of the Church 
of England necessarily have been a Tory. The terms were certainly not synony- 
mous for many of the greatest patriots and leaders in the Revolution were Episco- 
palians, viz. : Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Madison, Robert Morris, Rufus 
King and many others. In the south, in several instances. Church of England 
clergymen went directly from the pulpit into the field to fight on the side of pa- 
triotism, and the chaplain of Congress during the war, was William White, after- 
wards bishop of Pennsylvania; why should it have been otherwise in Connecticut? 
Why did the clergy here to a man maintain their loyalty to the British crown? 
Unquestionably, on account of the oath of allegiance the}' took at the time of their 
ordination and their constant comnumication with England as agents of the So- 
ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and to some extent be- 
cause their stipends were almost wholly derived from the same organization. An- 
other phase of the situation which was singular to say the least is the fact that the 
persecution of Loyalists in Connecticut was not nearly so virulent as in other col- 
onies. Patriotism was as strong but it did not go to such extremes. From ^las- 
sachusetts and New York large numbers of Tories emigrated to Canada and 
England during and at the close of the war but the number from Connecticut was 
extremely small and the lists of confiscations of property were limited to a few 
cases. Connecticut thus early laid claim to her title of "the land of steady habits." 
Her patriots barked as loudly as in other colonies but they confined their efforts 
to intimidation and seldom resorted to extreme measures. An amusing illustra- 
tion of this attempt to intimidate was the baptismal adventure of Dr. Learning, 
the Episcopal missionary at Norwalk. who was called in April, 1776, to Stratford 



EARLV HISTORY. 29 1 

to christen a child in the chnrch under the name of Thomas Gage, in honor of the 
liritish commander at Boston. Immediately the Committee of Ins])ection sum- 
moned the doctor to give an ex])lanation of why he should have l)ai)lize(l a child 
with the name of such a monster of iniquity as General Gage. The poor man 
stated that he had no discretion in the matter but was obliged by the rubric to give 
the name in baptism which the godfathers and godmothers desired. Of course, 
the clergyman's position and reply were unanswerable and the Committee of In- 
spection were powerless to punish him, much as they desired to; so they contented 
themselves with publishing the facts in the Weekly Gazette, in order that the 
Friends of Liberty may pass judgment on the attempt of the clergyman "to insult 
and ridicule the Continental struggle in the defence of their just rights which are 
miist wickedl}' and injuriously invaded." How soon all the bitterness and enmity 
of the war were forgotten may be judged from the fact that William ."^amuel John- 
son, son of the first Episcopal clergyman in Connecticut, and a sympathizer with 
the British cause was one of the three delegates from this state to the convention in 
1787. which formed our nati(_)nal constitution, and he was afterwards elected as 
our first Cnited States senator. 

The Revolution found few Tories in .Meriden, judging from tlie records. ( )n 
June iS, 1 78 1, the state sold to Jonathan Meigs, of ^liddletown, sixt\-four acres^ 
known as the Rexford farm, lately the property of James Jauncey, of Xew York, 
who had joined the enemies of the United States and whose estate had been con- 
fiscated. This farm is bounded west by Country road, south by Holt's Hill road, 
and north by Curtis Home property. On February 8. 1785. the state sold the 
Stone House- farm, part of the same confiscated estate. 

We have already noted that when the pioneers of Meriden chose their farms 
and built their homes, Samuel Andrews and his good wife. Abigail, selected a 
tract of land about a mile west of the present railroad station, on what is now 
West Main street. Here, almost under the shadcnx of the grim and rugged Hang- 
ing Hills, their children, eight sons, were born and reared to manhood, and when 
the pioneers erected their primitive little churcli on the slope of Meeting House 
hill, just above that oak-shaded s])ot whence a l)ountiful and never-failing spring 
gushes forth into a brook that forms a trout-lovers' ]iaradise. Sanniel Andrews 
and his wife were enrolled among the faithful members of I 'arson Mall's dock. 

It was nearly three miles from their home to this little meeting house, and each 
Sunda\'. doubtless, the famih wended their way ihrougli tlie forest and uj) the 
hill to this pioneer sanctuary, and no suspici(jn existed in their minds or in 
those of their neighbors concerning their orthodoxy or loyalty to the I'uritan 
faith. 

r Land Records of Walliiigford. Vol. .\.\II.. p. 205. 
i UUtn. Vol. XXIV., p. 1 HJ. 



292 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In the course of time it became necessary for one of the sons, Laban by name, 
to go away from home to learn a trade ; so he was apprenticed to Captain Macock 
Ward, who Hved on Pond Hill, in the southern part of Wallingford, almost on 
the North Haven line. Here the captain lived, respected by his neighbors and 
prominent in the affairs of the town ; for he was many times deputy to the Gen- 
eral Court, and served with distinction in campaigns against the French and Span- 
ish. Governor Talcott, of Hartford, in 1740, writing to the Duke of Newcastle, 
mentions that he has commissioned Macock Ward, a lieutenant, and we also learn 
that he was a captain in the Crown Point campaign of 1755. Captain Ward was 
evidently a man with an inventive turn of mind, for the fact has come down to 
us that the first pleasure carriage to be used in Wallingford, was owned by him 
about the vear 1755. To it he had attached a sort of cyclometer arrangement. 
The carriage was a one-horse chaise and the diameter of each wheel was about 
five feet. P>v means of machinery and a bell attached to one of the wheels and 
put in motion by the progress of the vehicle, each revolution was recorded and 
the driver was notified when a mile had been traveled by the striking of the bell.^ 
One can imagine the sensation created by the doughty captain when riding about 
the streets of the town in his strange and wonderful vehicle. He carried on the 
manufacture of reeds used in hand looms and it is probable that it was to this 
trade Laban Andrews was bound as an apprentice. The only cause of complaint 
that the town could urge against the captain was that he was a Churchman or mem- 
ber of the Church of England, an organization that was decidedly not in general 
favor at this time in New England. Indeed, the Ward family generally seems to 
have been identified with this church, for his grandfather, Andrew, was on the 
register of members of the Episcopal church in Stratford and his brother, Am- 
brose, was a vestryman of Trinity church, New Haven, during the years 1774- 
1776, and 1 778- 1 780. But these facts cannot have much oppressed the captain 
vor he would not have occupied so prominent a position in the community and 
been so largely the recipient of the favors of his fellow townsmen. Young An- 
drews, as was the custom in those days, was made one of the family, and forth- 
with proceeded to fall in love with one of the captain's daughters, and was so 
successful in his suit that he was soon the affianced lover of the young woman. 
For some reason this engagement did not terminate in a marriage, but during the 
brief heyday of bliss the young woman, mindful of the welfare of the soul of her 
lover, succeeded in converting him to the faith of her father ; and the result was 
so lasting and thorough that the broken troth did not cause Laban to desert the 
altar from which he had hoped to lead Miss Content Ward as his blushing bride, 
but rather led him to cling more closely to it. and to become such a missionary in 

1 From a manuscript History of Wallingford, by Geo. W. Stanley, and now in the posses.sion of the 
Conn. Hist. Soc. The sketch was prepared a hundred years ago. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



293 



its behalf that it was not long before his parents and brothers had all become 
members of the Chnrch of England.^ Miss L'( intent eventnall_\- married the Rev. 
Ichabod Camp, who was missionar_\- in charge at Middletown and Wallingford. 
Their home was in the former place and liere she died some five years after her 
marriage. Mr. Camp soon moved to the West and settled in old Kaskaskia, 
where he met a terrible fate, being killed 1)}- an infuriated son-in-law while tr\ ing 
to protect his darghter. 

Samuel Andrews now determined that his }onngest son, Samuel b\- name, 
born April 2'j, 1737, should become a clergyman and to this end he and his sons 



united their means 
and Samuel w^as sent 
to Yale College. He 
graduated in the 
class of 1759, one of 
his classmates being 
Benjamin Trumbull, 
who became the or- 
thodox minister at 
North Haven and 
the famous historian 
of Connecticut. Tra- 
dition says that these 
two godly men hated 
each other as the 
devil is said to hate 
holy water and it is 
probable that in this 
connection tradition 
is correct. Samuel, 
after acting as a lay 
reader for a short 
time in Wallingford, 




was sent to h^ngland 
in 1 761, and in Au- 
gust he was ordain- 
ed to the ministry by 
the Bishop of Lon- 
don, and in January, 
1762, he returned to 
America. He was 
ni)w a missionarv 
regularly licensed by 
the "Society for the 
Propagation of the 
Gospel in Foreign 
Parts," an organiza- 
tion formed in Eng- 
land in 1701 to en- 
courage the growth 
of the church in the 
colonies. The so- 
ciety directed him to 
take charge of the 
wtirk in \\'alling- 
ford. Cheshire and 

North Haven ; and there for a number of years he quietly labored in his appointed 

field. 

His personality was charming, for in him were united ik^I only a handsome 

presence and delightful manners, but keen wit and humor, and affability and good 

nature. He won the respect and warmest affection, not only <if his parishioners, 

1 The main facts of the story of the conversion of the Andrews family to the Church of England 
and the Washington dinner in Wallingford are taken from a sketch published in The Calendar of 
March .30th and April 6, IS.'iO, by Rev. Hillard Bryant. He was rector of St. Paul's church, Wal- 
lingford, 1841-50, and at that time there were many still alive who would have been eye-witnesses of 
the dinner and only one generation removed from contemporaries of the Andrews conversion. 




REV. .SAMUEL ANDREWS. 
From an oil portrait now in England. 



294 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



but also of the whole community. The rectory which stood a little to the east of 
North Main street in Wallingford rested on the same foundation which supports 
the house until lately forming the home of the Choate School for Boys. He was 
well provided for by the income of fourteen acres of glebe land, a stipend from the 
Missionary Society and the contributions of his faithful parishioners. He mar- 
ried on September 13, 1764, Hannah Shelton, of Stratford, and was blessed by 
a family of six children and the manner of his living is indicated by the fact that 
he had two negro slaves. St. Paul's church stood at the corner of Main and 
Christian streets on the same lot on which the public school now stands, not far 
from the parson's home. His life was a happy one, although laborious, for his 
work extended over a large amount of territory. 

The church was prosperous and growing and reflected- much credit on the 
zeal and faithfulness of the efficient minister. He was rewarded by the warm 
regard of his flock, by the kind words of the venerable society in England, and 
lastly by a present of a gilded and much carved royal coat of arms which occupied 
a conspicuous place in the little parish church of Wallingford. The rapid growth 
of the church under his care was probably largely assisted by the bitter contro- 
versy which for some time had divided the Congregationalists in Wallingford into 
two hostile camps ; a controversy so bitter that all New England was exercised 
by it and the noise of the warfare had even penetrated to remote colonies. For 
reasons too tedious to enumerate and which it is doubtful if we should understand 
if related, the schism had become permanent, and henceforth for a number of 
years there were two Congregational churches in Wallingford. ^ Dr. James Dana 
w'as the pastor of the old society and the new or Wells society had called the Rev. 
Mr. Waterman to minister to them. Tradition says that a warm personal friend- 
ship sprang up between Dr. Dana and the Rev. Mr. Andrews: a friendship which 
was doubtless much tested and tried by their radically dififerent religious and po- 
litical views, but which lasted until the death of Dr. Dana in 1812. 

Most of the years of Mr. Andrews' ministry were uneventful until we ap- 
proach the time when the American Revolution broke out. His brother, Laban, 
for a number of years, was one of his church wardens, and his work was also as- 
sisted and supplemented by two strong and influential men who were a tower of 
strength to him in seasons of doubt and distress. These two men were our friend, 
Captain Macock Ward, and Captain Titus Brockett, a man of considerable means, 
and with very pronounced and not popular views on the relations which he thought 
ought to exist between the king and the colonists. Captain Brockett was so staunch 
a Tory that when he died in July, 1773, a tradition exists that it was only after 
strong efifort that his widow and friends were permitted to bury his body in 
the old cemetery, and then, only in the easterly portion of the graveyard, where 

^ A whole chapter in Dr. Trumbull's History of Conn, is devoted to this controversy. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



^95 



the ground was so soft and swampy, tliat tlic cot^n could only be tirnily fixed in 
the bottom of the grave by the aid of two strong fence rails bound together where 
they crossed each other diagonally just above the eartli. As proof of the truth of 
this tradition it may be stated that the gravestone of the old Tory is in a neglected 
and lonesome spot in the extreme eastern part of the cemetery, just south of the 
tool house, and it is necessary to pull aside the hedge before one can comfortablv 




ROVAL lOA'l' OF ARMS. 

Formerly in the Episcopal fhurch in Walliiigford, now in All Saints' church, St. An- 
drews, X. B. 

read the inscription, "In Memory of Capt. Titus Brockett wlio (lepartc<l this life 
July 20 1773 in the 74th year of his age." Xear at hand a mouldering and moss- 
covered stone announces that it was erected 'Tn Memory of Mary Brockett who 
died May ist A. D. 1777 in the 64th year of lier age." 

As was quite customary among people of means in those days of long ago. the 
opinionated and obstinate old captain had among his goods and chattels, two negro 



2q6 a century of meridex. 

slaves, a boy named Esau and a girl called Grace. In his will he directed that 
so long as his wife should live and remain his widow, the slaves should be her 
property ; but in the event of her death or remarriage, Esau was to be free. 

St. Paul's church was also handsomely endowed and the widow donated £50, 
the income of which was to go to the poor. We note among the personal effects 
of the captain a silver tankard (from which he doubtless frequently drank the 
health of King George and death to his enemies), six pairs of breeches, seven 
coats, seven waistcoats, a sword, wig box, hat case, gold buttons and silver buckles. 
Truh' he must have been a gorgeous individual when parading the streets of Wal- 
lingford clad in his finery, his sword at his side, and followed by his ebony-hued 
body servant, Esau. 

The sensational attempt to prevent the interment of Captain Brockett's body 
in the cemetery (which lies about three hundred feet east of the present Walling- 
ford railroad station) was but one of many evidences of the intensity of feeling in 
the country generally. 

Wallingford was like every other town in New England. Disgust with the 
acts of the British parliament was fast ripening the people for almost any step ; 
it needed but a match to fire the pent-up feelings, and the day at Lexington and 
Concord at last set free all restraint. Then on June 17th, 1775, came the battle 
of Bunker Hill where the green and raw provincial forces showed a grim deter- 
mination and bravery that should have warned the British of the seriousness of 
the conflict which was impending. 

Congress in Philadelphia had already appointed George Washington command- 
er-in-chief of the Continental forces and on the 21st he started for Cambridge with 
his retinue of officers to take charge of the army which invested Boston. On Sun- 
day, June 25th, he reached New^ York and on Wednesday, the 28th, he arrived at 
New Haven where he passed the night in the tavern of Isaac Beers, which stood 
near the location of the present New Haven House. Everywhere his progress 
was a triumphal procession and he was met with joy and acclamation. The next 
morning he departed from New Haven attended by great numbers of the inhabi- 
tants of the town. A New Haven paper of the times said : "They were escorted 
out of town by two companies dressed in their uniforms and by a company of 
young gentlemen belonging to the seminary in this place." One of this latter 
company was Noah Webster who marched at the head playing a fife or drum. At 
the rate they were moving they must have reached Wallingford a little before 
noon. This was on June 29th. Accompanying Washington was General Charles 
Lee, soldier of fortune, and also braggart and poltroon, who later went down to 
everlasting infamy and disgrace at the battle of Monmouth. 

Washington with his ofificers stopped to dine at the tavern and the clergy of 
the town were asked to dine with him. As he was a Churchman, it was but nat- 



EARLY HISTORY. 297 

ural that I'arson Andrews should he invited also, notwithstanding- his suspected 
Royalist s\nipathies. The Rev. Mr. Waterman of the Wells Society asked the 
hlessing'. and became so voluble and continued the prayer to such a length, that 
impatient General Lee could restrain his appetite no longer and sat down and began 
to eat while the prayer was still in progress. Tradition saxs nothing- as to the con- 
di'.ct of General Washington, but it is safe to assume that, as usual, it was irre- 
proachable. 

After the repast Parson Andrews was asked to give thanks, possibly with the 
idea that he would make some remark that could be twisted into treason to the 
commonwealth, but he refused to be drawn into the trap and with a keen sense 
of humor and with the idea of administering a rebuke to Parson Waterman for 
his excessively bad taste in boring- the guests with so many words, he repeated a 
verse from Ecclesiastes, v: 2, "Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart 
be hasty to utter anything before God : for God is in Heaven and thou upon earth : 
therefore let thy words be few,'" and sat down. To an ardent patriot the courag- 
eors minister's words must have been like waving a red flag in the face of a bull: 
but. to a patriot like Dr. Dana, with an abounding sense of the ludicrous and a 
not too pleasant feeling toward his rival, Mr. Waterman, the situation must have 
been an enjoyable one ; but the occasion was remembered and Parson Andrews' 
words rankled in the breast of many a patriot. 

After the repast General Washington and his retinue moved on to Wethers- 
field where they arrived in the afternoon and dined ; then on to Hartford and 
Springfield, at which latter place the}- were n-iet l)y a committee from the Mas- 
sachusetts Provincial Assembly who escorted the distinguished parl\' to Cam- 
bridge.^ 

In July a da}- of fasting and humiliation was proclaimed b}- the General Con- 
gress in I'hiladelphia and Parson Andrews chose the opportunity to deliver a ser- 
mon to his faithful flock. His text was from Amos v: 21, "I hate, I despise your 
feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies." 

Naturally, as soon as the text became generally known there was a profound 
sensation throughout the comnumity. Some one communicated the text to the 
Connecticut Gazette and New Haven Postboy and a very acrimonious correspond- 
ence followed in the same paper. ()ne correspondent stated that since Mr. .\n- 
drews had come to Wallingford three fasts had been proclaimed and that at the 
time of the Stamp Act in 1765 he had preached a sermon in his church on this 
.text: "Tn those days there was no King in Israel, but ever}- man did lliat which 

1 Washington again visited Wallingford in 1789. His diary, under date of October 19th, after a 
withering reference to the Inn kept by one Carrington, gives the following interesting information : 

"At this place we see the White Mulberry growing, raised from the seed, to feed the silk worm. 
We al.'io saw samples of lustring (exceedingly good) which had been manufactured from the cocoon 
raised in this town, and silk thread, very fine. This, except the weaving, is the work of private fam- 
ilies, without interfering with other business, and is likely to turn out a beneficial amusement." 



208 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

was right in his own eves." which showed his utter lack of sympathy with the 
motive which inspired the fast. At the time of the fast in 1774 he told his con- 
gregation on the Sunday previous that he did not think it worth while to read 
the proclamation, that he should not open his church and that his hearers might 
go where they wished. He himself was seen riding on his horse in the town 
street at the time of ])ublic worship and some of his people spent the day in fes- 
tivitv. His conduct at that time gave so much umbrage that on the third fast 
February ist, 1775, he opened his church for public worship. Mr. Andrews re- 
plied to his correspondents and followed up the matter by publishing his sermon, 
to which was attached the following affidavit: "August 12, 1775, The following 
discourse was examined and found to be a true copy of the original by Street 
Hall, Caleb Hall." The sermon certainly does not show any sympathy with the 
cause in which the country was now embarked. He warns his hearers to pause 
ere it be too late, reminds them of the prodigious strength of England, calls their 
attention to the fact that it is absurd to prate so much about liberty and equality 
of all men when so many men are held as slaves in various parts of the country. 
The sermon is mild in tone but it is anything but encouraging to the cause of 
patriotism. 

But notwithstanding the mild tone of the sermon the harm had been done, and, 
added to the disagreeable impression made at the dinner to the generals, caused 
excitement to reach a w'hite heat. A meeting of the Inspection Committee was 
held and the parson was put under heavy bonds to keep the peace and he was for- 
bidden to go anywhere except to and from his church without permission of the 
committee. The breaking out of hostilities and the Declaration of Independence 
must, of course, have cut ofif Mr. Andrews" stipend from England: and during 
the long and weary years, with some of his flock serving in the army and others 
deserting to the enemy his life cannot have been a cheerful one. It is probable 
that he did not continue to hold services in his church after the edict of the In- 
spection Committee had been issued. There was an extremely bitter feeling in the 
community against all Churchmen, for this term was generally considered 
synonymous with Toryism. A very respectable Episcopalian had been shot for 
being a Tory^ and it was rumored that the wells of several other Tories were to 
be poisoned. But it is believed that after the order of the bishop of London was 
sent over in 1778 directing the clergy to open their churches and hold services, 
omitting the prayer for the king and royal family that the parson called his fright- 
ened flock together and began once more to minister to his people. 

Laban Andrews, who was a staunch patriot, was one of the Inspection Com- 
mittee and also a selectman and presumably made life as easy for his unhappy 

1 Julius Yale, as a boy, heard that a Mr. Tyler, of Tyler's Mills, now Yalesville, a strong Tory, was 
shot while going from his mill to his house. No one was arrested, and no attention was paid to the 
body for some time. 



EARLY HISTORY. 299 

brother as possible. Laban's son Pitt (iio doubt named lor the great Karl of 
Chatham, the sturdy friend of America until his death ) met a tragic end in the 
arm\- at the early age of fourteen. 

The \\'allingford records briefly state: "Titt, son of Laban and Prudence An- 
drews, killed in battle at Greenwich: denied quarter by the enem\- June 29, 1779." 
This, no doubt, was but a minor engagement with the British just previous to their 
descent on Xew Haven in July, for we learn from some old Revolutionary rolls 
lately discovered in the town clerk's office at Wallingford, that several companies 
were detached to go to Greenwich the 15th of June, 1779. 

We wonder if the parson was allowed to call on that rank old Tory, Governor 
William Franklin of Xew Jersey (son of the immortal Benjamin), who w-as for 
some time confined in the old Carrington house on Main street, which stood just 
north of the present Simpson block. 

I'ranklin was the last royal governor of New Jersey and a natural son. Pie 
was a man of fine appearance and on a visit to England with his father made 
such an impression on the celebrated Earl of Bute, that, on his recommendation, 
he was appointed governor of New Jerse}' in 1763. During the first days of the 
dispute of America with the mother country, he became involved with his as- 
sembly which soon declared him to be an enemy to his country, and gave orders 
that he should be sent a prisoner to Connecticut. He was accordingly placed in 
the custody of a guard commanded by a captain wdio had orders to take him to 
Governor Trumbull. The officer in charge halted at Hackensack. and was re- 
buked by \\^ashington for his delay, as the commander-in-chief believed that the 
deposed governor was designing to effect his escape; basing his l)clic'f on the fact 
that he had refused to sign the parole and that a letter to .Mrs. Franklin liad l)cen 
intercepted. 

He arrived in Connecticut July 5. 1776. He was immediately sent in Wal- 
lingford after he had signed his parole. He was at first placed in the inn, then 
kept b\' Cai)tain Johnson. It was crowded with officers, soldiers, travelers and 
townsmen whose sympathies were all on the patriotic side. Naturally his lite was 
made exceedingly disagreeable. He w'as insulted and jeered at and even threat- 
ened with assassination. The Tories of the town who were among the most re- 
spectable and wealthy families in the community, desiring to assist the governor 
and relieve him from his sufferings, api)lied to Mrs. Potter, the wife of Dr. Jared 
Pfttter, for a suite of rooms in her spacious, well-furnished house on the otlier side 
of the street. ])romising to see that she was ampl\- reimljursed. Dr. l^itter, an 
ardent and strenuous patriot, was aw^ay with the army, and so she agreed to the 
proposition and Governor FVanklin was quietly removed at night to his new^ 
abode where he was kept secluded and comparatively secure. No one visited him 
except a few of his Torv friends and. in the meantime, he amused himself as best 



300 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



he could with Mrs. Potter's httle girls, with whom he walked in the flower garden 
back of the house. He made himself as gay a companion as possible, playing, 
chatting and romping with them, and he would eagerly watch the clock to see 
the hands indicate the hour when they would return from school. It soon be- 
came known that the governor was in Mrs. Potter's house and the patriots openly 
promised to visit personal violence upon him so that both parties became alarmed 
at what might be the outcome of the situation. Rumors of poisoned wells 
and personal violence were circulated. The Whigs noticed the frequent visits 
of the Tories to the prisoner's apartments and believed that a plot was on 
foot to take him quietly away at night to the seashore and put him on some British 
boat in the Sound. ^ Petitions were sent to Governor Trumbull asking him to re- 
move the prisoner to a place of greater safety. The Governor agreed to 
do as he was asked and he was taken to East Windsor where he was quar- 
tered in the house of Captain Ebenezer Grant. In 1777 he requested liberty to 
visit his wife who was sick in a house a few miles away. In reph- to his request 
General Washington refused to grant it, although he wrote him a sympathetic 
letter. Mrs. Franklin continued to pine and finally died in great unhappiness in 
1778 and on a monumental tablet erected to her memory in St. Paul's church. Xew 
York, we may read: "Compelled by the adverse circumstances of the times to 
part from the husband she loved and at length despairing of the soothing hope of 
his speedy return, she sunk under accumulated distresses." In 1778 an exchange 
of prisoners was effected and Governor Franklin was removed. His course was 
a source of great mortification to his distinguished father. 

Had Dr. Tared Potter been at home it is very doubtful if Governor Franklin 
would have been able to find refuge in the patriotic doctor's house for his loyalty 
to the Continental government was so strong that he would hardly have tolerated 
the idea of harboring a traitor in his house under any conditions. - 

We wonder if the Inspection Committee gave the parson permission to condole 
with and try to comfort his former parishioner, the unhappy Abiathar Camp, who 
was for a while confined on parole in his own house in Wallingford? Mr. Camp 
was a resident of New Haven and followed the profession of shipmaster. The ship- 
ping news column of the weekly gazettes of the period are constantly mentioning 
the arrival or departure of Captain Abiathar Camp from or to such ports as St. 

1 See N. H. Colony Hist. Soc. Col. Vol. 11., pp. 320-1, for the main facts of this account of 
Franklin's detention in Wallingford. 

2 Dr. Potter was a man of importance in the community, and it was he who afterwards introduced 
silk-worm culture into Wallingford. He corresponded with Benjamin Franklin on the subject, and 
stocked his farm with mulberry trees, the seed for which he received from Franklin. 

In 1805, that Baron Munchausen, the Rev. Samuel Peters, author of that lying book, "A Genera! 
History of Connecticut," visited Dr. Potter for some weeks, having been referred to him by President 
Jefferson in his efforts to acquire some lands of which he had procured the title. The asperities of 
the war were so far forgotten that the clergyman and physician became very good friends, and had 
many a laugh over the clergyman's effort in historical literature. 



EARLY HISTORY. 3OI 

Martins, the Barbadoes or Nova Scotia. He was evidently a man of considerable 
wealth, owning, besides his residence in New Haven, farms in Eastbury and Wal- 
lingford. He was a vestryman of Trinity church, New Haven, and a man of 
verv respectable position in the community. 

He was eventually allowed to leave Wallingford and return to his home in 
New Haven, having become what was known as a Recanter, but at the time of 
the invasion of New Haven by the IJritish in 1779, he left with the enemy when 
thev retired from the town and settled at last in New Brunswick where he died 
at the age of eighty-four years. 

At a town meeting held in 1775, a Committee of Inspection was elected to en- 
quire into all cases of suspected loyalty and to take such measures as were neces- 
sary. The committee did not let the grass grow under its feet. The members 
were as follows : Eliakim Hall, Stephen Andrews, Deacon David Hall, Ensign 
Caleb Atwater, Isaac Bull, Uriah Collins, Nathaniel Hart for the First society ; 
Captain Asahel Hall, Major Reuben Atwater, Captain Moses Atwater, David 
Brooks, Samuel Beach, Esq., Lieutenant ]\Iunson ]\Ierriman for Cheshire parish. 
and James Hough, Ensign Divan Berry, Lieutenant Allen Roys, Laban Andrews, 
Captain Hezekiah Johnson and Miles Johnson for Meriden parish : another com- 
mittee was appointed Dec. 17, 1776. 

In the Connecticut Journal Nov. 22, 1775, appears the following: 

"At a meeting of the Committee of Inspection for the u>\\u ni Wallingford, 
in the county of New Haven, on the 6th day of Nov 1775 ISenjamin llall,^ the 
3rd, of said Wallingford, having been notified to appear before the committee ami 
answer a complaint made against him, for a ])reach of the Hon. Continental .Asso- 
ciation against his attendance. To the charge exhibited against him pleaded not 
guilty: whereupon the committee proceeded to hear and examine the evidence and 
on a full and fair trval are unanimously of the opinion, that the complaint was 
fully proved against said Hall, and that he has violated the nth article of the 
< "ontinental Association, in employing Asa Austin of said \\^illingford, as a 
-ihoolmaster who was then considered as an enemy to his country, and as such 
had been advertised in the Connecticut Journal, and that said Hall has also in- 
dustriously used his influence and endeavours, to frustrate the designs of the 
Grand Continental Congress, in representing them to be a hot headed absolute 
body of men, aiming at the subversion of the English constitution, and exercising 
a tyrannical dominion over the colonies: In justifying parliamentary measures, 
and in casting virulent reflections upon the committees acting under the Con- 
gress: such as being arl)itrar\ in their })r(^ceedures — and meanly, and most ridic- 

1 In the iKsue of the Connecticut Journal April 12, 1780, the estate of Benjamin Hall, late of Wal- 
lingford, politically deceased, by joining the enemies of the U. S. is adverti.sed as in the hands of an 
administrator. 



302 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



uouslv employed to peep into old womens tea pots and pots. Strictly adher- 
ing to the doings of the Congress we now hang up to public view the aforesaid 
Benjamin Hall, the 3rd as an inveterate enemy to the rights of British America: 
.and most devoutly recommend to all the friends of this once happy but now in- 
jured and bleeding country,, forthwith, upon the publication of this, to withdraw 
all connections and commercial dealings from said Hall, as directed by the afore- 
cited Congress in the nth article of their Association: And the Chairman is de- 
sired to procure a copy of this judgment to be inserted in the public papers. 

Signed by order 
Caleb Johnson, Chairman." 

Asa Austin, the schoolmaster, was also in dire disgrace for rash remarks: 
after considering the matter carefully he was ready to do penance for his transgres- 
sion, and accordingly we find in the same newspaper, under date of Dec. 20. 1775, 
the following: 

"I, Asa Austin, of Wallingford, being sensible that I have contemptuously 
violated the third article of the Honorable Continental Association, and treated the 
Committee of Inspection with contempt, in refusing to treat with them when 
duly notified to appear before them : and also in speaking unfavorably to the 
measures taken by my country in defence of her stipulated rights, whereby I have 
greatly offended the good people of the United Colonies : which inconsiderate 
conduct I heartily reflect upon, praying the forgiveness of all whom I have justly 
offended ; and as I am hearty in my request, I promise that for the future I will 
stand by my country, in defence of its sacred liberties, and utterly discountenance 
and disunite from those who are iniiuical to the rights of British America. 

Asa Austin 

looted, that the above confession is accepted upon the signer thereof, forthwith 
publishing the same in the Gazette. A true copy examined. 

Wallingford. Dec 11 1775 Per David Brooks, Clerk" 

The power of this inspection or vigilance connnittee must have been great in 
■crushing out all independence of statement. 

Parson Andrews" influence among his parishioners in behalf of the cause of 
the mother country must have been far reaching and thorough. Abraham Blakes- 
lee, of North Haven, Senior Warden of the parish there and captain of a military 
company in the Second Regiment, having manifested his disaft'ection to the gov- 
ernment by speaking contemptuously of the measures taken by the General As- 
sembly was broken and cashiered from office and was summoned to appear at the 
bar of the General Assemblv to answer for seditious conduct. 



MAKLV HlSTOin'. 3O3 

111 1778 ten members of his parish in Xorth Haven sent the following letter 
to " lohn Martin, Commissary General at Xew York with speed, Xorth Haven, 
l-'ebruary 12, 1778, We the inhabitants of Xorth Haven whose names are under- 
written are the king's loyal subjects and well-wishers to his Majesty, George HI. 
We have, therefore, provided a considerable quantity of provisions and tobacco for 
the use of his arm\ and intend to send at the first opportunity we have to Xew 
^'ork or Long Island. We have, likewise, several young men that intends to 
join the regulars the first chance they have. 

We hope the God of Heaven will succor you in your endeavors to sul)due the 
rebels to \our subjection, so we must conclude }"(iur heart}' friends and well- 
wishers." 

l*"ortunately for the signers of this document it did not become public until long 
.ifter the war was ended. 

I'arson Andrews" brothers in Meriden did not escape without a visit from the 
same authority which was oppressing him. Moses, who lived on the old home 
farm in Meriden, had been forbidden by the Inspection Committee to leave it under 
any pretext whatsoever and Denison, another brother, was laboring under a like 
sitvation. To Moses the most grievous part of his punishment was in being for- 
bidden to worship God with his brethren on the Lord's Day and in his ])arish 
church. He petitioned for permission to go to church on Sundays in Walling- 
ford. The request was refused, but he was graciousl\- given liberty to at- 
tend the Congregational meeting in Meriden. To a Churchman of the An- 
drews stripe this favor was galling, l-'inding that he would not be allowed to at- 
tend the church of his choice he determined to have services in his own 
house. Immediately liis parlor was transformed into a chapel. Slabs and 
blocks of wood served as benches and the other Churchmen who were his neigh- 
bors were invited to attend. Moses himself acted as lay reader. This was the 
beginning of St. Andrew's church. .Meriden. The services here so humbly be- 
gun, were continued in the same house for a quarter of a century. 

It should not be forgotten that at the time of the Revolutionary War. W alling- 
forrl was a much larger place relativeK' tlian it is to-da\. Ii liad almost as many 
inhabitants as Hartford and a trifle larger tax list. In fact, it was one of the 
large towns of the state and was generallv noted as a stronghold of patriots of 
which there is evidence in the record of ihe taxes laid during the different years 
of the war. lu 1775 the tax rate was 2d. on the ' £. in 1771) id. in 
^777 M.'/^'*'- ''1 1779 39fh ^iii'l ill 1780 it reached the enormous sum of ()s. 4d. ou 
the £, which was ])ractically confiscation, or else it denoted a great depreciation 
of the circulating medium. While Wallingford did not furnish any noted men 
to the Revolutionary cause it had a large body of tro<ips in the field officered by 
able Wallingford men. 



304 A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 

Wallingford served as a place of detention for many others who had been 
voted inimical to their country. These prisoners were confined in different houses 
and on January 21, 1777, it was voted that all regular prisoners that shall be sta- 
tioned in Wallingford and quartered in the houses of different families shall not 
be allowed to go about or abroad without license from the heads of these families. 
A large powder house was stationed in the town which seems to have been the 
cause of much anxiety to the selectmen and citizens generally. Guards were ap- 
pointed to look after it carefully and see that the hated Tories might not find op- 
portunity to cause the powder to be exploded. Wallingford was as susceptible as 
any other part of the country to news of success or hope for the future, and we find 
in the Connecticut Journal of May 6, 1778, a letter from Wallingford dated May 
1st, which reads as follows: "Tuesday last a number of respectable inhabitants 
assembled towards evening to celebrate in civil demonstration of Joy the late im- 
portant intelligence from Europe brought by the frigate La Sensible. The re- 
joicings were introduced with thirteen discharges of cannon, followed by three 
cheers. To this succeeded the same number of volleys with small arms with the 
under-mentioned toasts interspersed with the cheers repeated. The whole was 
conducted with the greatest propriety and regularity and the company dispersed 
early in the evening."" We will not give a complete list of the toasts. Among 
them were the following which have some interest for us because they show the 
cause of the rejoicing : 

"France and Spain." 

"The American Ambassador at the Court of France."' 

"General Gates and his brave army who gave the last deadly blow to the pride 
of Britain."" 

"General Stark and the brave militia who fought the battle of Bennington." 

"May monopolizers and withholders, Tories and Tyrants, meet with the confu- 
sion they so justly deserve.'" 

"May the internal Foes of America never taste the Sweets of Liberty." 

"May the Union of the American States be perpetual and their Prize Free- 
dom until time shall be no more." 

Wallingford was intensely democratic in its sympathies and opposed bitterly 
the attempt to retire officers with five years full pay ; and the idea of a Society of 
the Cincinnati was too odious to contemplate. At a town meeting held in Sep- 
tember, 1783, the local representatives to the legislature were instructed to oppose 
all encroachments of the American Congress upon the sovereignty and jurisdiction 
of the separate states and to pursue a strict and thorough investigation of the great 
and interesting question whether Congress was authorized by the Federal consti- 
tution to grant half-pay for life to the officers of the armv. 



EARLY HISTORY. 305 

r.iU all things have an end and at last the weary war was hronght to a close 
and the country hegan to resume a normal condition. And yet this was a time 
which has been well-called "The Critical Period of American History." For in 
some places anarchy stalked abroad and it began to look as if the liberty for which 
so much blood had been shed was but a mockery and a delusion. 

l'"inallv Mr. Andrews recognized the inevitable, that the separation from the 
mother countr\- was irrevocable and complete, and in .\pril, 1785, signed the 
oath of fidelity to the state of Connecticut. 

With man}- of his dock gone and the rest impoverished and discouraged, the 
outlook was not cheering. LJroken in spirit and in health, he decided to leave the 
c<-)untr\ and settle under the IJritish crown in .\'ew Brunswick. In spite of 
pravers and entreaties thither he went in the spring of 1786 and chose as his asy- 
lum the town of St. Andrews, where, from his home he could look across the St. 
Cn)i.\ river and see the shores of Maine. He returned to Wallingford in the fall. 
but in the spring of 1787 he bade farewell to his parishioners and with his family 
made the journey to St. Andrews, taking with him the royal coat of arms which 
for so long a time had been a conspicuous object in St. Paul's church. Doubtless 
during the war of the Revolution it was safely hidden in some cellar or garret 
sccrre from the prying eyes of meddlesome patriots. lUit shortly after the ad- 
vent of Parson Andrews in St. Andrews it was hung on the walls of All Saints' 
church, which was built about 1792. and although the old church is gone, still 
it hangs on the walls of the new sanctuary to this day, brilliant with paint and gold. 

-Mr Andrews Ixnight at first a home lot in St. .\ndrews, but on .March 15. 
I7<)i. ■"Samuel ( Jsborn Esq. late commander of his Majesty's ship the Ariadne 
and now of London, for £150,'' sold to Samuel Andrews, clerk and missionary of 

I', (i.. an island called Chamcook, containing 500 acres. On this island, over- 
looking St. Andrews, ]\Ir. Andrews built his house and here he passed the re- 
mainder of his life. A large jiart of the island is now owned by Sir William \'an 
Home, of Canada, and on it he lias built a beautiful country seat. The island is 
now called Minister's Island. 

Mention has been made of the friendship e.xistitig between Dr. Dana and .Mr. 
Andrews. On Christmas day, 1788, an event occurred which is strong evidence 
of this fact, and considering the feeling of hostility at that time between the Con- 
gregational and Episcopalian bodies it is evidence of a kind we would not expect 
to find. On this festival dav Dr. Dana preached a sermon in St. Pauls church 
on "The Nativity of Christ," and after the discourse delivered tlir following 
jirayer. "May grace and ])eace from ( lod our lather and from the Lord Jesus 
Christ be multiplied to the flock of (lod who usually worship in this sanctuary. 
May they remember how they have received the messages of salvation from their 
late worthy pastor and hold fast and repent. W'e commend him and his family 
to the grace of God. Grant him more ])erfect and confirmed he.ilth. iVotect his 
20 



3o6 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

life and usefulness. May the wilderness and the solitary place be glad for the 
good tidings he may bring and welcome him saying: Blessed be he that cometh 
in the name of the Lord." 

Some time after his arrival in St. Andrews the good parson w-as stricken with 
a paralytic stroke which for a while incapacitated him for work in his new field. 
During the winter of 1792- 1793 he made a visit to Wallingford. How much of 
sadness must have mingled with the pleasure of revisiting the old familiar places. 
His friend, Captain Macock Ward, had passed away an unrepentant Tory to the 
last. He never received an office from his fellow-townsmen after being elected 
to the Colonial Court in 1774 and he sturdily refused to the end to sign the oath 
of fidelity to the state of Connecticut. Dr. Dana had been called to the First 
church in New Haven. Mr. Andrews' father, Samuel, and brother, Laban, had 
been gathered to their fathers. Death had been busy in many places among his 
friends. But his brothers, Denison and Moses, were still living in Meriden and 
doubtless many of his hours were passed wath them. He officiated to some ex- 
tent in the churches in Wallingford, North Haven and Cheshire and performed 
the marriage ceremony for children of his former parishioners. 

And now the time had come to return to his home in New Brunswick ; the 
farewells were said and the sloop "Prosperity," Isaac Kirtland, of Wallingford, 
master, was lying in New Haven harbor at Tomlinson's Wharf. In the Connec- 
ticut Journal for several weeks there appeared the following advertisement: "For 
St. Andrews, New Brunswick, the Sloop Prosperity will sail early in April. For 
freight or passage apply to the Master in Wallingford or to Mr. Isaac Tomlinson 
in New Haven." The first week in April the anchor was raised, the prow was 
headed towards St. Andrews ; on board were the Rev. Samuel Andrews and his 
wife, and his son and wife. The voyage was prosperous until they reached a ledge 
of rocks a few miles off the coast of Mt. Desert. Unfortunately the boat ran full 
head on this ledge although the sea was smooth and it was soon apparent that 
the boat was to be a total less. The passengers and crew were with difficulty 
saved but they were finally landed on the shore in safety, and eventuallv they 
were transported to St. Andrews. ^ Evidently the memory of this shipwreck al- 
ways stayed with the good parson for he never again came back to Wallingford 
to revisit the scenes of his childhood and early ministry. He continued to labor 
in St. Andrews until his death September 26, 1818. at the ripe old age of eighty- 
one years. The local Canadian paper contained the following obituary notice: 

"Died at St. Andrews on the 26th ulto. in the 82d year of his age the Rev. 
Sam'l Andrews, a venerable missionary from the S. P. G. and Rector of St. 
Andrews. This pious and amiable character has. retired from the world full of 
years and full of the admiration and esteem of all who knew him — to his family 
and friends an irreparable loss — and while memory holds its seat the recollection 

1 From a New Haven newspaper of that period. 



EARLY HISTORY. 3O7 

of his virtues and of his worth will be consecrated in the hearts of all his Par- 
ishioners. He was interred on Tuesday the 29th ult. after a sermon preached 
upon the occasion and his funeral was attended by the whole parish, the military 
and a most respectable body of clergy and gentry from the neighborhood, and of 
the American shores, amidst the tears and griefs of a grateful people." 



3o8 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

If one takes the electric car line and rides to the end of the track in East Mer- 
iden, nearly to the Middletown boundary, one is in Bangall. There are no precise 
limits to the district, and one hardly knows when Bangall is reached or when it 
is left ; but still the name is there and has been for a long time, and people joke 
about it and try to explain its origin in various ways. The writer has heard sev- 
eral theories that attempt to account for it. 

Dr. Davis gives this story in his history: "Capt. Benjamin Hall had a tavern 
at the Noah Pomeroy place, which in those days was a place of great resort by 
parties who came from Middletown, Durham and Wallingford. One night in 
particular, a large party came from Middletown and kept up their frolics all night: 
in the words of Captain Hall, 'they banged all creation' : from which circumstance 
came the name of Bangall." 

Here is one }arn that was told by its narrator to the writer as a veracious ac- 
count of the origin of the name : Years ago a man in the Bangall country named 
Samuel Baldwin was an eccentric character who, instead of bursting into profanity 
when stirred by excitement, always exclaimed, "bang it all, bang it all." Thus 
were his emotions relieved, and thus he gave a name to the neighborhood. 

Another explanation which the writer heard from an old man who has always 
lived in the vicinity, is that the young men who worked in the Pomeroy tin shops 
in that locality were so noisy and boisterous and full of horse play, that the name 
arose in that way. In fact, one can hear various yarns from the older inhabitants, 
but they all agree in this particular, viz. that there was a great deal of "banging" 
in the vicinity. 

If this were the only instance of the use of the word Bangall the writer would 
not be at all sceptical, and would be inclined to believe this derivation. But, un- 
fortunately for these various explanations, there are six other Bangalls, all located 
in New York state. The following is the list : 

Bangall P. O., Dutchess Co. 
Bangall (Guildersleeve P. O.), Albany Co. 
Bangall (East \'enice P. O.), Cayuga Co. 
Bangall (Taylor P. O.), Cortland Co. 
Bangall (Parish P. O.), Oswego Co. 
Bangall (Easton P. O.), Washington Co. 

In every case, except the first, they are all hamlets in townships. 



EARLY HISTORY 



309 



The writer has no theory to offer but he can hardly Ijeheve that the 
Meriden story is a satisfactory reast^i : if it is, then we must assume that 
the '"banging" habit was a general one in various parts of the country at some time 
in the past. It seems more likely that it is an old place name, and that the various 
yarns offered to account for its origin, are simply developments of the same in- 
genuity which would exi)lain the origin of the word Meriden In saving that it 
was once a Merry-den. 

Mr. Berthold Fernow. the otficial translator of the earlv Dutch records of Xew 




OLD BRENTON, OR CASP.AR II.xr.L PLACE. 

\ ork. and a man of profound kin)wledge of early colonial Dutch and I-jiglish. 
suggested to the writer that perhaps the word is a corruption ..f the old I-jiglish 
place name of Bagnall. 

r.ut whatever the origin of the word, it is certain that if the earlv inhabitants 
of the ea.st part of ]\Ieriden were seeking a name for that locality which would 
1)0 descriptive, they could not have done better than to select that of Hall 
farms. A hundred years ago it would have been perfectly safe to address anv 
man one met in P.angall as Mr. Hall. Although the I'.aldwin family had secured 
an entering wedge on the west side of the loealitv. their pif-cn.-r but .served to 



3IO 



A CENTURY OF MERlDliX. 



emphasize the predominance of the name of Hall. And they were all scions of 
the ancient Hall stock of Wallingford. 

Perhaps the most prominent man in Meriden and certainly of his name, when 
the town was incorporated in 1806, was Brenton Hall. The Hon. Brenton Hall 
he was called and he was a worthy representative of the stock. 

He was born in Cheshire April 2, 1738, and was a son of Rev. Samuel of 
that parish, and his wife, Ann, the daughter of Jonathan Law, governor of Con- 
necticut. He was a great-great-grandson of Governor Brenton of Rhode Island. 
Hence his name. His father, Rev. Samuel, had, at an early date, received a grant 
of two hundred acres in Meriden parish, in the extreme eastern part, fronting on 
the north on old Liberty street. The farm ran down to Black Pond on the south 
and adjoined the Middletown line on the east. There is evidence that Brenton 
was in Meriden as early as 1760, and on February 18, 1762, he married Lament, 
the daughter of Jonathan Collins, whose old house has already been pictured, 
now known as the Samuel Clark place. In 1767 his father presented to Bren- 
ton the farm of 200 acres which then included a dwelling and other buildings. 

The house is said to have been built by Rev. Samuel for his son at about the 
date of his marriage, viz. 1762. A year or two ago, this dwelling, which was fast 
going to decay, was pulled down. It has already been described as fronting on 
old Liberty street, several hundred feet east of Preston avenue, at the top of the 
hill. This picture is a reproduction of one that appeared in the Hall Genealogy. 

According to the "Hall Ancestry," Brenton Hall was a man of dignified bear- 
ing, a clear, dark complexion, bright intelligent eyes, and dark brown hair. He 
was Meriden's first representative to the General Assembly, and had acted in like 
capacity for the town of Wallingford previously, and was largely instrumental in 
having Meriden set ofif as a separate township. Brenton was first cousin of Col. 
Street Hall of Revolutionary fame and first cousin of Lyman Hall, a signer of the 
Declaration of Independence, and during the Tryon Invasion of New Haven in 
1779, Brenton as ensign, marched with a company of Meriden men to the scene of 
action. He was twice married, his second wife being Widow Abigail Guy, of 
Branford. 

He died Nov. 25, 1820, and his body lies buried in the old Broad street ceme- 
tery. His son, Caspar, inherited the homestead and many acres of the farm and 
Mrs. Joseph Morse, of Meriden, is one of his children. Collins Hall, the second 
son of Brenton, married in 1795 and, doubtless, built his home at that time. It 
is still standing on the east side of Pomeroy avenue, at its junction with East Main 
street or Middletown turnpike. 

On Nov. 9, 1796, his father gave him a farm of sixty acres "on which he now 
dw'ells," showing that the house w-as then built. The northwest corner of the 
farm is stated to be near Constant Miller's mill dam. Collins died in 1849. When 
the house was built the turnpike was not in existence. 



EARLY HISTOKV. 



311 



Another son of Brenton, Augustus, was given a farm by his father that fronted 
west on F^reston avenue, and the house he built is still standing and is located 
on that avenue on the cast side, about 160 rods north of East Main street. Walter 
Hall, the son of Augustus, lives in the old Ambrose Hough place, at the corner of 
1 iberty and Broad streets. 

At the junction of Pomeroy and Murdock avenues formerly stood a very old 
house which was bought and lived in by Noah Pomeroy when he came to Meri- 
iden about 1816. Tt was that in which Captain Benjamin A. Hall was supposed 
to have kej)t the tavern that gave the section ihc name of B>angall. Many vears 




Photo by K. S. Godfrey. 



COLLINS IL\LL I'L.VCL 



ago the I'omeroy family moved the did dwelling a few hundred feet east of its 
former location and there it stands to-day. A modern house occu]iies the old site. 
It has lost the dignified aspect it presented when it stood on its former site 
shaded by lordly old maples. Its ancient lines, hnwever, are still ap]X'ircnt, al- 
though it has lost its great chimney. The first mention the writer has been able 
to find relating to this house is dated March 2^. 1751. when Israel Hall and his 
wife, Abigail, deeded it and sixty acres of land to j'liineas Hall. The land ex- 
tended north to Black Pond P^rook and it was surrounded on three sides by the 
land of Enos and Abraham Hall and on the east also by a highway. The descrip- 



312 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



tion is the same very nearly of the farm afterwards bought by Noah Pomeroy, 
and without much doubt the house is the same. 

This Israel Hall was a son of Thomas and the brother of Daniel whose farm 
was further down Murdock avenue and whose house has already been described. 
It is probable, therefore, that it is a very old one and the date of erection was con- 
siderably earlier than that of the transfer in 1751. Captain Benjamin A. was cer- 
tainly a son of a Phineas — probably the grantee in this deed. Here Noah Pomeroy 
lived for many years. 

If now we retrace our steps to East Main street and then follow Preston ave- 
nue towards the north, we pass, at the corner of old Liberty street, another old 
Hall homestead site: the house was known for manv vears during the last cen- 




BENJAMIN A. HALL, OR NOAH POMEROY PLACE. 



tury as the Captain Booth place and it stood just south of the present home of 
William H. Booth. Before the days of Captain Booth it was the dwelling of an- 
other Phineas Hall. The house was a very old one, and when and by whom it 
was built the writer has been unable to learn from either records or tradition. 

After passing the former home of Augustus Hall, we come within less than a 
half mile to the Nelson Hall homestead on the left, and then just before Baldwin 
avenue is reached, we pass the George L. Hall house on the east, now occupied by 
his widow and two sons, George A. and Clayton F. From what has been written 
it can readily be seen that a large portion of the eastern part of Aleriden was the 



EARLY HISTORY, 



313 



domain of the Hall family. It is a strange fact that not one of all the roads in 
this section bears the name of Hall. 

r>ut before we leave this interesting- family neighborhood, there is another Hall 
homestead to be seen. Just as we reach Baldwin avenue, on the west side of the 
street, is the wreck of an old house that is in a most pitiable condition. All its dig- 
nitv has gone, and it is now used as a wood house. 

As in the case of so many of these old houses, it seems to have grown on its 
site ; the old builders, now and then, combined the hap])y faculties of harmony of 
environment and utilit}-. They fre(|uontly nestled their houses into some nook or 
sheltered spot, in a way that is pleasing to the artistic sense. 




MOSES 1I.\LL HOUSi:. 



It was once known as the Moses Hall ])lace. built by Phineas for his son. but 
just when, it has been impossible to learn. Moses was doubtless the soldier in the 
Revolution of that name, .so that it is safe to assume that the house has a llavor of 
very respectable antiquitw In the early pan of the last century it was known a:- 
the Loyal Booth place. 

If now we go w'est on llaldwin avenue, we come within half a mile to the 
homestead of Nathan S. Baldwin, located on a gentle knoll, where a sweep of the 
eye takes in the broatl meadows to the south. Hanked (ju the east by the bold 
ranges of Higby and Beset mountains. To the north lie Mt. Lamentation and the 
Notch leading to \\'estfield parish. Here Mr. I'aldwin has passed his life, tilling 
the meadows of the farm bought b\ his father. Moses, about the year 1815. of 



314 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Timothy Ives. Timothy was a carpenter and built the house in the year 1798. 
Moses was a son of James who came from Cheshire in 1796 and bought an 
interest in Hough's Mills in that year. James was a soldier in the war of the 
Revolution. 

If now, after leaving Mr. Baldwin's house, we turn north on Bee street until 
we come to the Westfield road and then turn west, passing the mill site known 
as Hough's or Baldwin's, we soon come to Broad street. A little south of the junc- 
tion stands a house, No. 1065. known as the Asahel Curtis place. In it were born 
the late Geo. R. Curtis, Mrs. Robert A. Hallam and Asahel Curtis, Jr. The house 
was built probably, by Joel Yale in the year 1807, and was his homestead for a num- 
ber of vears. until he moved to another part of the town. It was originally a story 




NATHAN BALDWIN PLACE. 



and a half structure, and was bought with four acres of ground in 181 3 by Isaac 
Lewis (father of the late Isaac C. Lewis) and Asahel Curtis. In a building ad- 
joining the firm of Lewis & Curtis for a number of years manufactured metal 
buttons, but in 1818 the firm was dissolved and Mr. Curtis became the sole owner, 
and shortly after moved from his father's (Benjamin) homestead on Curtis street, 
with his wife and daughter (Mrs. Jennett Clark) and here passed the remainder 
of his life. 

Now going down Britannia to Colony street, and then turning up Kensing- 
ton avenue, we come within a few hundred feet of the junction to an old house. 
No. 67, on the north side of the street and known as the Comfort Butler place. 



EARLY HISTORY. 



315 



He came to Meriden from Micklletown in the year 1770, having married in 1765^ 
Mary, the daughter of Divan Berry, wliose home was on Miller avenue, as already 
lescribed. Comfort in the year 1770 bought of Josiah Robinson, Jr., a tract of 
-eventeen acres, on which the present house stands. 

The southeastern corner of the farm, according to the deed, began at a "place 
known as W'oU Swamp pasture bars." The swamp nortli i)f the tract was then 
known by that name. Although there have been several additions built, still the 
old house erected in 1770 has changed very little. Comfort was a shoemaker, and 
probably pursued that calling in Meriden, and carried on the tanning business as 
well. He was a rival of Moses .Mitchell, who ran a tanning industrv in the hollow 
just east of Meeting House hill. 




AS.\HEL CURTIS PLACE. 



Comfort's son, John, was afterwards engaged in the same line ol business, and 
many will remember his tanyards and vats that were once located on Liberty 
treet, a little west of the homestead of Walter ?lall. .\s has been told, land in 
iliis locality was once a part of the old Jerome farm, bought by Abel Curtis in 1771. 
On March 15, 1796, Abel sold to John Butler and William Olds a piece of real 
estate containing thirty rods, and these men immediately began a partnershi|i on 
the property, of tanning and dressing leather. They continued together until 1804 
when Butler bought out Olds' interest and carried on the business alone until well 
into the last century, and was a successful and shrewd man. 

Comfort Butler's familv and descendants were ntnnerous and prominent, and 



3i6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



the roll call embraced such names as Henry C, Joel I., Eli C, Hiram, Lemuel 
and others. 

There is one of the Yale houses still standing that is a dignified and substantial 
dwelling, and carries lightly its ii8 years of service. It was built in the year 1788 
by John, a grandson of that John Yale, who, in company with Jedediah Norton, 
bought the Belcher or Meriden farm in 1741. 

The Yales had bought and sold much of the land in that locality, and, although 
they originally began with the west half of the old farm, by 1788 they had sold 
considerable on the west side and bought much on the east, and the family had 
been successful and stood high in the community as this old dwelling would in- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



COMFORT BUTLER PLACE. 



<licate ; the homestead continued in the Yale famil_\- until a number of years ago 
when John Yale, a great grandson of him who built it, sold the property to Wil- 
liam H. Warnock, of Meriden, and removed to West Worthington, Mass. 

A little more than a hundred years ago that country north of Cat Hole pass 
as far as the road leading to the Meriden reservoir, that is, Merimere, was included 
in the township of Wallingford and was a part of the parish of Meriden ; in fact, 
the road mentioned was the county line. On that corner known now as Botsford's 
or Corrigan's stood a farm house that was long since replaced by the present 
modern one. This horse and six hundred acres adjoining were for a number of 



EAKI.^ HISTORY' 



2>'i^7 



vears owned by James Hillhouse of Xew Haven, very prominent in that town and 
the state, and for a while United States senator from Connecticut. He acquired 
the property in 1790 and it extended from just west of llie Belcher farm and that 
I "f Joseph Edwards, over the mountain to a point fully a ([uarter of a mile west 
t>f Botsford's or Corrig^an's corner. Evidently Mr. Hillhouse ent^aj^ed in lum- 
herinij to some extent for he erected a sawmill mi the l)r<i(ik west of the corner, 
and the pond which sujjplied the water ])ower is still in existence and can he seen 




Toiix V.M.I-: iiou.si-:. 



close to the road. He also owned the inevitable cider mill. There is a tradi- 
tion in Meriden that Senator Hillhouse i)rocured in .\Ieriden the elms with wliich 
he beautified the streets of Xew Haven, and if the tradition is true it imist have 
been on this farm that the younsj;^ saplin.t,'s ijrew. 

The farm was sold on Xovember 14. I7<;7. to Isaac I'.olsford. and a maj) of the 
district made by Mr. Botsford more than a century ai^o is before the writer as he 
j)ens these lines and it shows that there were many metre houses in that locality 



3i8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



than exist to-day. It indicates the old road that formerly lumbered over the moun- 
tain, coming out just west of the trotting park in Meriden. Cat Hole Pass road 
was not built until 1803 and this same Mr. Botsford was the builder. 

On Johnson avenue, which has already been described as a part of the old 
Wallingford north bounds, and perhaps half a mile west of the old Merriam 
house, stands a dwelling that is now unoccupied, and which was probably built 
about the year 1785 by Israel Johnson. 







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Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



WILLIAM TOHNSON PLACE. 



Jacob Johnson acquired a tract of 100 acres on this hill as early as 1732, and 
Israel was his grandson : he bought his brother Dan's interest and then began to 
buy large tracts adjoining until he had acquired a large part of the mountain land 
north of his home, from the Hoadleys, Harrisons and Hills. 

It has always been supposed that Mr. Johnson bought the mountain land, 
expecting some day to develop the property into a valuable mining tract, for it 
was believed that prospecting had shown untold wealth of gold and copper : but 



EARLV HISTORY. 



319 



alas ! the metal never materialized and much of the i^ood Johnson money was sunk 
in profitless prospecting- and digging". 

After the father's death, the son William and his sisters. Amanda and Huldah. 
continued to live in the old homestead : none of them ever married and there they 
passed their lives gazing off on the ancestral mountain land and dreaming that 
some day fortune would show them the spot where nature had huried her treas- 
ures. The family made some i)rotcnsions to ])olite and elegant living, and it was 




Photo by H. S. Godfrey. 



LEVI .\LLEN' PL.XCIi. 



considered quite an honor to he invited to partake i>\ the hospitality of rnclc W il- 
liam. 

They are all gone now and the ancestral peak ha.^ heen divided among iIm^c 
who think it a fine spot for summer cottages. 

On Allen hill, or avenue, stands an old house that was built many years ago, 
probably by Titus Merriman, and the first record we find is dated in 17S4 when 
Titus deeds it to Giles Collins, with its thirty-nine acres of land, all in Hanging 



320 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Hills Woods : and here Giles continued to live until 1793 when he deeded the house 
and farm to Archelaus Allen, who had previously lived on a farm in the north- 
eastern part of Wallingford. 

The house is interesting, both in itself and on account of those who were born 
and lived there. In the year 181 5 Archelaus gave the house to his son Levi and 
moved towards Meriden center, building the house known now as the Griswold 
place, opposite All Saints" church. No. 198 West Main street, where he died a few 
years later. The dwelling has been raised or the street cut down and under it is 
a Chinese laundry. 

Levi continued to live in the old homestead and here were born his children, 
the late John Allen in 181 5, a successful man of affairs in New York who died in 
Savbrook in 1901, the late William Allen, who died unmarried in New York in 
1874 and who was a successful business man in that city, and the late Edward C. 
Allen, born in 1823, who passed his life in Meriden on the home farm, a success- 
ful and highl}- esteemed citizen, and died in 1887. He built the home east of the 
old farm house and the delightful hospitality there dispensed, hallows it in the 
memory of those who were fortunate enough to partake of it. 

Levi Allen had bought largely of surrounding land and the farm was conse- 
tjuently an extensive one, and his son, Edward C, took great pride in its manage- 
ment and it had the reputation of being one of the best farms in the county. He 
was a man of influence in the community and will be remembered for the great 
interest he took in matters musical in Meriden, and his interest in the First Con- 
gregational church was always deep. For years he sang in the choir and was 
for a long time one of the deacons. 

Levi Allen was the fifth in descent from Roger Ailing, who came to Boston 
with Rev. John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton from England in 1638, and with 
them helped found and settle the colony of New Haven in the same year. He 
was the first treasurer of the colony. 

Perhaps a quarter of a mile west of the Oliver Rice homestead is a house 
known as the Calvin Coe place, where the latter for many years lived and man- 
aged in a very successful manner the 200 acres that surround the house. Some 
twenty years or more ago it was abandoned as the home of the family and the 
large stone mansion southwest of the old place was built by Andrew J. Coe, and 
it has been christened as the Coe Castle. The only member of the family now 
left in Meriden is Winfield R. Coe, who lives in a house somewhat east of the 
Oliver Rice place. 

The old Coe homestead had a history previous to its becoming the dwelling 
of Calvin S., for in 1795 it was sold by Samuel Rice to Asa Barnes, who came 
here from Southington. Samuel was cousin to Ezekiel Rice, who served in the 
Revolutionary war and for nearly 100 years this farm had probably been Rice 



EARLY IIISTOKV 



3^1 



1)roi)crtv. Asa liarnes lived here for a nunil)er of years, his son l-^h inheriting 
the farm and for a while running the Andrews mill. 

Finally Eli sold the farm to Ebenezer I'eck, a retired sea captain of X'ew Ha- 
ven, who made this place his summer home. He had been one of the old line of 
mariners who once made the port of New Haven famous. He died in 1819 and 
the administrator of his estate sold the farm to Calvin Coe in 1820. 

On the Coe farm in the corner near Allen avenue is a quarry of sandstone of 
very good quality that was once quite extensively worked both b\ .Mr. Coe and 
by his predecessors ; the stone in the railroad culvert in Yalesville came from this 
(|uarry, and doubtless also the foundation stones of many of the old houses in 
Meriden. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



CALVIX COE PLACE. 



Until 1798 if one living in the vicinity of the Rice or .\ndre\\s farms wished 
to go to I'alls Plains or Hanover, there was only one ])ul)lie road to travel and 
that was over the present high\va\' running sduth thnmgh iliis Cue farm on which 
the stone "Castle" is now situated. 

To be sure, the southern extremity was farther cast than at ])resent, for there 
was then no dam at the falls or rai)ids, setting the waters back into a pond. In 
the year mentioned a road was opened numing south, starting just west of the 
Andrews Mill, and going through to Rice's bridge, which was exactly 1.^50 feet 
south of Falls Plains bri<lge. according to the records.' This would make it i)os- 
sible for a surveyor to show exactl\- where Rice's bridge was located, for Falls 

1 Wallingford Land Kerords, Vol. XXIX. pp. 14-17. 
21 



322 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Plains bridge was then precisely where it is to-day, viz. adjoining the land where 
the plant of the Meriden Cutlery Co is now located. Evidently Rice's bridge was 
either washed away or badly damaged during a flood in the spring of 1792, for at 
a town meeting held April 13 that year, the question for consideration was whether 
the town would replace or repair several bridges carried away during the last 
floods ; they voted not to rebuild or repair Rice's bridge, and perhaps Falls Plains 
bridge was built, after this decision, by private subscription. The present old 
house, now used as a saloon and facing the east end of the bridge^ occupies the 
site of the original Justus Rice house, built perhaps as long ago as 1730. The 
present one was built after 1790 by Justus, Jr. Rice's bridge was for manv vears 
the sole approach to Falls Plains from the east and it was simply the continuation 
of the road running west from the Robert Rice place, now called Archer's. 




ASA BRAY^ OR BALDWIN HOUSE. 



The total length of this road running north from Rice's bridge to Andrews' 
Mill was 381 rods, but it must have followed a private way or path already in ex- 
istence, for on it were standing the houses of Col. Asa Bray and Justus Rice. 
The year following the layout of this north and south road, viz: 1799, a highway 
was built running west from Falls Plains bridge — the present Main street of 
Hanover. 1 For ninety-two rods west from the bridge the road ran through Rice 
property; this was evidently to a point just west of the old Chester Rice place. 

Just south of the entrance to Hanover Park stands the house built bv Col. Asa 



1 W'allingford Land Records, Vol. XXIX, 



pp. 36, 211, 212. 



EARLY HISTORY 



323 



Bray, of Southington, in the year 1794: he had just bought the whole of the old 
Whittlesey farm consisting then of 230 acres which ran away over to Town Rock 
on the west, its south side skirting the river: at the mouth of Harbor Brook he 
built a sawmill. 

The colonel saw much service in the Revolution and attained the brevet rank 
of major, receiving his colonel's commission after the war was over. He re- 
mained in Meriden only six years, selling his farm and house in 1800 to Charles 
Baldwin of Woodbridge, and his saw mill to Joel Cook. Mr. Baldwin appar- 
ently employed his time tilling his large farm and lived here until 1818 when he 
died. 




JULIUS IVES HOUSE. 

His will contained a bequest of $225 to aid in building a Methodist meeting 
house in Meridcn center: his property was vahicd at $15,000 — <|uite a large sum 
at that time. The house and considerable adjoining land continued in the Bald- 
\\\n family for many years: it is now the property of the electric railroad. 

The tract of land known as Falls Plains or Hanover, bounded on the north and 
east by the river, was at first divided into a multi])licity of small holdings in the 
\ear 1689, and a copv of the map of this land division has been printed on page 66. 
Ihe level tract extending south nearly to Yalesville, was also included under this 
name, and as there were only two roads on the ])lain and very few houses, it is 
ditficult to follow intelligentl\- the accumulation into farms. 

Robert Rice, whose home was in the old honse now known as the .\rchei' 
place, was a very large land owner and apparently ac(|uircd nearly all the northern 



324 



A CENTURY OF MliKlDEN, 



part of Falls Plains as far south as Plumb brook and runnings west nearly to the 
foot of the hill. 

Plis son. Captain Moses Rice, inherited or bought of the other heirs, most of 
this land ; towards the close of his life he sold the homestead to John Nott and 
distributed most of his land to his sons, Abner, Joel and Amos. In 1783 he gave 
to Abner nine acres at the north end of the plain which probably included the 
site of the Chester Rice place, and on the death of Moses, Abner inherited a large 
tract adjoining, so that he must at one time have owned nearly the whole of the 
north end which had previously belonged to Robert and Moses, father and son. 
But he did not live on it, apparently, for he bought on August 12, 1795, a large 




CHESTER RICE I'LACE. 



tract of land up the hill to the west, where he at once built a house that is still 
standing, and in a fine state of preservation : it is a good example of a roomy, 
comfortable farmhouse of that day. 

Abner lived there until 1800 when he sold the farm and house to Abel San- 
ford, of Woodbridge. In 1828 it was bought by Jesse Ives, the grandfather of 
Julius and the late Amos Ives ; it is now the farm of the former and it is one of 
the best in this part of New Haven county ; everything about the place denotes 
thrift and enterprise. 

Abner Rice, after selling the farm on the hill, probably built the house now 
known as the Chester Rice place on the Main street in Hanover, and his son, 



EARLY IIISTORV. 



325 



Chester, later acquired this homestead and many acres of land. He was an en- 
terprising and successful man. The only persons in Aleriden who are descend- 
ants of Deacon Robert Rice and his son. Captain Moses, of whom the writer is 
aware, are the Misses Lizzie S. and Emma L. Rice, who still have their homt 
on a part of the ancestral acres: they are dauij^hters of Asahel, the son of Chester. 

Away down on the southern pnvt of Curtis street, almost at the W'allingford 
line, stands a house known as the Louns])ury place. 

It was built about 1778 or 1780 by Noah Yale for his son Thomas: but when 
erected there was no street runnino- bv the house: it was situated on a lanewav 




I'linto by R. S. Godfrey. 

THOM.VS V.\Li;, OK L( )U.\ SliLKV I'l.ACI': 



that ran up to Yale avenue somewhere near the homestead of J. lb than "S'ale ; 
the house does not face the street which was not opened until iSjo. 

.A.way back in the early part of the last century, on account of its remoteness 
from other dwellings, and because it was not on a highway, it was used for a while 
as an inoculation hospital. This fact was told by the late l-'dwin Iv Curtis. wh<» was 
born in the year 1800. 

Many people know the house built by Rans(jm r.aldwin in 1828. standing on 
Wall street, a little west of th.c place wlicre the street terns t<i the north: the 
land around was once part of the farm owned b\ Captair [ohn Couch of Revo- 



226 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

lutionary fame. His house stood in the spot which is now the junction of Wall 
street and the road running east over Cherry hill to Gravel street, and the old 
well can still be seen which was just north of the house. Captain Couch came 
here in 1746, and bought most of his farm of Aaron Lyman, so that he could not 
have been a young man w'hen the war broke out, which doubtless accounts for his 
short term of service. 

WALLINGFORD AND MIDDLETOWN BOUNDARY DISPUTE. 

Away down in the southwestern corner of Middlefield, on top of Beset moun- 
tain, once stood a poor old cedar tree that was the center of more interest in Wal- 
lirigford and Middletown than perhaps any other point in the two townships. 
This tree marked the southwestern corner of the latter place, and during the nu- 
merous boundary disputes between these two towns everything began, centered 
and ended around this tree. 

When the bounds of Middletown were stated at a meeting of the General Court 
March 11, 1652-53, the description was as follows: "This court grants the bounds 
of Middletown to extend four miles to y® South from y® meeting house and five 
miles from y® said house westward." 

In other words the court defined the southwest quarter of the town by two sides 
of a rectangle ; the other two being understood, and the northwest quarter was 
defined in the same way. 

The manner in which the southwestern corner was determined was by draw- 
ing a line from the meeting house due south four miles, the southern terminus be- 
ing marked by a tree. Thence a line was drawn due west five miles to the notorious 
tree on Beset Mountain. 

Had the court not divided the northern half of Meriden between the towns 
of Farmington, Wethersfield and Middletown in 1687, "to plant a village in," 
these boundary disputes would probably never have taken place : but the division 
was made and the bitterness of feeling engendered between Middletown and 
Wallingford was so great that each accused the other of chicanery and sharp 
practice, and the matter was brought to the attention of the General Court many 
times, and was not decisively settled until 1773. 

The dispute was first brought before the assembly in May, 1722, when Wal- 
lingford stated that whereas Middletown's west boundary should extend north 
from the cedar tree in a line parallel to their center line, they had so managed 
it that they had encroached on Wallingford's territory to the extent of three 
miles and more, although the latter town's grant from the court had given territory 
five miles east of the Quinnipiac river ; and as a consequence there was only left to 
them a distance of one mile and a quarter east of the river. 

As a result of this petition the General Assembly or court "Resolved that a 
north line bv the needle of the survevinq- instrument drawn from the cedar tree 



EARLY HISTORY. ^^Z"] 

viz. the reputed southwesterly corner boundary mark of Aliddletown shall for- 
ever be and remain the divident line between the said townships provided always 
that Middletown have liberty with the assistance of the county surveyor to meas- 
ure their said five miles from their meeting house west, at the end wdiereof a 
north and south line shall determine the bounds of Wallingford, providing Mid- 
dletown take the benefit of measuring said five miles before the first of May 
next, and give seasonable notice to Wallingford to be present at the measuring." 

Accordingly, Wallingford procured the services of the New Haven county 
surveyor and ran a line north by the needle from the cedar tree and supposedly 
the matter was settled. 

But, unfortunately, no. At the October session, 1726, Middletown appeared 
before the court and asserted that Wallingford by "false misrepresentations had 
obtained a disannulling of their west line to Middletown's great loss" and pray- 
ing for relief. 

Accordingly, the sheriiT was sent to Wallingford to smiimon the inlial)itants 
before the assembly : Theophilus Yale acting for the town entered appearance and 
(presumably) presented a counter petition signed by four Wallingford men who 
had made purchases in the so-called Country or Purchase Lands, and the matter 
was apparently dropped for the time being. 

At the October session, 1729, this perennial matter again came before the as- 
sembly in the form of a petition from Wallingford stating that after the resolve 
of the Assembly in 1722 they had procured the services of the New Haven county 
surveyor to run the north line from the cedar tree, which they had had subse- 
quently verified by the Fairfield county surveyor. But that Middletown, not sat- 
isfied with this line, had procured the services of the Hartford county surveyor 
who had so run the line that he had given to Middletown half a mile of Walling- 
ford territory ; the main object of the petition was to ask why this north line should 
not run parallel to Middletown's center line. 

An examination of the map will show that all this disputed land was in what 
is now the territory of the town of Meriden. The cause of the difference in the 
lines as run by the several county surveyors, was a variation in the needles of the 
instruments. A difference of one or two degrees at the cedar tree would, of 
course, cause a great discrepancy when a point as far north as old Liberty street 
was reached by the north line. When the matter was brought to a vote, the up- 
per house declared that \\^allingford's petition was a reasonable one: but the lower 
house voted in the negative. 

In the meantime a dispute between Middletown and Farmington relating to 
boundary lines, had broken out and the services of two surveyors. David Good- 
rich and Thomas Seymour, had been employed in 1725 to affix the southeast cor- 
ner of Farmington which adjoined at thai time tlie nortliwest corner of Middle- 



328 A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 

town. The latter town was not satisfied with the Hne as run. probably because the 
surveyors after locating the corner had drawn a line south to old Liberty street to 
mark the west boundary of Middletown adjoining W'allingford. An att-empt on 
the part of Middletown to remeasure this line between her bounds and those of 
Farmington was frustrated by a man named Hezekiah Hart, who refused to allow 
the surveyors to cross his farm ; several times the attempt to remeasure was re- 
sumed, but each time Hezekiah said "No ! you cannot cross my farm" : and ap- 
parently acting within his rights, for no penalty or punishment resulted to the 
doughty farmer. , 

Then the dispute between Middletow^n and Wallingford began agam, and 
dragged its weary length along and finally aid of the Assembly was invoked for 
Middletown had taken the matter in her own hands and rerun her western bound 
and then sued Wallingford's selectmen in the sum of £5 each for not perambu- 
lating the bounds with her. Wallingford, in concluding her appeal in 1734, said 
"your honors have found a remedy for other towns in like predicament so please 
allow the line of New Haven count}' surveyor to stand which is nearest the true 
line or else settle the line yourself." Accordingly, [Middletown was summoned to 
answer the complaint or petition, but the upper and lower branches of the As- 
sembly were unable to agree on a decision and the matter was referred to the 
May session, 1735. 

As usual, the lower house agreed with Middletown at the May session and the 
argument in her behalf was as follows: "the assembly in 1722 acted with the ut- 
most care and caution and enacted that the dividing line between ]^Iiddletown and 
Wallingford shall be a line north by the needle from the cedar tree, with a proviso 
that Middletown may extend a west line from their meeting house five miles, and 
^n y® extent of that, a north and south line to determine Wallingford bounds, with 
a further proviso y^ Middletown should take the benefit thereof before the first 
of May next coming; in relation to which we observe first y® act or judg*^ is ab* 
solute and y® proviso is only a liberty granted to Middletown and if only a liberty 
then not necessary for 'till liberty and necessity can be blended together and con- 
sidered as synonymous words or things, we cant understand that Middletown was 
obliged to measure their five miles to establish their north line by the needle. 
2<^ly if Middletown were laid under a necessity of carrying out their five mile line 
then they were obliged to defeat their grant to establish it which is a contradic- 
tion," etc., etc. 

The upper house took an opposite view and said "since ^^liddletown's extent 
gives them their width of five miles west from their center line through the meet- 
ing house, then the bounds between the two towns should be a line paralel to the 
center line, and when the assembly say upon a certain condition that a north line 
by the needle from the cedar tree shall be the dividing line, it is upon a supposition 



EARLY HISTORY. 329 

that the cedar tree stands at the south end of the s'^ paralell hne and that the hue 
from thence should be run north from that tree by the same needle that ran their 
center line." 

Again, at the October session, 1735. W'allingford stated that "Middletown did 
in 1727 without any order or direction from this court procure another surveyor to 
run another line to the great detriment and disturbance of the town of W'alling- 
ford, the needle of whose compass varies above three degrees westward from the 
needle by which their center and other lines were run. If sufficient authority was 
not given to either party by the act of 1722 to run and ascertain the line, then your 
honors should now appoint some suitable person or persons to perform it and that 
vou should supply what is wanting in s*^ act by determining by what needle the s'^ 
line shall be run. If there be more compasses than one in the world, and they dif- 
fer from one another, and the act doth not determine by which of them the lines 
should be run its necessary then the act should be explained by declaring the par- 
ticular needle by which it should be performed, otherwise it must forever remain 
uncertain which of them was intended." 

W'allingford was insistent to gain what she considered her rights and again 
brought in a petition in 1736; such persistence could not be withstood and the 
General Assembly finally at the October session enacted the following: "It appears 
that this Assembly at their sessions October 11, 1722, did order that a north line 
from the cedar tree to be run by the needle of the surveying instrument should 
divide said towns and thereupon W'allingford procured the surveyor of Xew Ha- 
ven county to run said line, and afterwards Middletown procured the surveyor of 
Hartford county to run said line, and also that neither of said lines passeth right 
between said towns: that by Xew Haven county surve\or taking from .Middle- 
town and that run by Hartford county surveyor taking from W'allingford. It is 
now ordered by this Assembly that the line dividing said towns shall be a line 
run from the said southwest corner of Middletown, parallel to their center line 
as far northward until it intersects the south line | Lil^erty street] of those lands 
called the Purchase Lands, and that then the line already ordered by this assem- 
bly for the east line of said l^u'chase Lands shall divide said towns." 

The line was according!} run on Xovember 2^, i~^(>. 

WHicn it had been finallv decided as above the towns of Farmington. Middle- 
town and W'ethersficld called the attention of the Assembly in the tact that the 
Purchase Lands now definitely given to W'allingford had been allotted to tlicm 
in 1687, and asked damages for their loss: but the Assembly al)solutel\- refused 
to grant any renmneration. 

One would be ])ardoned for believing that the matter was at last decided iov- 
ever and that no further disjiutes could possibly arise; but such was not the case. 

At the May,, 1742, session of the (icneral .\ssembly ten Middlet<iwn men pre- 



330 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



sented a petition stating that by the new line estabHshed in 1736 their town had 
lost some fifteen hundred acres, which had been distributed to them and their 
ancestors as early as 1671. That the Assembly did in 1680 grant to Mr. Samuel 
Street of Wallingford a farm of 200 acres which was bounded on the east by the 
old Middletown line which was, therefore, recognized at that time. But now cer- 
tain Wallingford proprietors claim the land formerly granted to the petitioners 
lying between the old and new west lines of Middletown ; therefore, they ask the 
Assembly to sell the rights to them or else give them the right to sue the Wal- 
lingford holders. This was essentially a private petition, but, nevertheless, it was 
just as serious for the Wallingford holder of the land in question as if it were the 
act of Middletown. 

Accordingly, the sheriff of New Haven county served notice on Samuel Hall 
(father of Rev. Theophilus) Thomas and Daniel Hall, Ebenezer Prindle, Israel 
Hall, Jobe Camp, Daniel Baldwin, John Way, Jehiel Baldwin and Rev. Samuel 
Hall, of Cheshire, to appear in Hartford and make answer to the complaint. Their 
answer was apparently satisfactory for the petition was refused. 

The names of the property owners, however, give a clue as to how much 
of East Meriden was originally claimed by Middletown until the Assembly de- 
cided the matter in 1736. Their old west line must have been located as far west 
as Bee street. 

Again, in 1757, Wallingford presented a petition which proved abortive; but 
in it occurs a clause which gives a glimpse of what had been going on for years : 
it is as follows: "Since which endless law suits have been and still subsist to the 
impoverishing and almost total ruin of many persons and families in this day of 
great and necessary expense against foreign invaders." 

In 1 77 1, Wallingford again appeared before the Assembly and stated that Mid- 
dletown's southwest corner was now in dispute, and prayed that a "committee might 
be appointed to repair to the spot and ascertain the true location; for adjoining 
property owners have been in long and expensive quarrels and disputes ; courts 
and juries having been much perplexed with s<i disputes, sometimes giving judge- 
ments in favor of one claim and sometimes in favor of the contrary claim, and 
still s^ disputes continue to the great detriment of the public and also to the preju- 
dice of particular persons." 

Therefore, a committee was sent to the spot which made a report to the Oc- 
tober, 1773, session of the General Assembly, stating that the cedar tree on top of 
Besit mountain was now lost, and some now claimed that a rock oak tree marked 
the corner, and others a heap of stones seventy or eighty rods north of the oak tree. 
The committee made various measurements, took the statements or depositions of 
several aged men, and decided that the rock oak marked the original southwest 
corner of Middletown. Accordingly, the Assembly adopted the report and con- 



EARLY HISTORY. 33 I 

firmed the rock oak as standing in the true spot and henceforth no more was 
heard of WalHngford and Middletown boundary disputes. 

The foregoing account is an abridgment of a great quantity of manuscript doc- 
uments on file in the vohunes entitled "Towns and Lands," preserved in the State 
Library at Hartford. 

Many times in this book has occurred the word Beset as applied to the moun- 
tain lying east of Black Pond and extending south, through Wallingford to Bran- 
ford. Its northern terminus is the pass through which the turnj)ike to Middle- 
town runs : this pass was once known as Royce's Notch. The old records have 
three forms for this word, viz. Beseck, Besit and Beset, and it is doubtless a short- 
ening of the word Mattabeset — the Indian name for Middletown. 

Mount Lamentation derives its name from a romantic and rather distressing 
incident in the life of one of the early inhabitants of Wethersfield ; the most plaus- 
ible version appears in Stiles' History of Ancient Wethersfield.^ and is as follows : 

"Mr. Leonard Chester's Adventure — Prominent among the old-time legends 
with which Wethersfield mothers and nurses were wont to regale their children, 
was this 'o'er true tale.' " Sometime, presumably in the fall of 1636 he set out 
alone (as Tradition saith) to seek a suitable site for a grist-mill which he proposed 
to build, on the stream which flows through the south part of the tow^n." "His 
exploration took him or would naturally do so, to near the source of the stream, 
southwest of the village of Griswoldville of the present day. This whole section 
traversed by the stream, was, of course, then an unbroken wilderness." "Before 
the }oung explorer had made much progress on his return journey as to strike upon 
any well defined trail or path which he might follow in the dark, night had fairly 
closed upon him, and he entirely lost his bearings for even the north polar star 
was shut out from his sight by the dense foliage. So. when at last day broke, he was 
really further away from his home than when he had started to return to it." "In 
the meantime, his neighbors at Pyquaug [Wethersfield] liad become .'darnicd at 
his absence, and parties with drums, muskets, pails and pans of tinware, copper or 
brass — anything, in fact, with which to make noisy sounds and signals — had be- 
gun to search the woods in all directions. It was not, however, loitil the third day 
after he left his home," "that he was found and in fact rescued from starvation by 
his friends. In his uncertainty as to his whereabouts and place of destination, Ches- 
ter had dragged himself, with failing strength and in f.imislK-d condition, to the 
summit of a mountainous peak or ridge in the extreme southeast part of what is 
now Berlin^ township. From that place, a distance which measurerl in a straight 
line would be Trry near ttveh'e uiUes fro)ii 7cJiere lie started, he hoped to be able 
to see, if he might not be able to reach the little settlement which held all that 
was dear to him. The result was more fortunate than he had ex|)ected. From 

1 Vol. I, p. 686. 

2 The southern lialf of Mt. Lamentation is in the town of .Meriden. 



332 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



that elevation, he was able, for the first time, to hear the noises and calls of his 
friends, and (what must ever be considered a most remarkable turn of chance) 
he descended in the direction whence these noises proceeded, and found himself 
safe and unharmed in the hafids of his rescuers. Fortunately, he had met no In- 
dians, and though he had heard the how^ls of wolves and the screams of cata- 
mounts, he had not been followed or attacked by either. It was in memory of this 
event, which might have proved almost a public calamity, that the elevation in 
question, received and has ever since retained, the historic name of 'Mount Lam- 
entation.' " 

Another version of Mr. Chester's adventure is found in Rev. Charles A. Good- 
rich's "Stories of the History of Connecticut," published in 1829: but the story is 
so embellished with fanciful pictures of Mr. Chester's emotions and prayers, that 
it is easy to see that it was written for the amusement of very young persons. 

In Barber's "Conn. Historical Collections," the story is given in an abridged 
form, and the statement is made that a unicorn or griffin carved on Mr. Chester's 
tombstone was believed by some to have been one of the animals seen by him on Mt 
Lamentation ; it was, of course, a part of his coat of arms. 

Just east of Murdock and Pomeroy avenues in the eastern part of ]\Ieriden is 
quite a high elevation which was once known as Bowdng hill. The name seems 
now to be entirely forgotten. 

There are very few, if any. Indian names preserved in this locality with the 
exception of Beset and Quinnipiac, the latter used to describe the river in the 
southwestern part of the town. It was formerly known as New Haven East 
River and sometimes called W'allingford River. In Morse's American Gazetteer 
published in 1797 the statement is made that the old Indian name for the town- 
ship of Wallingford was Coginchauge. 



I 



I•:ARL^' HisroKV. 333 



CHAl'TF.R XIX. 
1806 — THK TOWN OF .mi:kii)i:.\. 

In the year 1730 the total population of the parish of Meriden could not have 
nuniliered more than 250 souls, and during many years thereafter the increase was 
very slow. Few moved into the parish and after the French and Indian war 
tliere began that steady drifting into far away communities in the northwestern 
parts of the colony, into western Alassachusets and \ ermont and later into New 
York state, a phenomenon common all through the longer settled parts of New 
England. 

Therefore, the parish did not get the full advantage of its birth rate which was, 
of course, large ; but after the Revolution a slow but steady growth began which 
is nowhere better indicated than in the records of real estate transactions on the 
books of the town of Wallingford. 

Flven at the close of the Revolution there could not have been a population of 
more than 500; but when the town was incorporated in 1806 the indications point 
to a community of perhajis 1,100; it was more than half as large as the older 
parish of Wallingford. 

The example of Cheshire, which was set oil as a separate town in 1780, was 
ne that the parish of Meriden was eager to emulate, and accordingly, the inliabi- 
iants came together at the meeting house on April 12. 1786, and appointed Cap: 
Dan Collins, Samuel Whiting and Capt. John C(3uch agents to present a memorial 
to the General Assembly ]>raying that the parish might be constituted a town and 
annexed to ^Middlesex county ; this clocumcnt is as follows: 

"The Petition of the Inhabitants of the I'arish of Meriden in the Town of 
W allingford and County of Xew Haven, humbly sheweth : That from the Ccnirt 
House in Xew Haven, the Southern i)art of Said ])arish is Distant about Seven- 
teen .Miles, and the Xorthern part of it Twenty three: and from the Court House 
in .Middletown in the Comity of Middlesex, the eastern limits of ."^'^ ]iarisli is Dis- 
tant but about five miles and its western limits about ele\en and from tlie ."-Southern 
part of said Parish to the Town is four miles, and from the northern i)arl about 
eleven. That the Lists of Said pari.sh is about £8000. .\nd in attending upon 
the Ordinary Business of the Town, Proxys, Town Meetings &c and upon their 
Business at the County and .Snj)erior Courts, the Inhabitants of S'' parish are sub- 
jected to great trouble, inconvenience &• exigence, from which they would be freeVl 
if constituted a Distinct Town, and annexed to the County of Middlesex. Where- 



334 -^ CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

fore your petitioners pray your Honours to take their case into your wise and equi- 
table Consideration & enact, that S*^ parish of Meriden be Constituted a Distinct 
Town by the name of the town of Meriden and incUided in. and made part of the 
County of Middlesex, and that the S*^ Inhabitants have all the rights and privi- 
leges usually appertaining to Towns in this State, except the right of Sending two 
Representatives to the General Assembly instead of which your petitioners request 
the privilege of but one and your petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray &c. 
Dated at Meriden in the Town of Wallingford the 13th day of April A. D. 1786. 
John Couch, Saml Whiting Dan Collins 

Agents in behalf of the Society." 

The older parish had no desire to lose the growing society at the north and 
they met in town meeting on May 9, 1786, and 

"Voted that this meeting will oppose the Parish of Meriden being a Town. 
Chose Col Street Hall agent to remonstrate against the Petition of the Parish of 
Meriden being made a Town at the next General Assembly." 

The petition was not granted, and matters remained quiescent until 1794 when 
on Sept. 29 at a meeting of the parish it was "voted that the Society be made a 
town and annexed to Middlesex County. Voted to call a town meeting for the 
purpose and a committee be appointed to obtain a map of the society and tran- 
sact any business respecting the society being made a town." 

The matter was postponed by a town meeting until the following year, and on 
Sept. 7, 1795, the parish of Meriden "Voted that the Society wish to be a separate 
town and belong to Middlesex County. Voted to petition the General Assembly 
and chose a committee of five persons to present it." A like vote was passed on 
Sept. 22 the same year, and the matter was finally compromised by agreeing in 
town meeting that one-third of the Town and Selectmen's meetings should be 
lield in the parish of Meriden. 

But this was a mere truce and makeshift, and the inhabitants of Meriden were 
■determined that the parish should be a separate township, and accordingly a peti- 
tion dated February 14, 1804, was circulated and found ready signers and was 
presented to the May session of the General Assembly that year. The town of 
Wallingford at a meeting held, exclusive of the inhabitants of Meriden parish, 
voted not to approve the petition ; but the following year, as it was seen that it was 
hopeless to keep up a continual opposition to the desires of Meriden. it was voted 
to refer the matter to a committee selected from Wallingford or first society and 
Meriden. and as a result a report was drawn up agreeing to the separation and 
the following vote was passed at a town meeting held Sept. 18, 1805 : "Thereupon 
it was voted that this Meeting do accept and approve of the same ; and said report 
Tdc lodged in the Town Clerk's Office. " 



EARLY HISTORY. 335 

Accordingly, it was resolved that Meriden should be a separate town and the 
following bill was passed: 

"At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut holden at Hartford on 
the second Thursday in May, 1806 — 

Upon the Petition of Phineas Lyman and others Inhabitants of the Town of 
W'allingford in the County of Newhaven shewing to this Assembly that the Par- 
ish of Meriden in said Town constitutes, in extent, population and Property more 
than one-third part of said Town, and they do not in their present situation enjoy 
their just rights to which they are entitled in common with their fellow Citizens; 
praying that said Parish may be incorporated with the ordinary rights, privileges 
and inmumities which are enjoyed by other Towns in this State as by Petition 
on File dated February 14th A. D. 1804 — This Petition was preferred to this As- 
sembly at their Session holden at Hartford on the second thursday in May 1804, 
and was legally served on the Inhabitants of said Town and returned, and by legal 
continuances came to this Session of said Assembly when the said Inhabitants were 
three times publicly called and made default of appearance — 

The Petitioners were heard and the facts stated in said Petition were fully 
proved to be true — 

Resolved, by this Assembly that the Inlial)ilants living within the limits of 
said Parish of Meriden be and they are hereby incorporated into and made a Town 
by the name of MERIDEN, and that they and their Successors Inhabitants within 
said limits are and shall forever be and remain a Town and body politic with the 
ordinary rights privileges and immunities which are enjoyed by other Towns in 
this State b}- virtue of their respective incorporations : and the right to elect and 
send one Representative only to the General Assembl\ until by Law they shall be 
entitled to elect and send two ; That the dividing line between the first Society in 
said Wallingford and said Parish of Meriden be and remain the dividing line. 
That all Persons who shall be resident in said Town including said Parish and 
supported in whole or in part by said Town and Parish at the rising of this As- 
sembly, and also all Inhabitants of said Town and Parish who shall then be with- 
out the limits of said Town and Parish, and afterwards return and become charge- 
able, with all charges and expences which shall arise by reason of an\ such person 
or persons shall be apportioned between said Town of W^allingford and said Town 
of Meriden according to the amount of their respective Lists for August 20th 
1804 as compleated and returned to the Town Clerks Office ; >aiil (li\iviMn and ap- 
portionment in case said Towns shall not agree, to lie made by three disinterested 
Persons of whom two shall be chosen by said Tnwn of W'allingford and one by 
said Town of Meriden : and with a just reference to the munber, ami expence 
necessary for the support of such chargeable Persons : That all Debts which shall 
be due from said Town including said Parish, and all Debts which shall be due to 



336 A CENTURY OF MERIDE.X. 

said Town at said date shall be divided and apportioned between the said Towns 
accordiiag to the Lists and in the manner herein before prescribed relating to 
chargeable Persons : That the said Town of Meriden shall repair and when neces- 
sary build the Bridge of which one-half is within the limits of said Town of Wal- 
lingford, across W'allingford River so called, known and called by the name of 
Falls plain bridge, at the cost and expence of said Town of !Meriden ; That all Col- 
lectors of Taxes granted or which shall be granted before said time, shall have 
power to collect the same as fully as if this Resolve had not passed ; That said 
town of Meriden shall hold their first Town Meeting at the Meetinghouse in said 
Meriden on the third Monday in June next at one o'clock afternoon, and proceed 
to the choice of all Town Officers, the Moderator of said ^Meeting excepted ; by 
Law allowed and established ; which IMeeting shall be warned and by Warrant 
signed by George W. Stanley Esquire a Justice of Peace for Xew Haven County 
and Posted on the Public Sign post in said Meriden at least ten days previous to 
said third Monday, and said George W. Stanley Esquire shall be Moderator of 
said Meeting : and in case of the absence of said Justice, Ephraim Cook Esquire a 
Justice of Peace for said County is hereby impowered to sign such Warrant, and 
preside in said meeting — 

A True Copy of Record. 

Examined by Samuel Wyllys. Secretary 

Amos White Town Clerk." 

Wliile these struggles of the parish of Meriden to become a separate town 
were in progress, two portions of her territory at the north had been cut ofif and 
added to the town of Berlin. 

In the year 1773 those farmers who lived on the northern half of the old Bel- 
cher or Meriden farm petitioned the General Assembly praying that they might 
be annexed to the town of Farmington and we accordingly find the following vote 
on the Wallingford records. 

"Special Town meeting May 17 1773 question was put whether the Town 
would chose an agent or agents to represent said Town at the General Assembly 
May instant on the memorial of the society of Worthington by their agent Jede- 
diah Norton Petitioning that the lands called the Belchers Farm in the Society of 
Meriden and the inhabitants Included therein might belong and be annexed to 
the County of Hartford and Town of Farmington. \'oted in the affirmitive that 
they would appoint an agent. Chose ]Macock Ward Esq. to be their agent to 
represent said Town on said Memorial." 

This petition was not granted, but at the October session, 1803. a second one 
signed by Andrew Norton Samuel Norton and Abraham Wright was presented. 



EARLY HISTORY. 337 

and a strip of territory about half a mile wide iiurth and south and extending 
from the eastern boundary of the parisli to the ledge west of the Belcher farm 
was added to the town of BcrHn : this left the northern boundary of Meriden about 
where it is to-day. 

At the October session 1798 on the ])etiti()n of Isaac lloisford. Harvey Parsons, 
John Parsons, Josiah Hill, Samuel Peck, Titus IJronson, Aaron Parsons and Jon- 
athan Hills, a portion in the northwestern part of Meriden was annexed to Ber- 
lin. This is represented on tlie map by a jog w'hich extends from Botsford's or 
Corrigan's corner in Berlin to the southern part of Cat Hole mountain. 

MINUTES OF THE FIRST TOWX MEETING HELD IN MEKIDEN. 

At a meeting of the Inhabitants vi the Town of Meriden having been legally 
warned agreeable to the resolve of the "General Assembly of this State" ordering 
S*^ Town meetmg to be held at the meeting house in Meriden on the si.xteenth 
day of June 1806 — 

George W. Stanley Esq. Moderator of this meeting by order of Gen^ Assembly. 

Chose, Amos White Town Clerk. 

Chose. Capt. Ezekiel Rice, Ambrose Hough and Stephen Bailey, Selectmen 
for this Town. 

Chose, Jared Benham and Eli Barnes, Constables. 

\ oted. That any person may wear his hat in Town meeting '"Except" when 
addressing the Moderator. 

Chose, Enos Hall 2nd, Giles O. Griswold & Joseph Hall Grand jurors. 

Chose, Samuel Yale, Asael Yale, Jehiel Preston, Harvey Andrews, Aaron Mer- 
riam, Benjamin Merriam 2nd & Levi Hall Surveyors of Highways. 

Chose. Nathaniel Yale, Stejihen Perkins & Insign Hough Pence viewers. 

Chose, Seth D. Plum, Titus Ives & Asahel ^lerriam Listers for this Town. 

Chose, Capt. William Olds Sealer of Leather. 

Chose, Samuel Yale Sealer of weights and measures. 

Chose, Daniel Yale, Sealer of dry measures. 

Chose, Eli Barns, Nathaniel Yale, Levi Foster. Israel ilall and i'.lislia Merri- 
man Pound keepers. 

\ oted. That the keepers of Pounds provide their ])oun(ls free of ex])ence to 
the Town. 

\ oted. To lay a Tax for the ])urposc of defraying the debts and eNi)enccs to 
which this Town now is or may be liable. 

\'oted. That a Tax of five mills on the dollar du the List for August jotli. 1805, 
be granted and collected for the i)urpose of defraying the debts and expcnces to 
which the Town is nr may l)e liable and that the same be collected and paid to the 
Town Treasurer within thirt\ days. 
22 



338 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Chose, Abner Griswold Collector of the tax laid this day. 

Chose, Samuel Yale Town Treasurer. 

Voted, To appoint a committee of four persons to settle and adjust all business 
between this Town and the Town of Wallingford respecting the Town poor and 
all other business that shall be found necessary for said Committee to do. 

Chose, Capt Ezekiel Rice, Ambrose Hough, Stephen Bailey & Eli Barns a 
committee for the purpose making the before named setttlement. 

Voted, That the Bill in form granted by the Gen^ Assembly for incorporating 
Meriden into a Town distinct from the Town of Wallingford, be Recorded in the 
beginning of the Town Book for recording deeds of Land &c. 

Voted, That no horse kind or neat Cattle shall be allowed to run at large on 
the highway or Commons in this Town. 

Voted, That Sheep shall not be allowed to run at large on the Commons in 
this Town. 

Voted, That if the owners of any Boar shall suffer him to run at large when 
more than three months old, he shall be liable to pay a fine of one Dollar. 

Voted, That Geese shall not be suffered to run at large on the highways un- 
less they are well Yoaked. 

Voted, That the Selectmen of this [town] be allowed to give and take Deeds 
in behalf of this Town at their discretion. 

Voted, That the selectmen shall warn a Town meeting to be holden at the 
Meetinghouse in Meriden on the second Tuesday of November next. 

After choosing the Clerk, and Constables ; the motion was made and tried ; 
\Miether Moses Barns shall be allowed to vote in this meeting and Voted in the 
negative. Amos White, Town Clerk. 

Meriden June i6th 1806. 

And now at last Meriden was one of that "federation of independent towns en- 
dowed with all the attributes of sovereignty not expressly granted to the General 
Court" of the state of Connecticut. The long struggle was ended, and the town 
could now grow and expand, unhampered by the vexatious conditions, inseparable 
from its former state of suburban parish of a larger community. 

Meriden must have been very primitive in appearance even at as late a date 
as 1806: it still retained its distinctive feature of a territory parceled out into 
farms : to be sure, there was the beginning of a village settlement in the vicinity 
of the Meeting House, for the advantage of locating near the common center had 
appealed to those who gained their livelihood by other than agricultural pursuits , 
notably Ambrose Hough the miller, Butler & Olds the tanners ; Amos White & 
Co. and Curtis & Lewis, who were storekeepers and sold everything from a spool 
of thread to a gallon of rum ; and Seth D. Plum and Dr. Insign Hough, the tav- 
ern keepers. 



EARLV HISTORY 



339 



But the real central pivot was the tavern kept by Dr. Insign Hough at the 
•corner of Broad and East Main streets : here were the headquarters of the select- 
men and other town officers : here the books of the public library were kept and 
here the farmers met to discuss the events of the day : and, last but not least, here 
twice a day the stage coaches from Hartford to Xew Haven and vice versa, stopped 
to change horses and to give the passengers a chance to sample the bountiful 
larder provided by the doctor. 

In the old days when the tavern was in its prime, and still the center of the 
quiet little village, many a merrymaking was held around its generous hearth. 
and hilarious fun flowed fast and free from honest hearts untainted by the guile 
and sham that often mar convivialitv of these modern davs. 




THE OLD CENTRAL TA\EKN. 



And when the annual town meetings and elections drew near, hot were the 
word\ battles that resounded through the rooms in the eager attempt to change 
some wavering vote: for Meriden was so close a town, that one man convinced, 
sometimes spanned the distance between defeat and victory. 

Linus Birdsey. who carries lightl\- his more than fourscore years, remembers 
those old days, when, youngster like, he would hover on the fringe of a group of 
old political Nestors, and listen to words of wisdom and prophecy that unfolded 
the hideous destiny of the Republic if it wavered from the good old Democratic 
faith and followed the strange new gods of the renegade Whigs. 

Another group he recalls of only five, called the Old Guard : survivors per- 
haps of a larger circle : men of wit and weight who ha^l live<l and learned : and 



340 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



yet in the evening of their hves with vigor little changed, and with capacity for 
fun as keen as ever, they would meet at stated dates and live again the old days 
in retrospect, whiling away the hours with story after story of other times : and 
perhaps now and then a spoon would tinkle in a glass with a melody most be- 
witching: but of this the writer cannot tell as he was never there. He only knows 
that he has heard that one cold night when the hour was late, and the time had 
come to say good night, one of the famous guard left his friends, wended his way 
to his home and had snugly tucked himself in bed before he remembered his pa 
tient nag left tied in the tavern shed more than a mile away. 

The turnpike was opened in 1799 and the event was hailed with as much joy 
and created as great excitement as did the railroad thirty-eight years later. 

The layout of this highway was adopted in 1798 by the General Assembly on 
the petition of Senator Hillhouse and others and work was immediately begun. 
The damages awarded to property owners at the time, and recorded in a volume, 
preserved in the office of the secretary of state in Hartford, make it possible for 
us to eliminate the hundred years that separate our day from that of 1806, and 
start at Ann street and walk north, noting the different houses just as one might 
have done a century ago. 

First we would have seen over on Curtis street, the old Parson Hall house, oc- 
cupied by his grandson. Dr. Theophilus Hall, and north of that, on the other side 
of Ann street, the Daniel Hough place, and north of that the Benjamin Curtis 
homestead, where the old man and his family were still living, and a few hundred 
feet further on, the new house, the residence of his son Benjamin, Jr., while just 
across the road we would have observed the Capt. John Webb dwelling, and back of 
that, and fronting on Broad street (the new turnpike), his nephew, Benjamin 
Hart's new house (now the home of Mrs. Juliette Y. Curtis). Just north of this 
place, in the fork of the roads (and surrounded on all sides by highways, for the 
road running west to Colony street, already described, was still in existence), stood 
the home of Amasa Curtis, in which he and Isaac Lewis kept store. Across the 
street to the west and a little north was Seth D. Plum's tavern. 

All these places have been described before, and the risk of repetition has been 
run so that the view of the village street may be made clear in one's mind. Al- 
most opposite the Plum place on the east side of the street but a little to the north, 
stood the Jeremiah Farrington homestead, which, although much altered, is still 
standing, and now the dwelling of Frederick W. Ives, No. 391 Broad street. 

When this street or turnpike was cut through it left the house of Samuel 
Yale in a peculiar plight. He had bought a lot on the east side of Curtis street 
which then ran north and continued down to Liberty street. It is difficult to pic- 
ture in one's mind just the situation: the house must have stood so that the west 
portion would, if in existence, stand somewhere near the east part of the old 



EARF.^' HISTORY. 341 

Methodist church (now occupied by the Aleriden Curtain Fixture Co. office, 440 
Broad). The turnpike took a course just east of the Yale house and left it with 
ui) hackvard. .\s the land l"n>ni lliis house to ihc church was a ])ul)lic i^reen. with 
streets on the east and west sides. ^ the house became an eyesore, and at a town 
meeting held May 17, 1808. it was voted "to make an accommodation with Samuel 
Yale, to have his house at the south end of the screen removed to some other place, 
so as to accommodate the public, and voted to buy the land where house stands." 
The house was accordingly removed to the northeast corner of liroad and East 
Main streets, and reposed there until tlie liassett brick ])lock was built, when it 
igain started on its travels and found a final abiding place a little to the east; it 
Is perhaps the old building- still standing' there and said to have once been used by 
.^amuel, Jr.. and William ^'ale for manufacturing' tin ware. 

South of this old house, before its removal, stood the center district school 
house in what is now the northeast corner of the old cemetery,- and where stands 
ihe house of Dr. h'rederick \\ (iriswold, Xo. 481 Broad street, was located the 
liomestead and shoe store of John Butler. 

On the other side of the street to the northwest stood the church, with Ros- 
well Cowies" Sabbath da_\' house south of it, and two or three other small houses 
like it north of the church on the other side of the street. East of these buildings on 
the corner was the tavern belonging to Dr. Hough ; on the southeast corner of 
Broad and East Main, stood the store of Amos White, and the building served 
as his dwelling as well : while east and southeast of it was another collection of 
Sabbath day houses. 

North of Amos White's store on the other side of the street was a triangidar 
piece of land which had been formed in this way: in 1782 Samuel Hall, son of 
Rev. Theophilus, had deeded to the town a strip of land for a highway, beginning 
at East Main, just one hundred and sixty-five feet east of his house (later the 
tavern) and running due north to Liberty street.^ The land from the house to 
this new street was the garden of both Samuel Hall and Dr. Hough until the 
turnpike on Broad street was cut through in 1799: this we learn from the descrip- 
tion in the deed when Dr. Hough bought the ])roperty in 1792. At the same time 
that this new street was opened, the town closed the north end of old Curtis street 
running from just west of the meeting house, north to Liberty street, and also 



1 Saml Yale was given only .$57 damages by thi- turnpikf company for thus (listurMnR tlic house lot. 

2 Thlf .site was later ocpupieti by the Baptist t-hurrli built about IS."^! and when the new church was 
built in ]84fi this old building became the academy where many still living received their education. 
On March 23, ISC'), the .selectmen sold to Seth 1). Plum a "sirip of highway lying a little south of the 
meeting house, running north and south from the school house to old Sabbath day house belonging to 
RoBwell Cowies & is 1 rod & 4 links wide at north end where Sabbath day hou.se is and 1 rx>d & S 
links at the South end." Wall, land records, Vol. XXXII.. p. 18. On Feb. 22, IS.Sl, Amos Curtis, acting as 
AKfiit for the Center school district sold this school house site to Wni. Vale for the Baptist society. 

i Wallingford land records. Vol. XXIII., p. 67. 



342 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

opened up a highway from the meeting house, running west and meeting Liberty 
street at what is now the town hall site: viz. East Main street. 

On the triangular piece of land east of the tavern, was a barn for the conven- 
ience of the stage coach line. 

Just opposite the old brick bank building on Broad street and just south of the 
house known as No. 544, are still to be seen the foundation walls of an old dwell- 
ing built probably in 1792 by Aloses Barns,^ sometimes of Cheshire and then of 
Reading, Mass., and finally of Meriden ; but in 1806 it was the homestead of 
Jarius Mix ; later it was the dwelling of Isaac Lewis, who bought it about 1813, 
and afterwards it was the home of William Merriam and is still remembered as 
a boarding place where Episcopal clergymen were carefully looked after. Mrs. 
Merriam has the reputation of having been the first milliner in Meriden ; the house 
disappeared a number of years ago. 

The second house north of the Barns place is known as the Beckett home- 
stead, but it was built in 1792 by Tared Benham and for many years he dwelt 
there ; it will be noticed that it does not stand square with Broad street, because 
it was built to front on the highway deeded by Samuel Hall in 1782. 

On the other side of the street stands the old Willard house built about 1787 
by the parson, but as already stated, formerly located one hundred feet north of 
its present site. In 1806 it was the home of Samuel Yale ;i west of this at the 
corner of Liberty and Broad streets was the Ambrose Hough place already de- 
scribed and now the home of Walter B. Hall. 

North of this house was the old Jerome homestead, occupied in 1806 by Levi 
Curtis and at that time it was probably the last house on Broad street going north, 
for the Edmund Wilcox place. No. 721, was built about 1813 by Archibald Plum, 
and the old Belden house. No. 692, was probably erected in the same year by Ira 
Andrews, and the Asahel Curtis dwelling. No. 1065, just south of Britannia street, 
was probably built by Joel Yale in 1807. 

In going west from the meeting house we would have come first to the home- 
stead of Samuel Tibbals, only a hundred feet or so west of it, and the old house 
has only recently disappeared ; further down the road, and probably on the site of 
Dr. John Tait's house. No. 244 East Main street, stood a dwelling built by Yale I. 
(the eldest son of Dr. Hough) but in 1806 the home of Gardner Tryon: on the 
other side of the street on about the site now occupied by a small building, once 
the office of Dr. Archer, stood a house occupied by Joseph Farrington, and west 
of the Tryon dwelling, perhaps where George Clark's residence now stands, No. 
222, was the home of Burrage Yale, who afterwards moved to South Reading, 
Mass., and became a manufacturer of tinware. At this time his father, Amerton 

2 He died in 1816 and his inventory contains the first notice we have of a stove in Meriden. The 
item appears as stove and pipe $10. 
1 Wallingford land records, Vol. XXX., p. 426. 




CHWlSTOPMtR ATIYATE 



AT WATER 

HOMEareAO 



342 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

opened up a highway from the meeting house, running west and meeting Liberty 
street at what is now the town hall site : viz. East Alain street. 

On the triangular piece of land east of the tavern, was a barn for the conven- 
ience of the stage coach line. 

Just opposite the old brick bank building on Broad street and just south of the 
house known as No. 544, are still to be seen the foundation walls of an old dwell- 
ing built probably in 1792 by Moses Barns, ^ sometimes of Cheshire and then of 
Reading, Mass., and finally of Meriden; but in 1806 it was the homestead of 
Jarius Mix ; later it was the dwelling of Isaac Lewis, who bought it about 1813, 
and afterwards it was the home of William Merriam and is still remembered as 
a boarding place where Episcopal clergymen were carefully looked after. Mrs. 
Merriam has the reputation of having been the first milliner in Meriden ; the house 
disappeared a number of years ago. 

The second house north of the Barns place is known as the Beckett home- 
stead, but it was built in 1792 by Jared Benham and for many years he dwelt 
there ; it will be noticed that it does not stand square with Broad street, because 
it was built to front on the highway deeded by Samuel Hall in 1782. 

On the other side of the street stands the old Willard house built about 1787 
by the parson, but as already stated, formerly located one hundred feet north of 
its present site. In 1806 it was the home of Samuel Yale ;^ west of this at the 
corner of Liberty and Broad streets was the Ambrose Hough place already de- 
scribed and now the home of Walter B. Hall. 

North of this house was the old Jerome homestead, occupied in 1806 by Levi 
Curtis and at that time it was probably the last house on Broad street going north, 
for the Edmund Wilcox place. No. 721, was built about 1813 by Archibald Plum, 
and the old Belden house, No. 692, was probably erected in the same year by Ira 
Andrews, and the Asahel Curtis dwelling, No. 1065, just south of Britannia street, 
was probably built by Joel Yale in 1807. 

In going west from the meeting house we would have come first to the home- 
stead of Samuel Tibbals, only a hundred feet or so west of it, and the old house 
has only recently disappeared ; further down the road, and probably on the site of 
Dr. John Tait's house, No. 244 East Main street, stood a dwelling built by Yale I. 
(the eldest son of Dr. Hough) but in 1806 the home of Gardner Tryon: on the 
other side of the street on about the site now occupied by a small building, once 
the office of Dr. Archer, stood a house occupied by Joseph Farrington, and west 
of the Tryon dwelling, perhaps where George Clark's residence now stands. No. 
222, was the home of Burrage Yale, who afterwards moved to South Reading, 
Mass., and became a manufacturer of tinware. At this time his father, Amerton 

2 He died in 1816 and his inventory contains the first notice we have of a stove in Meriden. The 
item appears as stove and pipe $10. 
1 Wallingford land records, Vol. XXX., p. 426. 



MERIOEN 

1S06 




^eEtme House 



EARLY HISTORY. 343 

Yale, was probably living witli bim, wbo bad served in tbe Revolution and was 
noted as a musician, being a skillful performer on tbe violin and flute. 

Only one of tbe old bouses of 1806 on East Main street is still standing, and 
tbat is located just west of tbe bomestead of E. B. Everitt. Its number is 194, 
and wben tbe town was incorporated it was tbe dwelling of Timotby Ricbards, 
and near at band he bad a sbop wbere be made bats. He sold the house in 1807 
to Elisba A. Cowles and it was probably here tbat tbe Major first started in tbe mer- 
cantile business, for tbe windows bear tbe appearance of at some time having been 
used for displaying goods. It was afterwards owned by Samuel Tibbals, and was 
for many years tbe home of John Mecorney ; it is now tbe property of E. B. 
Everitt. 

On the south side of the street, opposite tbe Mecorney residence, was the dwell- 
ing of Selden \\'rigbt, and on tbe town ball site, stood tbe home of Roswell Cowles, 
the brother of the Major, and tbe property consisting of bouse and two acres, was 
sold to the tow-n in 1853 by Roswell's widow. His stone cutting yard has already 
been described as occupying the site across tbe street wbere now stands the Wilmot 
place. 

Where stands St. Andrew's church was the old Nathaniel Merriam place (in 
1806 tbe home of Giles O. Griswold) and on tbe site of tbe north part of Main 
Street Baptist church was the homestead of Simeon Perkins, afterwards occupied 
by Sherlock, bis son ; tbe old building now stands on Veteran street. 

Doubtless there were other bouses in the central part of the town in 1806 that 
have escaped the notice of the writer, but in tbe main the buildings mentioned con- 
stituted the village of Meriden. Accompanxing is a ma]) which at a glance ex- 
plains the plan as related in the text. 

Some of the early town votes are interesting and those relating to tbe running" 
at large of geese, cattle and boars illustrate the primitive conditions of the time. 

One of the first votes after tbe town was fully organized was one instructing 
the selectmen to open the street now called Griswoid: this was on Dec. i. 1806. 
On Feb. 2t^, 1807. it was voted that tbe books of the public library be kc]U \\\ tlic 
town clerk (who was then Isaac Lewis) and that they be loaned out for four 
weeks only, and any one wbo kept a book longer than this was to be subject to 
a fine of 25 cents and an increasing forfeiture of one cent per day until returned.^ 
Previous to 1807 Britannia street, east of Griswold. ran around tlie south side of 
the swamp and the marks of this old section can still be plainly traced : on May 
25, 1807, it was voted to change the layout by running it directly across the swamp. 

In those days one was permitted to work out one's taxes by assisting in re- 
pairing the highways and on Xov. 16. 1807, it was voted that the rate allowed for 
this work should be 75 cents per day in the spring and (>'j cents in the fall. On 
Nov. 14, 1815, the rate was changed to $1.25 in the spring and $1 in the fall. 

1 A full account of this first library will be found in an article by the writer on page 46, Part 11. 



344 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



On May 6, 1811, it was voted to sell strips of the old highway made no longer 
iiecessaTy by the opening of the turnpike to Middletown which had been built in 
1809. On Nov. 9, 181 3, it was voted to close the highway from foot of hill run- 
ning to Elisha A. Cowles no longer needed on account of the opening of the South- 
ington turnpike in 1812. This was that part of old Liberty street which ran across 
the present site of the Main street Baptist church and coming out at the South 
Colony street bridge. 

On Sept. 15, 1816, it was voted that the town bell (located in the church 
steeple) should be rung at 9 and 10:30 o'clock a. m. and i o'clock on Sundays anci 
on all other days at 12 noon and 9 o'clock at night. On Oct. 4, 1824, it was voted 
to close the road from East Main to Liberty streets that had been laid out in Samuel 
Hall's land in 1782. 

On Aug. 3rd, 1812, a large liberty pole was erected on the green, presumably 
somewhere near the church. ^ Among the papers preserved by Mrs. Hiram A. 
Yale is a bill of expense incurred in the undertaking which include the following : 

To Asahel Merriam for oxen half a day 34 

To Paid Dan Andrews for mending chain broke in service 25 

Paid for ensign 8.00 

Paid for halyards 1.25 

Paid for 10 lbs. powder 8.78 

Paid for carting pole -So 

Paid for waggon & time to Middletown i-oo 

Paid for Wm. Yale's bill for entertaining on Aug. 3. 10.00 

Paid for 2 quts rum -67 

Paid for cannon 2.00 

These items with others paid to various persons brought the total cost of pole 
ensign and entertainment to $58.18. 

Imprisonment for debt was common in those days and the following is a copy 
of a letter written by one who was in torments dire. 

"New Haven Oct 6 1825 
Mr Samuel Yale Sir 

Please to lett Mr Lawrence know what you think Lewis will do about keep- 
ing me here after Monday and Please Be to see Father or some other But speak 
to him first about Being a Bondsman till Monday for I dont want to stay in close 
confinement till then. Please to send me w^ord about all I have writ 

Yours respectfully 

Samuel Tibbals Jr. 

Please take this trouble for me and I will pay you all you ask." 



1 Many still living remember a flag pole which stood where the elm tree now stands just south of 
watering trough at junction of Broad and East Main streets. 



EARLY HISTORY. 345 

In the year 1812 an association was fornietl for the detection of thieves and 
bringing them to their just deserts. Ijefore the writer as he pens these Hnes is 
a copy of the constitution vi the S(X"iet\- which is headed. 

"Constitution of the 

Aleriden Association for the 

Detection of Thieves and Recovery of Stolen Property" 

The main object of combining in this way seems to have been to bring horse 
thieves to justice. Article VII. reads, "It shall be the duty of the Secretary to 
keep a box of ticl.ets. with each member's name written thereon for the purpose 
of drafting men, to pursue the thief or thieves, and to recover property stolen." 
The articles would lead one to believe there had been much crime of this nature 
committed and that the society was more or less a "\'igilance Committee." 

The sources of information relating to the life of the people in this quiet coun- 
try village during the early years of the last century are not abundant and doubt- 
less events were few and far between and little of interest trans])ired tliat would 
appeal to us to-day or that made nuich impression on those who were then ac- 
tive on the stage of life. That Meriden was to have a life different from most 
quiet country farming comnumities was hardly dreamed by an\- one of that 
period. There was one man who insisted that the day would come when 
a comer lot in the village of ]\leriden would bring as much as a thousand 
dollars: but he was considered craz\- and no one paid nnich attention to his vag- 
aries or dreamed that his wild prophecies contained an element of truth, until he 
was dead and gone, and building lots had really l)egun to creep up to a figure that 
approached the halluciiuitions of Iiis cloudy brain: tlien peoj^le remenil)ered liis 
sa\ ings, and wondered if he did not know more than was susi)ected during his life. 

The source of the increase in real estate values in Meriden was. of course, in 
the manufactures and the story of the beginnings and early growth of the indus- 
tries of Meriden deserves a chapter of its own. 



346 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



CHAPTER XX. 

There was little about the town in its early days which indicated that some day 
it would grow to a place of considerable size : it was simply a cjuiet, peaceful com- 
munity, bent on getting a living as best it could from the rather sterile soil ; and 
that the farms were not as productive as they once had been seems to be indicated 
in various ways. 

The houses built after 1790 until a considerably later date were not so capacious 
and roomy as those of an earlier period, and the inventories of estates had also be- 
gun to dwindle in amounts, and many of them were pitifully small when compared 
with those of the first settlers. Evidently the feeling became prevalent that some 
other resource besides farming was necessary to make the town a growing, thriving 
place, and this feeling soon manifested itself by the establishment of many small 
shops and factories. 

As early as 1802 there was a shop of some kind standing on a part of the land 
now occupied by the Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co. A deed dated in that year con- 
veyed from John Hooker to Eli Barnes a tract of land at the southwestern corner 
of Colony and Main streets, containing eighteen acres, most of the extent being 
in an easterly and westerly direction and it was bounded on the south by the land 
of the firm of Rice, Yale & Co. What they made or who the parties were is not cer- 
tain, but the Yale was perhaps Samuel Yale. He seems to have been the first man- 
ufacturer in Meriden, if we do not consider those who owned grist, fulling and 
sawmills. Mr. Perkins in his history ays that in "1791 Samuel Yale began to 
manufacture cut nails. He and his son worked in a small shop on the hill, near 
the present site of the Center Congregational church. Their little machine was 
worked by their own hands, and each nail was 'headed' separately and by hand. 
About the year 1794 the same Mr. Yale commenced the manufacture of buttons 
on a small scale. They were made of pewter, and would be considered by us a 
very rough article." This shop was probably on land adjoining the old Methodist 
church on Broad street, for in 1808 he sold to Seth D. Plum a piece of land where 
his blacksmith and tinshop then stood, which was evidently a part of the same tract 
on which the old house was presenting such an annoying spectacle to the public, and 
which was removed at about the same date. He probably then established his bus- 
iness on Liberty street near Ambrose Hough's mill ; he died In 1810 and his sons, 
Samuel Jr. and William, carried on the same line in a building still standing back 
of the Bassett block at the northeast corner of Broad and East Main streets. Wil- 
liam, who died much earlier than Samuel, Jr., viz. in 1833, apparently at that 



EARLY IlISTOKV. 347 

time owned a small shop just north of his dwelling". This house is still standing 
and known as No. 447 Broad street, and now occupied by James H. Kelsey. These 
brothers, William and Samuel, were for many years quite extensively engaged in 
manufacturing metal buttons and tinware, and must have employed many hands 
for they sent travelers, or peddlers as they were called, into various parts of the 
country, and the writer has been fortunate enough to examine a number of papers 
and documents,^ which reveal a little of the character of the business, and the man- 
ner of conducting it. Following is a copy of a contract with a peddler that is in- 
teresting: 

"Articles of agreement made and entered into l)y and Ijetwccn William and 
Samuel Yale of Meriden in Xew Haven comuy on the one part and Amos Francis 
of W'allingford in said county on the other ])art witncsseth, viz. I the said Amos 
Francis agree on my part to hawk, peddle and \cn(l such articles as the said Vales 
shall deliver me for that purpose in any part of the United States they shall see 
fit to send me for the term of ten months from the ist day of October next and 
to furnish a good horse, w^aggon and harness and to be faithful in their said em- 
ploy during said term of time to be fully completed and ended ; And we the said 
William and Samuel agree to pay the said Amos Francis for his said services 
thirty dollars per month certain wages, forty dollars per month, if said Francis 
clears it over and above the first cost of his load and expenses, and one-half of 
all profits over and above said forty dollars that he. the said Francis, shall 
actually clear. Dated at Meriden, this 3rd day of Sept.. 1816 

William Yale, 
Samuel Yale. 
Amos Francis." 

'1 he following is somewhat different from a modern communication of a 
traveling salesman to his employer. 

''Xewburgh, West Liranch of the Susquehannah Ri\er. 

May 1 1, 1S14. 
W orthy Patron : 

A\'here to begin or end my uncouth e[)istle I know not. but upon retlection 
w dl try to compose my mind while T inform you that I .shall sink one hundred 
dollars at least unless fortune turns the soak- in my favor. 

R. P>aldwin and I have traversed the country from Dan to Beersheba, be- 
sides going to Albany, and I have not sold either buttons or spoons to any 
amount. The reason which people give for not purchasing those articles is 

1 Tbrougfa the kindness of Mrs. Hlrani A. V.tI". widow of the .^on of Samuel V.ile. .Ir. 



248 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

that the embargo is repealed, an armistice on foot and peace at the very door, 
when all these things are to be showered down upon them as Manna was to the 
Israelites. 

Moses [Baldwin] has gone to Pittsburgh to see what may be done there 
while I am cruising about here & there wherever the spirit moves as I thought 
it would hardly quit cost for me to go any farther. Tin goes extremely well. 

Your well washer till Death, 

Warren P. Stone. 
Mr. Samuel Yale." 

President Timothy Dwight, of Yale College, made a trip up this valley 
on the way to the White Mountains in the early part of the last century, and 
has this to say regarding these salesmen :^ "The manner in wdiich this ware 
is disposed of puts to flight all calculation. A young man is furnished by the 
proprietor with a horse, and a cart covered with a box, containing as many 
tin vessels as the horse can conveniently draw. This vehicle wathin a few 
years has, indeed, been frequently exchanged for a wagon ; and then the load 
is doubled. Thus prepared he sets out on an expedition for the winter. A 
multitude of these young men direct themselves to the Southern States, and 
in their excursions travel wherever they can find settlements. Each of them 
walks and rides alternately through this vast distance till he reaches Rich- 
mond, Newbern, Charleston or Savannah ; and usually carries with him to the 
place of his destination no small part of the gain, which he has acquired upon 
the road. Here he finds one or more workmen, wdio have been sent forward 
to co-operate with him, furnished with a sufficient quantity of tinned plates to 
supply him with all the ware which he can sell during the season. With this 
he wanders into the interior country ; calls at every door on his way : and with 
an address and pertinacity, not easily resisted, compels no small number of the 
inhabitants to buy. At the commencement of summer they return to New York : 
and thence to New Haven, by water ; after selling their vehicles, and their horses. 
The original load of a single horse, as I am told, is rarely worth more than three 
hundred dollars ; or of a wagon more than six hundred. Yet this business is 
said to yield both the owner and his agent valuable returns." 'T have seen them 
on the peninsula of Cape Cod, and in the neighborhood of Lake Erie: distant 
from each other more than six hundred miles. They make their way to Detroit, 
four hundred miles farther ; to Canada ; to Kentucky ; and if I mistake not to New 
Orleans and St. Louis." The Rev. President waxes eloquent in his description 
of the damage to the character of these agents and paints with a feeling pen their 
generally demoralizing conduct while engaged in this business : but as the career 
of a salesman was then a novelty in this country, it is possible that the author 

1 Travels in New England and New York, Vol. 2, pp. 53-4. 



EARLY HISTORY. 349 

\\a> unduly alarmed and that they were not so black in their actions and heart 
,is he believed. 

His remarks were given in his sketch of Berlin which was then a much more 
important place in the business world than Meriden, and where the manufacture 
had been begun a long time previous to the Yale venture in Aleriden. The pion- 
eer in Berlin was William Pattison, a native of Ireland, who settled there about 
1740. Of Meriden President Dwight says, "a small neat village on a handsome 
miinence in the center of the parish. The remainder of the township is distributed 
into farms." "The business of manufacturing culinary utensils from tin i)lates 
has been considerably extended ; and is becoming a source of wealth to the inhab- 
itants. Fruit trees usually blossom here on the Southern declevity of the hills, in 
the valley at the bottom, three or four days earlier than at New Haven." 

The Yales continued in the business for many years, and both accumulated 
ft>r the times considerable property, and were held in high esteem in the com- 
munity : the son of William, General Edwin R. Yale, was also extensively engaged 
in this manufacture, and his shops were back of his homestead, Xo. 405 Broad 
-treet. He left here finally to engage in the hotel business in Xew York where 
he was for a number of years proprietor of the United States Hotel and later of 
the Mansion House, Brooklyn. 

Another early manufacturer of tinware in Meriden was Partrick Clark, who 
IS will be remembered, bought the old Jonathan Collins place on Xorth Colony 
road, of his father-in-law in 1806. He evidently at once engaged in the busi- 
ness, for in 1 81 3, he was enough of a factor in the '"tin world" to be one of the 
signers of an agreement to maintain prices — doubtless the first document of the 
sort ever drawn up in this vicinity. It is as follows : 

"June 16 1813 We the Subscribers each and every one of us agree not to sell 
off tin ware Plain & Japann'^ below the ])rices aftixed to the several articles. 

Shubael Paterson. Orin Bcckley, Saml i'aterson, John Dunham 2'^, Samuel 
Gilbert, John Goodrich Jun., Aziel P>elden, John lUicknum. John Hubbard, l>enj"^ 
Willcox. Sanniel Kelsey, I'artrick Clark." 

This agreement was followed by a list of the articles manufactured with the 
minimum prices annexed. Evidently all these names were those of r>erlin men 
with the exception of Partrick Clark, and possibly later the names of the ^'ales 
were attached, for the original of the above was itself a copy, and was found 
among the Yale papers, where, ])erhaps. it was ])rescrved as a memorandum. 

Partrick Clark's shoj) was just south of his hou>e where he was engaged in 
manufacturing many years. His sons, Samuel. I'artrick, Jr., and for a while. 
Judge James .'~^. I'rooks. engaged in the business in a shop that stood on the i)res- 
ent site of the .Meriden ."taxings liank on h'ast Main street: the old woc^den build- 
ing was built there more than fifty years ago. h'or manv vears the firm located 
here was known as Stedman & Clark. 



350 A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 

Another prominent manufacturer in the early days of the town was Partrick 
Lewis, who in 1826 bought of Dr. Isaac I. Hough, the old tavern, and not only 
performed the functions of "mine host," but also started a store in the old build- 
ing, probably in one of the additions, which plainly show in the illustration that 
they were not of the same date, as that part covered by the gambrel roof. He 
was then only twenty-five years old but was enterprising and energetic ; and he 
also began at this time the manufacture of tinware in a small shop on or near 
the spot now occupied by Birdsey & Raven's store, No. 294 East Main street. He 
took as a partner Elias Holt, also an enterprising and resourceful man, and began 
to enlarge the business, fitting up a barn in the rear of the brick block which for- 
merly stood just north of the residence of Eli C. Birdsey: here they made 
tea and coffee pots, candle sticks, molasses gates, etc., etc., and soon finding their 
quarters too small they built a shop just west of the junction of High and East 
Main streets, which to-day is a dwelling house and was once occupied by 
Charles Parker and later by George C. Merriam. Mr. Lewis also built the brick 
block just referred to, which was devoted to a general mercantile business. This was 
the site of the store and dwelling of Amos White. The young men did a large 
business for the times, and but for some untoward circumstances which they could 
not control, they would have built up a large industry. ^ 

But fate was unkind or human judgment was at fault, for on January 6, 1834, 
on the petition of Mr. Lewis, the firm of Lewis & Holt was compelled to go into 
bankruptcy with liabilities of more than $75,000. 

A copy of this petition is before the writer as he pens these lines, and contains 
a formidable list of creditors. The failure was considered a bad blow to the com- 
munity, for the citizens were proud of the enterprising young manufacturers whose 
products embraced a wide variety of articles for household uses in tinware. Sym- 
pathy seems to have been particularly felt for Mr. Lewis, for he was a man of 
integrity and honor, and it was he who, when he knew the crash could not be 
averted, insisted that the bankruptcy proceedings be taken at once rather than con- 
tinue and make a more disastrous failure later. Capt. Almeron ]\Iiles took the 
business and carried it on for a while but eventually Charles Parker bought the 
factory at the corner of High and East Main streets, and later when he had begun 
to manufacture in the factories which are the nucleus of the extensive works 
southwest of this spot, he altered the shop into a dwelling. 

Mr. Lewis, when profits were large and the future looked rosy with promise 
in the year 1830, built the dignified old mansion at No. 497 Broad street, now the 
home of Eli C. Birdsey ; it was the first fine dwelling to be erected in Meriden, and 
was well and carefully constructed, and the carved mantels and door casings and 
paneling, and the mahogany stair railings and general details show that the thought 
of failure was far from his mind. 

] These facts ure from memoranda furnished tho> late Dr. Ch;ipin by the lite Isaac C. Lewi-^. 



EAKLN' IIISTOKV. 



35J 




352 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Mr. Holt also built a substantial and pleasing dwelling in the same year, which 
stands on the east corner of Main and High streets, and is now the home of Mrs. 
Russell Coe. 

Noah Pomerov came here in the year 1817, and immediately bought the old 
Benjamin A. Hall farm in East Meriden, with the homestead which formerly stood 
at the junction of Pomeroy and Murdock avenues and has since been moved a 
short distance eastward. He must have at once begun the manufacture of tin- 
ware in shops which he built across the street from his house to the east. The 
factories have now all disappeared, and one would never imagine from present 




ELIAS HOLT, NOW THE MRS. RUSSELL COE HOUSE. 



appearances that this was for many years the busiest locality in Meriden, for he 
engaged very extensively in the production of this line of goods, and employed 
more workmen than any other manufacturer in town, vmtil 1845 when he retired 
with a comfortable fortune ; his sons continued the business for a number of years. 
The manufactories so far mentioned were the more prominent ones, and they 
are all remembered by people still living, but an examination of the land records 
has revealed the fact that there were in those early days, a number of other men 



EARLY HlSTdKV 



iSS' 



engaged in the production of tinware, metal and bone buttons and wooden combs,. 
who probably in the aggregate sent large quantities of their wares into the markets. 

(Df course, the records will not disclose all these small shops, for one would not 
be mentioned in a deed without the owner sold his ])lant : in a few instances they 
are included in the inventories of estates on the probate reccirds. 

In 1808 Sidney and Arba Merriam were manufacturing buttons in a shop that 
was located somewhere in the vicinity of the Parker Clock Co. ])lant in what we 
know as Crow Hollow and it was still in existence in 1815 : in 1808 Seth D. Plum, 
as already related, bought Samuel Yale's old tin shop which stood near the present 
-ite I'f the old -Methodist church and continued the manufacture until 1835 : in 1814 




.MKklDEN ri-:XTi:K .M'.OIT 1834, I,f)OKI.\G NORTH FRd.M llli: jlNt II(i.\ OK ( IR II.S 

.\.\1) I'.RO.M) STKKET.S.l 

The biiildins; on the left, before \vhi<h the stage conch i.>; passiiiR. is the Epi.^copal Chur< h. the 
next is the Baptist Church (which stood at the northeast corner of the jjravevard, afterwards the 
Mertden .\cadeniv). the third is the Congregational Church, beyond which stands the old Central 
Tavern 



Benjamin I'.uel was making buttons in a building on the land some yards north of 
the Calvin Coe homestead on Coe avenue, and it was later owned by Jesse Curtis 
and Spicer Leonard. In 1S15 William i,awrence leased of l-"lisha .\. ("owles a 
button shop south r)f "llarbMr i'-ridgc." "a^ lung as grass grows and water runs,"' 



1 Krom Barber's Historical f'ollectlons of Ccinmi tirut. 
2i 



354 -^ CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

and the same year Timothy Richards sold to Mr. Cowles a store standing near the 
latter 's tin shop ; this store stood on land just west of the present Record building- 
site. In 1816 Enos Grannis mortgaged to Avery Hall a tin shop that was located 
somewhere on Ichabod Woods' farm which is now Walnut Grove cenietery, and 
in 1817 Edward Collins sold to Walter Booth a half interest in his tin shop, wiiich 
stood on land now belonging to the State School for Boys near the driveway lead- 
ing from Colony street, and the inventory of Moses Barns wdio died in 1816 shows 
that he had a tin shop just west of his house ; he was then living in the old dwell- 
ing known as the Nathaniel iMerriam place, standing where St. Andrew's church 
is now located. 

In 1813 Asahel Curtis and Isaac Lewis were manufacturing buttons in a shop 
near the residence known as No. 1065 Broad street and at about the same date 
Enos H. Curtis was making like articles on Curtis street, and Amos Curtis was 
engaged in the same kind of business in a shop south of his house at the junction 
of Broad and Curtis streets, and Henry Peck was making tinware in a building that 
stood west of the Belden house, No. 692 Broad street. At an early date Laureii 
Merriam was in the same business in a factory that stood a little north of the junc- 
tion of Foster and Colony streets. 

And in the year 1820 Abel Sanford was manufacturing spoons in a shop which 
stood somewhere on the farm now owned by Julius Ives on the hill just west of 
the village of Hanover, for in that year he sold his farm to Jesse Ives, reserving 
his spoon shop, and Ives sold the Meriden House corner to Sanford, reserving his 
tailor shop standing on it. 

This list by no means exhausts the catalogue of these small shops located in 
various parts of the town, but further extension would but make patience cease to 
be a virtue and could serve no useful purpose. 

In the year 1819 Amasa Merriam leased to Lauren Merriam and Edward Col- 
lins under the firm name of Collins and Merriam the right to erect a dam twenty 
rods northwest of their comb factory which had evidently just been built ; this shop 
stood where the present Parker Clock Co. plant is located in the west part of the 
town, and in 1822 we find on the town records John B. Collins of Hartford selling 
to this firm his invention for sawing ivory for combs. This was apparently the be- 
ginning of the ivory comb business in Meriden which was for a time an important 
industry. 

In 1827, Collins having died, Merriam sold a half interest in the business to 
Walter Webb and Albert Foster and it was then continued under the firm name 
of W^alter Webb & Co.. and for a number of years the manufacture was carried 
on in two adjoining shops, one of which is to-day used by the Clock Co. 

A few hundred feet west of this spot, on the north side of the turnpike, stands 
an old house, on an elevation considerably above the road, that was built probably 
all of a hundred years ago by Noah Merriam. and in it as early as 1829, Albert 



KARLV IllSlOK^'. 355 

Foster was living-, and manufacturing hcjiie and metal buttons and other articles, 
in a shop just across the street, and the outlines of the foundation of the building 
can still be seen. At the same time John Sutlift" was manufacturing goods of a 
like nature in a factory that stood east of the ivory comb shcjp. in the point formed 
by the junction of Johnson avenue and the turnpike: it was afterwards used by 
Dana Lewis as a button shop and burned down many years ago : some of the foun- 
dation stones may still be seen. West of Albert Foster's factory, at a point just 
east of the fountain, stood a small shop that was used b}' George Hull fi)r mak- 
ing German silver spoons at about the same date. 

The two small plants of Sutlitt & I'oster were the beginnings of Foster, Mer- 
riani & Co. and for a while they ran independently, and then forces were joined 
and Iliram Foster and Asaph and Xelson Merriam were taken in as partners and 
the enlarged firm hnall\' located on their present site in the decade following 1840. 

Near the main entrance to Hubbard park on the north side of the road, stood 
until a few years ago, an old stone building known as the Julius Parker foundry : 
it was built abovit 183 1 or 1832 by Jonathan Leonard who came here from Canton. 
Mass. ; the land was owned by William Johnson, and Leonard leased the right for 
a term of years to erect a factory and occupy it, and here he carried on the business 
of casting various kinds of articles and was successful and enterprising.^ He sold 
the shop to Charles Parker and in 1835 bought of Homer Curtiss a plant which 
the latter had built in the east part of ]\Ieriden in 1831 in ])artnership with a man 
named Walker, and here for a number of years Leonard continued the manufacture 
of the same class of goods he had produced in Crow Hollow. In the first number 
of the Meriden Weekly Mercury, dated March 24. 1849, appears an advertisement 
signed by Jonathan Leonard in Xew Haven in which he ofifers for sale "the Water 
Privilege and Factory owned and occupied by him for the last fourteen years in 
the easterly part of Meriden.'" Eventually the shop came into possession of 
Charles Parker and doubtless the original building is buried somewhere in the 
depths of the Parker spoon factory. 

Mr. Perkins, in his history, sa}S that Julius Pratt began to manufacture ivory 
combs in Meriden in 1822. and the factory was at first located on Harbor brook on 
the south side on land now occupied by P»radley & Hubbard Mfg. Co. and the old 
dam which formerly stood there furnished the water power: but finding it not suf- 
ficient for his purpose, he bought in 1824 a tract of land on Broad street wliich is 
now covered mostly by Pratt's pond: here he built a daiu, and a factory nn the 
south side, probably, and again began the manufacture of coiubs, and in the same 
year he admitted as partners, Thomas Howard, of Providence. R. 1.. Alpheus Star- 
key, George Reid, John C. Rodgers and George Spencer, of Sayl)rook. and Fcnner 
Bush, of Meriden : not finding the premises large enougii. the firm, known as 
Howard Pratt & Co.. in 1828, bought of Weaker Booth ten acres, which gave suf- 

1 BuReno Loonard. his son. gave these facts to the writer. 



356 A CEXTURY OF MERIDEX. 

ficient room for a raceway, and a new factory at present occupied by Miller Bros. 
Cutlery Co. on Pratt street. The firm did a large business and was prosperous, 
notwithstanding misfortunes by fire, etc. Mr. Pratt was a man of resource and 
enterprise and ranked high in the community ; his home stood just south of the 
dam and the old dwelling is still there, while just north of the dam stands the 
house built by his partner, Fenner Bush. The firm continued in business many 
years and was later known as Julius Pratt & Co. Mr. Perkins gives a description 
of the processes of manufacture, in his history, and Mrs. Breckenridge writes en- 
tertainingly in her "Recollections" of both Mr. Pratt and Mr. Bush and relates facts 
pertaining to the ups and downs of the business. According to the table at the 
end of this chapter Mr. Pratt was making cutlery also in 1845. 

Philo Pratt & Co. was the name of another comb manufacturing establishment 
that was located at Hanover: the building stood on land closely adjoining the 
present Meriden Cutlery Co. plant at the south end and the business was finally 
absorbed by Walter Webb & Co., and this latter company took possession of the 
factory and sold the old one in Crow Hollow to Charles Parker, where for a num- 
ber of years he made locks. 

When Julius Pratt gave up the factory where Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co. 
is now located, it was leased by the owner, Elisha A. Cowles, in 1828, to N. C. 
Sanford & Co., of which firm the following gentlemen were partners, viz: Fenner 
Bush, Julius Pratt, Xathaniel Sanford and Howell }^Ierriman, and this company 
began the manufacture of augers. They stayed there until 1832 when they moved 
to Hanover and bought the plant of Carter, Goodrich and Bishop, who for some 
time had been making bone buttons in a factory located just south of the old ten- 
ement houses near where the road turns and comes out at Archer's Corner. The 
remains of the old raceway can still be seen west of the road after leaving the 
bridge, and running south to where the factory was standing. The firm of N. C. 
Sanford & Co. afterwards moved to Yalesville and the shop they built is now oc- 
cupied by the Jennings & Grifiin Co. 

In 1834 the plant on Harbor brook abandoned by N. C. Sanford & Co. was sold 
to Homer Curtiss and Harlow Isbell, trading under the name of Curtiss, Isbell & 
Co., who had previously been located in a plant west of where the Meriden House 
now stands, just back of the Lewis block. This firm was enterprising and suc- 
cessful in making door latches, locks and builders" hardware. Air. Isbell finally 
moved to Kansas and Mr. Curtiss then formed a partnership with a Mr. Morgan 
and the new company was known as Curtiss. Alorgan & Co. and continued to do 
business at this stand until January, 1854, when the firm, to the great regret of the 
whole community, was compelled to make an assignment through endorsing for 
Curtis L. North. 

Benjamin and Hiram Twiss began the manufacture of clocks in 1828 
and located their factory near the east end of Pratt's pond where it could be seen 



EARLY HISTORY. 357 

from Broad street and they built for i)o\ver purposes a dam which formed a pond 
still known by their name : after a number of years the business was moved to 
Canada. 

In East Meriden. or Bangall, more than ^.event} years ago, (Jrsamus Crocker 
built a factory in the point of land formed b\ the junction of Cone avenue and 
Middletown turnpike, which was designed for the making of clocks, but the bus- 
iness proving a failure, it was occupied later by Crocker on the upper floor making 
wooden combs and drawer pulls, while William J. Ives made suspenders on the 
lower floor. Isaac C. Lewis was at one time engaged in making liritannia ware 
in the same building. ^ 

David W. Ropes began the business of manufacturing table cutlery in ^leri- 
den in 1845, and located in Hanover just north of the Walter Webb & Co. factory 
and later he formed a partnershi]) with Julius M. I'ratt and Walter Webb under 
the firm name of Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Co., and in 1855 the business was merged 
into a corporation bearing the present name of ^leriden Cutlery Co. and there it 
has since continued, a successful and prosperous concern. 

Henry T. Wilcox came to Meriden in 1829 and entered the employ of Julius 
Pratt & Co. About 1845 ^^^ built a small shop a little south of his house, Xo. 
400 North Colony street, where for a number of years he made coflfee mills, spring 
balances, steelyards, iron bit braces and door knockers. The first shop was burned 
in 1 85 1, and a second built on the same site was burned in 1853. 

I'ndoubtedly, many of the early industries have been omitted in ilic forego- 
ing pages, but sufficient have been given to show that Meriden had become a per- 
fect hive of manufactories by 1850 and this in the face of the fact that there were 
few advantages such as are usually considered necessities when a community is 
engaged in industrial pursuit: that such a situation should have (levelo])ed was 
due wholly to the genius of the people ; they were determined to succeed and they 
did: and as one looks over the roll of manufacturers of Meriden since 1800, one 
is conscious that there have been S(imc great men among the number — men who 
with more natural advantages woulcl have achieved much bigger rcsidts 

Some of the difficulties of manufacturing in Meriden in the early days will be 
realized when it is remembered that there was a very limited amount of water 
power in the township, which probably accounts for the great number of tin shops 
which did not require such power: added to this situation it was necessary to cart 
all finished and raw material to and from Middletown and Xew Haven, until the 
railroad was opened in 1838. 

The population of Meriden during the first fifty years was as follows: 

1810, 1.249; 1820. i,30<>: 1830. 1,708; 1840. 1,880: 1850, 3,559. 

1 TblB factory, then ownpfl by Ives. Lewis & Co.. was destroyed by flre. Tliiirsdny nlBht, .June 27, 
18t}7. The Recorder tells us there were three '.niildiiigs in the sjroiip. and thry were vised for making 
hoop skirts, .skirt tape and webbing. 



358 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

(Jut of the 1.249 persons in 1820, 105 were engaged in manufacturing and of 
the 1,880 people in town in 1840, 406 were working in factories, either as employer 
or employee, or 21^ per cent. — a very large proportion. To show the difference 
between the two communities at this date it may be stated that Wallingford, with 
a population of 2,204, had only 118 engaged in manufacturing, or about five per 
cent. 

A Gazetteer of Connecticut and Rhode Island by Pease & Niles, published in 
1 81 9, has this to say about Meriden : 

"A spirit of enterprise and activity in business characterizes the inhabitants of 
this town. Various manufactures and mechanical employments are carried on; 
but those of tin ware and buttons are the most important. There are five distinct 
Factories of the former, and equal number of the latter, for making metal buttons ; 
and I Factory for ivory buttons. There are also i Factory for ivory combs ; and 
2 block tin or hard metal spoon Factories. The wares and manufactures of these 
establishments, like those of other towns in the vicinity, are sent abroad for a mar- 
ket. This furnishes employment for a number of hands ; and it has been estimated 
that there are 20 to 40 persons that are constantly employed in vending the wares 
that are manufactured in this town. Most of them are employed in the southern 
and western states, wdiich afford an extensive market for the products of our in- 
dustry. And this market will not be likely soon to fail, for wherever slavery pre- 
vails, mechanical ingenuity and industry will be excluded. In addition there are 
12 Cider Distilleries, 2 Grain Mills, i Fulling Mill, i Carding Machine and 2 Tan- 
neries. There are 2 Mercantile Stores and 2 Taverns." 

The Gazetteer of the U. S. published in 1833 has this to say about Meriden: 
"An important manufacturing place but with little water power: $1,000,000 an- 
nually produced: i company has 230^ hands in making britanniacofifee pots, spoons, 
coffee mills, waffie irons, signal lanthorns : $200,000: other manufactures are 
wooden clocks value $50,000 ; ivory, wood, boxwood and horn combs value $40,- 
000: auger bits and rakes value $20,000; tin ware value $90,000: another manufac- 
turer of britannia ware $250,000 ; there are other manufactures of Japanned ware, 
shoes, boots : some very useful inventions have originated here ; first branch of 
manufacture extensively engaged in here was that of tin ware." 

In 1833 the Meriden Bank was organized with a capital of $100,000, and 
opened for business at once or very shortly after in the old brick block on North 
Broad street still known as the "bank building." 

A very large percentage of growth was shown by Meriden in the decade from 
1840 to 1850 when the population rose from 1,880 to 3,559 or nearly 100 per cent. 

The following table of manufactories in Meriden in 1845, compiled by Howell 
Merriman and filed with the Secretary of State, is a fitting ending to this account 
of the early industries. The writer has sketched a short account of the early man- 
ufacturers of britannia ware, which will be found on page 37, Part III, of this book. 

1 Probably an exaggerated statement. 



EAKLV UISTOKV, 



359 



"A statement of the ditTerent inanufaeturers in the Town of Meriden, as 
rendered hv tlie Secretary of State, a.G;recable to an act of the Legislature 
passed at tlie May session, 1845. 







Xames of 






a* 
t 
Or 




■6 




Kind of 


■^ 






^ 


^ 


_; 


_ 


■a 




re 


Manufacturers. 




rai 


£"" 


— £ 


- 3 


— 


Manuf.ictures. 


X 






'0.9 


S S 


0.^ 


C c 


S 




6 
y. 










5i 


< s 


c 


Tin Ware, 


17 


L. T. Merriam, 




$2,000 


$10,000 








Tin Ware, 


2 


Samuel Yale, 




1,000 


2.000 








Till Ware, 


32 


Stedman & Clark, 




18,000 


32,000 






1 


Tin Ware, 


20 


Goodrich & Rutty, 




7,000 


35,000 








Tin Ware, 


3 


Hiram Bradley, 




2,500 


6.000 








Tin Ware, 


4 


Burr Andrews, 




2,000 


7.000 








lin Ware, 


2 


F. A. Gale, 




500 


1.500 








Tin Ware, 


4 


H. W. Curtiss, 




1,200 


4.000 








Tin Ware, 


12 


N. Pomcroy, 




10,000 


15.000 


$44,200 


$112,500 


96 


Britannia Ware, 


7 


Bull, Lyman & Cou 


ch, 


3,000 


9.000 








Britannia Ware, 


8 


James A. Frary, 




4,000 


15.000 








Britannia Ware, 


3 


De Witt Kimberly, 




1,500 


4.400 








Britannia Ware, 


2 


Enos H. Curtis, 




1 ,000 


1 .500 








Britannia Ware, 


2 


Edwin E. Curtis, 




600 


1. 000 






, 


Britannia Ware, 


2 


Lemuel J. Curtis, 




1,200 


3.200 








Britannia Ware, 


8 


Thomas R. Holt , 




5.000 


10,000 








Britannia Ware, 


5 


Isaac C. Lewis, 




3,000 


5.000 


19,300 


49,100 


i7 


Ivory Combs, 


45 


Julius Pratt & Co., 




80,000 


100,000 








Ivory Combs, 


35 


Walter Webb & Co 


•) 


60,000 


80.000 


140,000 


180,000 


80 


Cutlery. 


50 


Julius Pratt & Co., 




15,000 


25,000 


15,000 


25,000 


50 


Coffoc' Mills. 


12 


Chas. Parker, 




3,000 


20,000 








Coffee Mills and Stillyards 


3 


H. T. Wilcox, 




1,500 


5.460 








Coffee Mills, 


2 


Foster, Merriam & 


Co., 


1,000 


J. 000 








Coffee Mills, 


3 


Almeron Miles, 




1,000 


3.000 


6,500 


3o,4C>o 


20 


Steelyards, etc., 


2 


Henry M. Foster, 




500 


2.000 


500 


2,000 


2 


Boots and Shoes, 


12 


John Butler, 




6.000 


7.400 








BiM)ts and Shoes, 


2^/^ Ira Preston, 




300 


4-'5 








Boot.s and Shoes, 


iM 


Amasa Sizer, 




200 


350 


6.500 


8.175 


16 


Cigars. 


5 


Clark &Aamson&R.K.C 


2.000 


3.txx) 








' "igars. 


3 


Blake, Johnson & C 


urtis 


. 1. 000 


2,400 


3,000 


6,000 


8 


runks and Harness, 


2 


R. H. Beckley, 




500 


1.200 








Trunks and Harness, 


2 


Chas. Stedman, 




600 


2,000 


1,100 


3,200 


4 


Brass Foundries, 


ID 


I'oster, Merriam & 


Co. 


4,000 


10,000 








Brass F-'oundries, 


12 


Jarid Pratt, 




10,000 


20.000 


* 14,000 


30,000 


22 


Hardware, 


4 


Win. L. Coan, 




1,700 


4.000 


1,700 


4,000 


4 


Door Handles, casting, etc. 


25 


I shell & Curtiss, 




12,000 


25.000 









* A clerical error Id the original manuscript made this amount read $1,400 Instead of $14,000. 



36o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Kind of 
Manufactures. 



Names of 
Manufacturers. 


Si 
0^ 


■o-d 

a; 
i. 

2 c 


«1 

u 


■3 

Is 


'A 

•3 

6 
Z. 


Charles Parker, 


$14,000 


$26,000 


$26,000 


$5 1 ,000 


63 


Sanford, Newton & Co. 


, 12,000 


20,000 


12,000 


20,000 


28 


Stillman & Eastman, 


800 


2,500 


800 


2,500 


3 


Ezra Ives, 


4,000 


4.500 








J. W. Russell, 


2,000 


4.500 


6,000 


9,000 


16 


Oliver Snow & Co-, 


8,000 


14,000 


8,000 


14,000 


20 


Jonathan Leonard, 


ir,8oo 


19,000 


11,800 


19,000 


14 


Asahel Laurence, 


5,000 


15,000 








Redfield & Butler, 


3>ooo 


10.000 








John Davidson, 


1,000 


2,000 








Wm. D. Coan, 


2,000 


5,000 


11,000 


32,000 


41 


Almon Andrews, 


2,500 


3.600 


2,500 


3.600 


2 


S. S. Green, 


700 


15,000 








E. and E. A. Rice, 


1,000 


2,000 








Wm. Green & Mr. Wood, 500 


1,000 


2,200 


4,500 


24 


Stevens & Peck, 


1,200 


2,000 


1,200 


2,000 


4 


Lewis & Hough, 


200 


750 


200 


750 


4 


Elias Baldwin, 


250 


500 


250 


500 


2 


Edwin Birdsey, 


500 


2,000 


500 


2,000 


3 


Stephen Atkins, 


2,000 


4,000 








A. R. Johnsons, 


300 


2.450 


2,300 


6,450 


7 


Wm. J. Ives, 


4,000 


10,000 








Samuel Cook, 


500 


2,000 


4.500 


12,000 


29 


Orsamas Crocker, 


1,000 


2.000 


r.ooo 


2,000 


7 


Jared R- Cook, 


2,000 


10,000 


2,000 


10,000 


20 


Harry Griswold, 


6,000 


10,000 


6,000 


10,000 


14 


Total. 


$350,050 


$651735 


640 



Door Handles, casting, etc. 38 

Augurs, Rakes, etc, 28 

Ink Stands, etc., 3 

Carriages, Wagons, etc, 9 

Carriages, Wagons, etc., 7 

Tools, Pumps, etc, 20 

Castings, Scales, etc., 14 

House Joiners, 20 

House Joiners, 12 

House Joiners, 4 

House Joiners, 5 

Flour Mills, 2 

Clothing, 7 

Clothing, 13 

Clothing, 4 

Stone Cutter, 4 

Tin Face Buttons, 4 

Window Blinds, 2 

Lumber and Boxes, 3 

Blacksmiths, 4 

Blacksmith, 3 
Suspenders and Webbing, 23 
Suspenders and Webbing, 6 

Wood Combs, 7 

Stone, 20 

Bone Suspender Buttons 14 




PUBLISHED BY RH 



36o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Kind of 
Manufactures. 



Names of 
Manufacturers. 



O 0) 
O b 
O 3 



3 3 



Door Handles, casting, etc. 38 

Augurs, Rakes, etc-, 28 

Ink Stands, etc., 3 

Carriages, Wagons, etc, 9 

Carriages, Wagons, etc., 7 

Tools, Pumps, etc, 20 

Castings, Scales, etc., 14 

House Joiners, 20 

House Joiners, 12 

House Joiners, 4 

House Joiners, 5 

Flour Mills, 2 

Clothing, 7 

Clothing, 13 

Clothing, 4 

Stone Cutter, 4 

Tin Face Buttons, 4 

Window Blinds, 2 

Lumber and Boxes, 3 

Blacksmiths, 4 

Blacksmith, 3 

Suspenders and Webbing, 23 

Suspenders and Webbing, 6 

Wood Combs, 7 

Stone, 20 

Bone Suspender Buttons 14 



Charles Parker, $14,000 

Sanford, Newton & Co., 12,000 

Stillman & Eastman, 800 

Ezra Ives, 4,000 

J. W- Russell, 2,000 

Oliver Snow & Co-, 8,000 

Jonathan Leonard, 11,800 

Asahel Laurence, 5,000 

Redheld & Butler, 3,000 

John Davidson, 1,000 

Wm. D. Coan, 2,000 

Almon Andrews, 2,500 

S. S. Green, 700 

E. and E. A. Rice, 1,000 
Wm. Green & Mr. Wood, 500 

Stevens & Peck, 1,200 

Lewis & Hough, 200 

Elias Baldwin, 250 

Edwin Birdse}-, 500 

Stephen Atkins, 2,000 

A. R. Johnsons, 300 

Wm. J. Ives, 4,000 

Samuel Cook, 500 

Orsamas Crocker, 1,000 

Jared R. Cook, 2,000 

Harry Griswold, 6,000 



p26,ooo 

20,000 

2,500 

4'5oo 

4.500 

14,000 

19,000 

15,000 

10.000 

2.000 

5.000 

3,600 

15,000 

2,000 

1,000 

2,000 

750 

500 

2,000 

4,000 

2.450 

10,000 

2,000 

2,000 

10.000 

10,000 






11,000 

2,500 



2,200 

1,200 

200 

250 

500 






M6,ooo $51,000 63 

1 2,000 20,000 28 

800 2,500 3 

6,000 9,000 16 

8,000 14,000 20 

11,800 19,000 14 



32,000 
3,600 



4-500 

2,000 

750 

500 

2,000 



2,300 6,450 



41 

2 



24 

4 



4,500 12,000 29 

r,ooo 2,000 7 

2,000 10,000 20 

6,000 10,000 14 



Total $350,050 $65 1,735 640 



\ 4 ' 




W " ar rm?" ¥hM ifM&i 3i ^ 




PUBLISHED BY RICHARD CLARK, OF PHILADELPHIA, IN iSSI. L. M. WOODFORD, SURVEYOR. 



36o 



Door 
Augu 
Ink S 
Carri 
Carri 
Tools 
Castii 
Hous 
Hous 
Hous 
Hous 
Floui 
Cloth 
Cloth 
Cloth 

StOlK 

Tin I 
Wind 
Lumt 
Blacl< 
Black 
Susp( 
Susp< 
Woo. 
Stont 
Bone 









EARLY HISTORY. 361 



CHAPTER XXI. 



MERCHANTS. 



Mention has already been made of a few of Meriden's early merchants, viz: 
AniDS White and Amasa Curtis and Isaac Lewis, and to them should be added 
the tirni oi Butler & Olds, succeeded by John LUitler alone, who ran a boot and 
shoe store on Broad street nearly opposite the Baptist church, and the 
business was carried on by him for many years. 

Major Elisha A. Cowles began his first mercantile venture in the old Mecor- 
ney House, at 194 East Main street, as has already been mentioned : in the year 
181 1 he was in business on the corner bounded east and north by South 
Colony and East ]\Iain streets, for in that year he admitted Joel Merriman to 
partnership, selling" him a half interest; but in 1813 the firm was dissolved. 
In 181 5 Mr. Cowles bought a piece of land just east, where the Rogers block now 
stands, and, according to one authority, he erected that building in 1840, in com- 
pany with Dr. Isaac I. Hough, and it was run as a railroad restaurant for a nuiu- 
ber of years ; it was originally a gable-roofed structure. In 1846 ]\Irs. Cowles 
sold it to Hervey Rogers, and he ran it as a hotel for twenty years or more. 

Major Cowles apparently sold everything that a country store could be ex- 
pected to carry in stock, and he was in the undertaking business as well, for 
the writer has come across one bill for such services. In 1830, with James S. 
Brooks, he bought seven acres, which included the site where the Meriden 
House now stands, and these two gentlemen then engaged in business some- 
where on this corner, and later, viz., in 1836, he was also in company with 
Randolph Linsley, but located on the East side of Colony street : he was in ]Kirt- 
ncrship with Henry C. Butler on the Meriden House corner in April, 1838, and 
the writer has discovered one bill from Cowles & Butler for coffee, chickens and 
goslings, that was receipted by C\u'tis L. Xorih in tlie same year, showing that 
that arch h\])ocrite was already in town. 

Major Cowles was a shrewd and successful merchant aufl was interested 
in several of the manufacturing \eninres of his native town as well, and he 
and Judge James S. Brooks probably had more to do with having the X. Y.. 
X. H. & H. R. R. Co. tracks laid through Meriden in the present course than 
any other men in Meriden : while the residents of the center were fighting 
tooth and nail to prevent the tracks being laid in that part of tlie town, for 



362 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



fear of damage to their cattle and live stock, Major Cowles and Judge Brooks 
were quietly urging the present layout. The Major was one of the Board of 
Directors of the New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company from 1835 to 
1840, and it must have been a proud moment for him when he saw the first 
train of cars come puffing into the station in Meriden, in November, 1838.^ 
This was as far as the trains ran until Saturday, December 14, 1839, when 
the road was so far completed that a train was conducted from Belle Dock in 
New Haven to the Engine House in Hartford. Some idea of the small 
amount of business done by the railroad at first may be gained when it is 
stated that the gross income from passengers and freight for the first nine 



months was $24,000. 
The first railroad 
station in Meriden 
stood on the east 
side of the track a 
little north of Main 
street, but it was evi- 
dently only a tempo- 
rary affair, and 
Rockey's History of 
New Haven County 
says it was located 
in the Rogers block 
from 1840 to 1842. 
In the latter year it 
was changed to the 
rear part of what 
was afterwards call- 
ed Conklin's Hotel, 
which fronted on 
Main street, just 
the street 
the Rogers 




across 
from 



MAJOR ELISIIA A. COWLES. 

From an oil painting owned by his grand- 
daughters, the Misses Churchill, of Berlin. 



building. On Xo- 
vember 18, 1853, 
William Hale sold 
to the railroad a 
tract of land- which 
had been his garden 
plot and which we 
now know as Winth- 
rop Square, and in 
the following year 
the railroad com- 
pany erected the 
brick station on it 
wdiich continued to 
stand there and be 
used for that purpose 
until the present one, 
on the other side of 
the track, was ready 
for occupancy, in 
September, 1882. 
Major Cowles 



died in March, 1846, 

leaving a good estate for a country town in those days. Judge James S. Brooks, 
a much younger man, was a worthy coadjutor in Major Cowles' efiforts, and was 
a director in the railroad from 1841 to 1863, and acted as president in 1856, and 
signed the annual report as president in 1859. 



1 Walter Stickney wa.'s a passenger on this train, which only came as far as Harbor Brook Crossing. 

2 William Hale sold his garden plot to the railroad company for $3,000, and immediately placed 
the sum with Curtis L. North for investment. On the very next day North failed, and thus another 
man was added to the list of his victims. 



EAKI.V HISTORY. 363 

Xaturallv, the location of tlic railroad track so far west of the center of the 
town, drew business to what was then known as West Meriden, and eventually 
the "Corner" became the real commercial center of Meriden, and the stage 
coach line was soon driven dut of business by its steam competitor, and its 
shares, which had once been deemed a securt- and profitabk' form ot in\est- 
ment. soon became worthless. 

Howell Merriman was another of the early Meriden merchants, and his 
dwelling and store stood where the building now occupied by W. W. Mosher 
is located. No. 13 Colony street: just to the left of his entrance may still be 
seen a stone bearing the inscription, ''Howell ]\lerriiuan. June 1. 1827." W hen 
he opened the store the writer has been unable to learn, but an examination of 
his account book, written in a neat, legible style, reveals his methodical habits 
and painstaking accuracy, and gives his inventory in 1831 and again in 1832, 
and shows that he carried a stock of drv goods, notions and jewelr}': among 
the latter articles are mentioned three diamonds. He continued in business 
a number f>f years and finally entered a firm com]:)Osed of Joel I. and Henry 
. Butler, located in the Collins building, wdio conducted a sort of j^rivate 
bank, by discotinting notes and arranging the placing of loans. Mr. Merri- 
nian^ was also interested in several of the local manufacturing ventures: he 
died in 1858. 

A picture of the business center, near the railroad station, in 1842, is shown 
m the accompanying reproduction of a poster distributed to the traveling 
public in that year by Nelson Merriam and Henry M. Foster. The observer 
is supposed to be standing just south of where the Morse & Cook building is 
now located, on the east side of the brook : on the extreme left is shown the 
building which Major Cowles and Dr. Hough erected, now^ known as tlie 
Rogers block, and for many years after the Major's death used by Hervey 
Rogers as a hotel. Oi)posite stands the hotel just opened (says the poster), 
and in front of it is waiting the stage coach to convey passengers to Middle- 
town. This building was famous afterwards as Capt Conklin's hotel, and in 
the rear, just behind the engine tender, can be read the words. "Railroad Re- 
fectory:'' and tmder this sign was also the intr.inee lo the ticket office and 
pa.ssenger station: upstairs in this annex, which was afterwards enlarged, was 
the famous Conklin^ Hall, wdiere political caucuses and meetings were held. 
Here also the young people held their balls anrl assend)lies. and here, too. the 
hardene«l crinu'nal. or one who was bln^lu'ng for his first offence, was brought, 
either defiant or humble, before the justice of the peace for trial. ^ Just to the 
right of this hall in the backgroimd. stands the dwelling house and store of 

1 Fathfr of Mrs. .John L. Btllanl. 

2 Known later tLn Burdick's Hall. 

3 I'p-town people at this time u-ied the old Aoidiniy hiill for .in assen)t>ly ronni. 













i"^ > 







ME RID EN, CONN. 






Sill. 



= I lie i^iiiis( iiii' r< n ~|irririilly nimoiinr'c In lljcir iViciids ;ui(l tlii' piihlic goni'mlly fliaf 

I" I fills ni u niid s|.:i mil-, r<l;il>lisliiii:i)t, <'li;.rilil\ lociilid at llio Ifr/tol of tlio Hartford andJS'cir 

I Jliiifii l/iiil llii.'il. U iiciu (ipin lor the reception of 4 'iiiiipaTiy. 
"^ " Tlic House liiis Ik'i'ii riiiiuslic (I lliroii<ilioiil Willi \(\v I'lii'iiiliin, ami cvi-iv arran^'oinniit 

IS liccii fiiailr to piiHiiolr llir loiiil'oil anil convciiiciM c ol" <iu('«ts. 
Pm-ti<f*ilar atlnilioii will In' tlcvolnl to all i'(irlii.< ,if I'/rtiKiirc. 

A HEFK<"r<>KV Is coniii ( Ifd with llic IFoiisc, wli.ii 'a \aii(lv of R< rirsliinoiits arc 
pr<par.-fl fortlic an oninioilalioi. of 1V\SS|;.\(; i;i{ S U\ TUE ( VRS. 
A .}rtnf Slum runs to ami from tliispla.o ami Midillctown daily 
i.'iiiiil i'diiri iidiiiif arc always in ri-ailincs 



'^1 I lias l.ccn fiiadr t 



•I cr. 



-»* = 



carry I'lissciii^rrs to any of the adjoining 

(ouiis. 

Iv\ irv ilVort w ill lio made to render the IIousc worthy of a liheral sn])porl. 

N. MERRIAMi, 
H. M. FOSTER. 

p. S. Superior arcoiiinio^lntions for .SVoi/iHiT- Travelers wishing to leave their Horses 
foi- a l<-ii;.'tli of liiiH . may rely on having them well provided for. 



1 



iiifiiintiiniiiwnmiufiraiuumuiRiiiMmtiiimi^mfiJi 



i-:.\K 



iiiSTdkV. 365 



Howell Merriani. and on tlic extreme rii^lit of the i)icture is the freight station 
of those clays. Capt. Conklin's hotel fronted nn what we now know as 
Main street, but at that time called the W'aterhury and Southinj^ton turnpike: 
the i)ictiire just misses showing; the- old wnoden bridge which formerly spanned 
Harl»or brook, a little to the rig^ht of the tree, and over w hich the stage coach 
will soon be rumbling and towards which the ducks in the brook are paddling. 

Before Lewis & Holt's failure in 1S34. the brick block at the southeast corner 
t)f luist Main and Inroad streets had been sold to a tirm named Potter 
Shipinan <S: Lewis, and these gentlemen were carrying on a general mercantile 
business in what was then the real center of .Meri(U-n: in 183^) the building 
was bought by Eli C. Mirdsey,^ as well as the I'artrick Lewis residence, just 
south of it. and for several years he conducted a successful dry goods estab- 
lishment in the front ])art of the brick block, while Alanson IJirdsey carried on 
a grocery store in the basement in the rear, with an entrance on Main street. 
Eli C died in 1843. '^"^^ t^''^' business was then carried on by his son Linus and 
John Ives, under the tirm name of llirdsey »S: Ives. Mr. Ives- afterwards went 
into business by himself, and erected the brick block, in 1854, which he now 
uses as a dwelling. Xo. 489 Broad street, and here conducted a dry goods es- 
tablishment for many years: after the war he admitted Col. L'has. L. L^pham 
and Philip C. Rand as partners, and later removed the lousiness to the building now 
occu])ied by Howard I'ros., and later to the W'inthro]) Hotel block. 

Another prominent nurch:int at the same time was Harrison W. Curtis. 
who was also a tinware manufacturer and made his goods in sho])? back of 
his house on the south corner of I'road and Charles streets. He first started 
his hardware store in b^ranklin ilall, just after it was com])leted, in 1854.-^ but 
.•^onie time after moved one of his tin shops to the northeast corner of East 
Main and Center streets, and there installed his store and continued at that 
stand until his death in 1869. The business was then bought by Birdsey & 
Miles, and the present brm, Pirdsex (S; l\a\en, is a lineal successor. 

Tn Franklin Hall was also located for a while the firm of X. P. Ives & Co., 
which dealt in such a variety of merchandise that it included the finest kind of 
Boston tripe at one end of the list. and. at the other, an unexcelled line of the 
most improved farming utensils. 

H. D. Basett built the brick block at the northeast corner of P.road and 
East M.'tin streets, in 1857. and for many years be was there engaged in dis- 
pensing groceries. 

1 The present Ell C. i.s his son. 

2 Mr. BIrdsey then took William .1. Ives as oartner. 
.'< Built by Kussell Coe. 



EARLY HISTORY 



367 



The old Hough, or Central tavern, after the failure oi Partriek Lewis, had a 
varietv of ups and do^vns, passinj^ through a suceession of hands. In 1837, 
according' to a town vote, it was known as Smith's Hotel, and, whether due 
to the quality of its liquor or to friction with the Church authorities, a special 
town meeting voted to adjourn to the tavern and there wind up the matter that 
had brought them together. After Mr. Smith had departed Evelyn Beck- 
lev was proprietor, and he was followed by a Mr. Douglass and Ira Twiss. 
In 1844 it was in the charge of a firm of partners named Andrews & Warren: 
but the glory of the place was departing, and it finally degenerated into a 
common drinking place. From the day the railroad was opened its doom 





I r -e- ^i - PH -ryrxtyy 



'"^Z- '^^^' 



#1 I •■^---]>^s^i^i^...l ! 




CURTIS L. NORTH S STORE. 



Ns.t-. sealed, and could good old Dr. Insign Hough have returned to his former 
haunts and beheld the low estate to which the tavern had descended, he would 
have been the first to exclaim. "Ichal)o(l. th\- glorx- hath (k])arted !" I'o the 
great relief of all, it ceased to be a ])lace of entertainment in 1873. 

Mention has been made of the store on the Meriden House corner, con- 
ducted by Major Cowles and Henry C. liutler. and their clerk, ("urtis L. 
Xorth. .\ picture of the collection of buildings standing there in 185 1 is 
shown in the annexed cuts. They are reproductions of illustrations that ap- 
peared in the map of Meridrn of tliat date. Eventually Xorth became the 
owner of the store: and as he was energetic, enterprising and shrewd, he 



368 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

built up a large business and added to it an insurance agency and so-called 
private bank ; he was forceful, and gained a wide constituency, and became the 
State agent for several large fire insurance companies, and his business extended 
all over this section. 

R. B. Loomis. now living in Hartford, was then a young man and in the em- 
ploy of Mr. North, and has told the writer many facts relating to the 
disaster which befell ^Nleriden through the mad course of Mr. North. Had 
he possessed balance, and less recklessness, he would undoubtedly have had 
a great career in the business world ; but he was unwise in his speculations, 
and at last became involved in a quarrel with the Meriden bank, and on ac- 
count of some fancied slight, he made the attempt to break the bank by buying 
up all the notes of that institution that he could lay his hands on ; but unfor- 
tunately his calculations were not carefully planned, and he succeeded only in 
wrecking himself and friends. 

Mr. North had been, apparently, a very religious man : he was a prominent 
leader in prayer meetings, and his unctuous efforts in this direction so im- 
pressed his fellow church members that to this cause, perhaps, we can ascribe 
the fact that he drew into the maelstrom of his mad speculations and business 
ventures Homer Curtiss, Mrs. Elisha A. Cowles, Luther Webb and a host of 
others. Mr. Curtiss once said that "Mr. North's most successful ruse was to 
visit the home of some friend, and engage in an earnest religious conversation, 
which would be followed by an impressive prayer and supplication to the 
throne of grace." Before departing, and while the odor of sanctity was 
fairly oozing from his pores, he would ask for and usually obtain the endorse- 
ment on a note which had been the mainspring of all this religious fervor. 

At last the crash came, and ^leriden was astounded, and the state as well: 
the following is from a diary of the oeriod :^ 

"Saturday, Nov. 26, 1853. 

The past week has been a deeply painful and gloomy one for our com- 
munity. It seems as if the foundations of the business world were breaking 
up. No less than seven failures have taken place within the past week, in- 
cluding our most enterprising business men and some substantial citizens who 
were considered rich, and were rich. And it is all occasioned by one man, 
Curtis L. North, who, after pursuing a reckless course of hazardous business, 
accompanied by great extravagance in living, has succeeded in drawing in 
the means of a large number of persons who usually had a reputation for 
sagacity and foresight : and so he has at length failed, and carried down with 
him a host of others. During this week there have been the following fail- 



1 Kept by the late George R. Curtis. 



EARLY HISTORY. 369 

iires: Curtis L. North, or the Mcriden Aijency Co.; P. J. Clark, Curtis, Mor- 
gan & Co., Walter Webb, Luther R. Webb, Mrs. Rosetta Cowles and others 
of less note ; of course the whole community is in a state of great excitement, 
anil time will alone tell the tale." 

This of course was written immediately after the event was known, and things 
did not prove ciuite so black as then thought. 

Mr. North erected the house now owned by Edmund A. Parker, corner of 
\\ ashington and Colony streets, one of the best built d\vellings in Meriden. 
His banking building had just been completed and the money was all sub- 
scribed to begin business at the time of the failure.^ It stood on the site now 
occupied by the Home National f'ank, but is not showm in the illustration, 
which was made in 185 1. The picture shows, on the right, the insurance 
office, which occupied a site where Circle Hall now stands, but it finally wan- 
dered away to the north corner of Camp and Colony streets. (3n the corner 
south of the insurance office is seen the dwelling- occupied by Mr. North until 
he built his new house in 1853. This old dwelling, when the ^Meriden House 
was built, slunk away, abashed, to Veteran street, and the banking house, at 
a later date was moved to 38 W^est Main street, and is now used by John A. 
'Hiomas to cater to the wants of sportsmen. Back of the insurance office, on 
the hill, will be noticed the old Corner Schoolhouse, moved to King street 
about 1868. Southwest of the dwelling, and on the west side of a sort of 
half fpiadrangle stood Mr. North's store, which is seen in the second illustra- 
tion, and it was here that he began business: at that time its front, dignified 
by four scpiare columns, faced easterly, but when the Meriden House was 
built it was turned at right angles to face Main slrccl. and it is now 1 loi)])ed 
of its two wings), the store of F j. Wheeler who has occui)ied il since 1862. 

Mr. North was never successful after his failure for an\- length of time, 
although his plausibility and versatility sometimes gave him a seeming tem- 
porary prosperit}-. He died a few years ago in abject ]io\erty. The fol- 
lowing ap])cared in the Ri])ul)lican under date of Noxxmbcr 3. 1861). 

"(urtis L. North, formerl\- of this city, and very well known among the old 
residents of this place (some of them in fact knowing him too well for their 
own ha])piness and pecuniary welfare, is now in llmoklyn. l)eing .'settled 
down in the insurance business. His office is at the C(^rner of Fulton and 
Broadway, New York. He is rapidly improving, and is sui)erintendent of a 

1 Kxiract from diary of Mr.«. Benj. II. Catliii. This was known as Meriden Savings Dank and 
tliiildlnK Association, and was continued after Xorth's failure. It was an institution somewhat like 
"tir modern Building and I-ioan Associations. 

IhiN house was built about 184.3 by Ezokiel A. Rice. who. for three or four years var the owner 
me acre of sroimd at th\.< corner, which contained the .store. The latter was built bv Major 
Hllsha A. Powlci, some years earlier. 



370 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Sunday school and a leading member of the church. He recently put a $500 
bill in a potato and presented it to his pastor. 

We understand that he is making money at the rate of $50,000 a year. He 
informs his friends in Brooklyn that he has effected a satisfactory settlement 
with his creditors here. 

What say the victims — is it so?" 

In the Connecticut W hig, a weekly newspaper, then published in Aleriden, 
by the late Senator O. H. Piatt and R. W. Lewis, under date of January i. 
1853, appears the notice that the project of building a new hotel is being 
taken hold of with vigor, and the same paper tells us in September that the 
Meriden House has been started and that A. S. Lawrence is building it for 
a company of Meriden gentlemen. Funds were lacking, for a much better hotel 
was being constructed than had originally been planned, and it was not fully 
completed until 1855. It was opened on the evening of December 19, that 
year, with a bancpiet, at which most of the prominent gentlemen in town were 
present. J. S. Parmelee, who had been managing the McDonough House in 
Middletown, was the first proprietor, and \Villiam AL Bates^ was the clerk. 

It was deemed as good as any in the state, and the furnishings were con- 
sidered very fine, and Meriden was justly proud of its new hotel. The first 
gas plant in town was connected with it. a manufacturing plant and storage 
tank eighteen feet in diameter having been built in the rear of the hotel for 
supplying the means of illumination, and naturally its installation produced a 
sensation in the community. But the hotel was really better than the de- 
mands of the times warranted, and Air. Parmelee was compelled to close its 
doors in November, 1856. It was opened again January 31, 1857, by Fred 
W. Bartholomew, of Wallingford, Mr. Bates lending his assistance to see that 
it was started under favorable auspices. It ran afterwards, spasmodically, 
under a succession of proprietors, which included W. Lilley and Wni. H. 
Crossnian, until Stephen J. Ives took the managenu'nt, and then it stark'd 
on a successful career for a number of years. In 1881 a fire damaged the 
top floor, and when the building was repaired it was leased for offices for 
two or three years. In 1885 it w^as bought by A\'illiam B. H-es, who replaced 
the story that had been destroyed, and again rented it for an hotel, first to D. 
W. Crippen and then to Lohman & Sinclair. For the last twelve years E. 
M. Smith has been the tenant, and has conducted a successful and popular 
house of entertainment. 

1 Mr. Bates, who has given the writer the above facts, went from here to the Scovill House in 
Waterbury, and from there to various prominent hotels in this country, at first as clerk, and later as 
manager or owner ; they include St. Nicholas, New York ; Ocean House, Newport : Congress Hall, 
Saratoga ; Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York ; New Southern, St. Louis, and for the past 12 year.s has 
been proprietor of Everett House, New York, and will have the Belmont when campleted. 



E.\KI.^' HISTORY. 371 

The year 1853 was a busy Diie in the buildino- line in Meriden : during the 
<lecade from 1850 to i860 the town more than doubled in population, rising 
from 3.559 to 7,426, and better and more numerous quarters were needed in 
cverv line of busine^>^. Tlie Whig for .\i)ril 14. 1853, in an artiele entitled 
••r.uilding in Meriden" sa_\s. "the new building of the Messrs. Collins is nearly 
finished. It is three stories high. l)uilt of brick ; the south half of the first 
stt)r\- is occupied by the Messrs. Collins, and the store on the north end is 
occupied by Charles Rlanchard as a clothing establishment : a small store 
near the center on the west side is being fitted up for a jeweler's shop to be 
occupied Ijy Samuel Dunham." The Messrs. Collins were Aaron L. and 
Charles H., who carried on the grocery business here for a while, having at 
I me time been located in the old Curtis L. Xorth building : the firm was later 
known as Collins & Brooks. D. F. Southwick,^ at a later date, was selling 
boots and shoes in this building. (?)n the second floor were locatetl the 
rooms of the Young ]Men's Institute, immediately after its organization, and 
tluy continued to be put to that use until the Town Hall was completed in 
1855. 'I'hen, the Institute moving into (juarters in tliat building provided for it, 
the Home Bank, just organized (Nov., 1855), moved into the vacated rooms 
in the Collins block. O. H. Piatt's offices were also on the same floor for a 
while. .\t a later date the store on the south side, where the Messrs. Collins 
had Ijeen located, was for a time the home of the post oftice. with one en- 
trance on Colonv street and a second on the Main street side, by means of an 
iron stairwav leading to a balconv. Tin- l)uil(ling ^vas ])()])ular as a stand l)e- 
cause so central: it was destroyed by the great fire of .March (^ 1864. and the 
I-i'wis &: Hall block now occupies the same site, at the east corner of Colony 
and Main streets; but tlie Collins l)uil(ling extended C(insi(leral)l\- further north 
than its successor. 

"J'he newspaper article just (|Uoted also states that "L'urtis L. Xorth's 
splendid house is now com])leted and he is engaged in beaiUifying his groiuids." 
This was hardly mon.- than six momhs before his failure. 

Another ])oi)ular building at this ])eri(Ml was thr brick l)lock known as 
Andrews' Exchange, whicli stood where the ( i. .\. I\. Iiall is now located: it 
was perliajjs erected in the _\ear 1S30, and in it tlie owiur. Almon .\n(h-ews, 
had a hardware store; but. as in i83_| br liad built ,1 sicam grist mill on I'.rooks 
>tri.-et, at a spot now occu])ied by the north end of the .\k-riden I'.ritannia Co. 
l)lant. he sold his hardware business to .\ewlon 1'. Ilart. wl-,o condu.cted r|uite 
an extensive store in the same line, and added to it a drug de])artment. and 

1 In 1S.58 C. H. Collin.s aflverti.'^es that Ix- him opciu-d a boot ami shoe .store in the north .store, where 
rhas. Blanchard had conducted the clothing establishment, and Mr. Southwirk must have succeeded 
him some rears later. In ].S.=iS Sannn'l Tiniilinm .■ulvt-riisos that he has nponiMl up a .ipwe'rv s-hop 
iWT d'>ors west of TUch Sthool a\eiuc 



372 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

later took a partner, B. P. Foote, while in the south half of the building (where 
H. C. & J. I. Butler had carried on the grocery business, under the name of 
Butler & Butler) Henry Stedman was attempting to rival the Messrs. Collins 
in catering to those who needed provisions of all kinds. He was compelled 
to make an assignment in 1856, and the business was bought by Henry T. 
Wilcox. Mr. Hart believed in the efificacy of advertising, for the newspapers 
of the period contained in each issue a column setting forth the merits and 
variety of the merchandise he was offering to the "selection of a judicious and 
discriminating public," and he was evidently one of the most prominent of 
Meriden's merchants of that period. He is still living, and resides in Engle- 
wood, one of Chicago's suburbs. This building was also destroyed by the 
fire of 1864, and the present one was erected by H. T. Wilcox shortly after. 

The building known as No. 2 West Main street, at present owned by the 
Wilcox Realty Co., and now occupied by Griswold, Richmond & Clock Co., 
was erected about the year 185 1 by the late Horace C. Wilcox, who had not 
long before started in business with his brother, Dennis C, and had already 
begun to show that indomitable push and energy which was later to make 
him such a factor in the growth and enterprise of Meriden : in 1853 the east 
half of the first floor of this block w-as leased by him as an office to the Meri- 
den Britannia Co., which had just been organized, while in 1854 the other side 
contained the jewelry store of F. A. Grover, but which had been replaced in 
1857 by the tailor shop of J. H. Stevens, who had moved there from the west 
store in the Rogers block, across the street to the east: he had been in Meriden 
only a short time and was trying to impress on the Meriden public that Lewis 
S. Green was not the only tailor in the world. Mr. Stevens was of a jovial 
nature and popular, and became a well known character, and for many years 
continued to clothe the forms of those of the masculine gender, apparently to 
the satisfaction of his customers if not to that of his rivals. The earliest 
advertisement in a newspaper that the writer remembers to have noticed, 
probably on account of its constant repetition in invariably the same words 
and arrangement, was an announcement which continued to occupy a con- 
spicuous place in the daily press for at least twenty years, and ran precisely 
as follows "Still they come, more new goods, cheap for cash, warranted to fit. J. 
H. Stevens." This continual refrain so impressed itself on the boyish imagi- 
nation that the belief became fixed that Mr. Stevens would never be able to find 
a place large enough to store all these new goods, which fancy pictured as con- 
stantly being dumped into his place of business by an unending procession of ex- 
pressmen. 

Upstairs on the top floor in this Wilcox block, Chas. Page in 1855 had opened 
a studio for the production of daguerreotypes, or rather ambrotypes, as what was 



EARLY HISTORY. 373 

considered to be an advance in the photographer's art was then called, and the 
second floor was supporting the printing press, and furnishing a place of seclu- 
sion for the editor of the "Meriden Observer." and William H. Green, a skilled 
draughtsman and engraver, (who had come to this country in company with Frank 
Leslie of illustrated newspaper fame) was furnishing in an adjoining room il- 
histrations of their goods for various manufacturers of Meriden. 

Just west of this block was a frame house painted white which had been the 
home of Major Cowles and which Mr. Wilcox was then using as his dwellins"; 
a long stretch of lawn, ornamented with a rustic summer house and a flower 
garden separated this house from the home of Mrs. Rosetta Cowles, the widow of 
the ]\Iajor, which she and her brother. Dr. Isaac I. Hough, had lately built ; in it 
were also living at this time Henry C. Butler and his family, and his daughter, 
Miss Lucy T., had just been married to William L. Squire (June i8, 1856), and af- 
ter a notice of the wedding ceremony the editor of the Meriden Transcript had 
inserted "The Printer tenders his thanks for being generously remembered in the 
distribution of cake." 

This house, greatly altered, still stands in its original location, 20 West Main 
street, just west of the First National Bank building, and in one section of it Al- 
bert Babb now dispenses druggists' supplies. 

A little west of this in a building which has given place to the brick block in 
which Louis H. Church and James F. Gill are serving the public in Nos. 30 
and 7,2 West Main street, F. E. Hinman^ was selling books and stationery and 
manipulating a hand power printing press in the rear, and just west of this stood 
another small building in which Joel H. Guy kept the W^est Meriden post office 
when the fortunes of the political world had not sent it across the street into the 
keeping of Noah A. Linsley as happened now and then. ?\Ir. Guy's dwelling house 
stood immediately west of this building, and in it was the first home of the Meri- 
den Savings Bank ; it stayed there for a year or two and then moved uptown to 
Franklin Hall ; the dwelling house now stands on Morgan street, the ])resent large 
white house, 34 West Main street, having taken its place on the first site. 

Across the street, on the west corner of High School avenue, was a store in 
which Ward Coe was tr\ing in rival Aarnii L. and C. H. Collins in the grocery 
line, and on the corner just east in the brick block now known as Lewis' but then 
owned by Levi P>radley, R. L. Webb was selling confectionery in the west store. 
later succeeded by W^illiam 1>. .^mith in tlie same line, until he moved to Colony 
street, while in 1854 Stocking & Church were occu])ying the east side of this 
P>radley block with a selection of novelties and notions running from harmonicas to 
bird cages. Walter Tlul)l)ar(l ( who was later lo ])nil(l u]) witli N. L. Bradley the 



1 When Mr. Tlinman publisliid Mr. Perkins' Hi.-toriral Skrtchos of Mcricien. 1S40. lie was located in 
the Rogers block, and a little later he was doing business in a little printing shop which stood about 
where Howard lirothors" store is situated, Xo. 7 Colony. 



374 -'^ CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

great nianiifactr.ring' plant of Bradley & Hubbard ^Ifg. Co.), was also located in 
this store for a while with a line of dry goods. 

East of this block at Xo. 21 where R. C. ^lorse's tailoring shop is now located 
and in the same building, Lewis S. Green was carrying on the same line of bus- 
iness, and as he was well liked and hospitable and fond of hearing the talk of the 
day, his tailor shop became the rendezvous of those who had a new story to tell, 
a little gossip to retail, a new scheme to unfold or desired to pass an idle hour free 
from the cares of business. This little building must have been well crowded with 
business for during several years Noah Linsley occupied the same store with Green 
in dispensing boots and shoes while dow'n stairs in the basement in 1854 C. A. 
Hotchkiss was serving what he called the "Aleriden Lunch," and in 1856 in the 
same place C. W. Bradley, with less patriotism in nomenclature, was running a 
plain "eating saloon," but which he flattered himself "could not be excelled in Mer- 
iden in the variety and excellence of its viands." 

Li the block now occupied by F. J. Wheeler, 17-19 West Alain street, which 
has already been described as the Curtis L. North store, after the Meriden House 
had been built, and this building had been fronted on !\Iain street, S. B. Parmelee 
in 1855 advertises that he has opened a grocery store; but he w^as soon succeeded 
by D. & N. G. Miller with a large stock of dry goods, and there they continued 
until 1862. 

The Meriden House block was, of course, considered a fine stand for merchants, 
and in 1854, A. Birdsey & Co., who had been located in the east part of the Bird- 
sey block, corner of East Main and Broad streets, and being impressed by the well- 
worn epigram of Bishop Berkeley that "westward the course of empire takes its 
way" had finally yielded to the inevitable and rented the north store in the new 
hotel block, on Colony street, where P. T. Ives now tempts the eye with a glitter- 
ing array of gold and silver novelties. Mr. Birdsey opened with a stock of cloth- 
ing and just north of him in the building where Adam Orr now sells meats and 
vegetables, William B. Smith was selling in 1856 ice cream and all sorts of delec- 
table sweets. 

In the Meriden House block just south of A. Birdsey & Co. in the corner store 
was located A. C. Wetmore shortly succeeded by Charles P. Colt with an attrac- 
tive line of dry goods. 

In the same block in the store now occupied by the Western L^nion Telegraph 
ofifice, Edwin L. Yale was selling newspapers and periodicals of the dav and soon 
succeeded by Julius Ives with a stock of merchandise which he was selling under 
the sign of Cash & Exchange Grocery store, and the west store was occupied by 
Morris Levy with a line of ready-made clothing, and when he got through, the 
room was used by the hotel as a billiard parlor. 

The banking building which had been erected by Curtis L. North just previous 
to his failure, on Colony street next to Church street, stood there several years 



EARLY HISTORY. 375 

lirc-vioiis to its removal to West Main street as has been deseribed elsewhere, and 
when the Home JJank deciiled to elimb down and out of the Collins bloek they 
moved into this ill-fated structure and stayed there until 1863 when they built the 
present banking- house. 

Xorth of this was the First Congregational church, presenting its dignified 
front, graced by a pediment supported by six Corinthian columns and crowned by 
a spire of pleasing proportions, and on the lot north, where the W'inthrop Hotel 
now stands, was the dwelling house of the widow Cordelia Couch who vied with 
Mrs. Merriam of Broad street in producing in her millinery parlors those fasci- 
nating creations so dear to the feminine heart and still more dear to the masculine 
pocketbook. 

( )n the other side of the street where the liyxbee House block now stands was 
located the homestead of William Hale, which he bought in 1846 of Richard X. 
Dowd: the property included half an acre and we have already noted that he sold 
his garden plot to the railroad companx in 1853. Mr. Hale began the manufac- 
ture of si's])enders in the rear ])art of the house, and after a few years finding his 
business ra])idly increasing, built a shop east of the house and fronting on the 
railroad track: having begun to make carpet bags also he took into partnership 
about 1852 Hezekiah H. Miller and Edwin H. Loomis. He sold the carpet bag' 
business in 1855 to Jedediah Wilcox who had begun business in the same line 
some years previously in a shop which stood where the house of L. C". Urown is- 
ntnv Uicated at X'^o. 842 Broad street : from thence he had moved to a factory which 
he had erected in the triangle formed b\ the junction of Pratt and Camp streets,. 
and afterwards building a shop where the Wilcox Silver Plate Co. plant is now 
located, in order to accommodate his new line of balmorals and hoop skirts. .Mr. 
Miller went into company with Mr. Wilcox when he bought the carpet bag busi- 
ness, and Mr. Hale contimed in his own shop, taking into partnership J- S. Xor- 
ton. Sr., and making tape measm-es and also sewing-birds, once such an indispens- 
able requisite to a woman's work table. Mr. Hale subsequently sold the plant and 
house to Mr. X'orton and bought the .Meriden House which he made his home 
until his death. .Mr. Xtjrton finally sold the sho]) and business to the I'.radlex «^ 
Hubbard Co. and l;oth house and shop were destroyed by fire as described on a 
-'ibse(|uent i)age. 

ft has already been mentioned that the Rogers block was erected b\- Major 
C«iwles in 1840 and sold by Mrs. Cowles to ller\<.\ Rogers in i84(). The latter 
siibse(|uently enlarged the Iniilding .and raised it. making the roof flat and there 
Was complaint at the time that he liad encroached ini the liigliwax. When Ceorge 
S. Jeffrey came to Meriden al)out 1851 he found the north front of the ground 
fl(H^r of this block occupied as a barber sho]) by I'^ldridge Jones. Jones^ was the es- 

1 On pa^c 25.S it is ttated that the names of Uie two fugitive .■.^laves, to whom Homer Curtiss gave 
Rbpller. were Eldridge and .Tones. The person who gave the information was in error. "Lon" 
.leffrey oays one was named Eldridge Jones, the other Hinton Foster. 



3/6 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

caped slave who had come to Meriden and received shelter from Homer Curtiss. 
Although the son of a colored woman his father was said to have been the brother 
of James K. Polk, president of the United States. Mr. Jeffrey stayed with Jones 
a few months as an employee and then left Meriden : returning in a year or so 
he found Jones had moved his shop to the Conklin hotel across the street in the 
rear part where we have noted the words "Railroad Refectory." 

The hotel was at that time under the management of Peter Near and later his 
wife. Mr. Jeffrey worked for Jones two or three years and then bought him oui 
(the latter moving to Springfield) and after a time Mr. Jeffrey moved his barber 
shop, first to where Adam Orr is now located on Colony street ; then to Wilcox 
block, No. 2 West Main street, and later to the Rogers block on the second floor, 
and there continued a number of years and many will remember the large emblaz- 
oned poster which used to stare one in the face when reclining in one of the barber 
chairs : it read as follows : "It chills my blood to hear the great Supreme rudely ap- 
pealed to on such trifling themes. Maintain }our rank, profanity despise : to swear 
is neither brave, polite, nor wise." 

This sign was placed there after a scene which occurred one day when the late 
Rev. Dr. Giles H. Deshon and Edwin E. Curtis were in the shop to have their un- 
necessary hirsute growth removed. A couple of young men or boys, happening 
to be there at the same time, were indulging in a most foolish and unreasonable 
display of profanity. The doctor could stand it for a short time only and turned 
and rebuked the young men ; and then Mr. Jeffrey, impressed by the weight of 
the doctor's remarks, erected the sign. 

To return to the Rogers block: in 1854 E. Levy was carrying on the clothing 
business in one of the stores and in the other J. R. Clark & Co. were selling hats 
and caps, and C. F. Atwood was using part of the room as a periodical and news 
stand and at one time Asahel Curtis, Jr., was there selling cigars and tobacco; as 
already noted J. H. Stevens was also for a short time selling his wonderful accunui- 
lation of "new goods" in this building. 

In the Meriden Recorder for Sept. 10, 1870, we read that C. Rogers & Bros, 
(sons of Hervey Rogers) are about to retire from the hotel business and wish to 
dispose of the building and in the issue of September 26 following it is announced 
that the establishment is closed. On the 6th of the next month we read that "the 
Rogers Brothers have leased their hotel to the Smith Brothers for five years. The 
lessees will move their hair dressing establishment to the building and continue the 
hotel as heretofore." 

Where Grant's tea store is located in Paddock's block on the corner of State 
and Main streets was a building-^ in which Merriam & Blakeslee manufactured and 



1 Judging from a deed to the Hartford and New Haven Railroad in 1836. this same building or site 
was occupied at that time by a firm called Tibbals, Brooks & Co., manufacturers : composed of Elisha A. 
Cowles, Walter Booth, James S. Brooks and Isaac I. Tibbals. 



EARLY HISTORY. 377 

sold tinware, and nnder it was a drug store and just a little further east was 
W'illmot's "furniture emporium" while across the street in the block bounded by 
I'erkins, Main and South Colony streets and the railroad track was the lumber 
\ard of L}man Clark, and south of it where Saleski's fruit store now stands was 
his steam sawmill. 

During this growing and developing period there hatl been formed a partner- 
ship know'n as Lyon & Billard, composed of George W. Lyon and John D. Bil- 
lard, who had started in business in 1847 on Butler street. They were burned 
out and at the time in question had settled down in the locality wdiere the corpo- 
ration known by that name still has its headquarters except that its growth has 
largely extended the original premises. 

.Many, in fact probably a majority of the buildings mentioned in this mid-cen- 
tury period, were erected by this enterprising firm. 

-Many will remember the old w'ooden bridge that once spanned Harbor brook 
at the Main street crossing : the brook must run under a part of Grant's tea store 
on the north side and directly beneath Maurice O'Brien's market on the south, but 
the stream is now^ so completely hidden by bridge and buildings that it is difficult 
to give exact locations. In the Recorder for May 20, 1864, we read "as will be 
seen by our report of the town meeting, it was voted last Saturday to have a sub- 
-stantial stone arched bridge across the Harbor Brook, on Main street. The new 
bridge is to be sixty-six feet wide or twenty-eight feet wdder than the present 
bridge. It is to be completed during the coming summer and autunm and is to 
cost a sum not exceeding three thousand dollars." 

Before leaving this description of the business center of the village of Meriden 
between the years 1850-1860, we must not forget one -of the ineradicable features 
which remain in the minds of every one wdio has a recollection of those days. 

In the junction of Main and Colony streets stood an elm tree, a sign post, a hay 
>cales and a pump communicating with the well dug l)y John Merriam so long ago. 

According to a letter which a])pcared in the Meriden Repul)lican on ."September 
5. 1868. from William J. Screen, this elm tree w'as planted b\ him in 1834 at the 
request of Dr. Isaac I. Hough. ]\Ir. Screen found the elm in ilie woodland near 
Cat Hole pass and dug the hole for it in the junction of the two roads, while Dr. 
Hough trimmed the branches to the proper portions: anrl then it was planted while 
Dr. Hough stood by and directed the work and linall\ paid all bills. There the 
tree continued to grow and llouri>h until it was scorched and badly damaged bv the 
L^Tcat fire of March 9, 1864. 

It was hoped that a few }ears wimlil enable the tree to overciMiie the damage, 
but in 1868 it was determined to take it down and its valedictory appeared in the 
Republican as follows : "The tree was j^lanted and grew as the city grew, and as 
the city throve and as manufactories arose, so did the elm spread forth its branches 
and increase in beauty and in strength. Under its ample shade stuni]) speakers 



3/8 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

have orated, lecturers have lectured, divines have held forth, and quacks have 
gulled the public and carried thousands of dollars from the town. When the ped- 
dlers of the future flock to the usual trysting place they will find it no more! their 
profit as well as its glory has departed." On Aug. 22, 1868, the same paper says 
that "stern necessity has compelled the removal of the old elm tree from the middle 
of our most crowded thoroughfare and in view of the immediate removal of the 
obnoxious old pump and sign post everybody is pleased with the change." 

The temperance movement^ which for some time had agitated the communitv 
finally crystallized into the establishment of what was called the Young Men's In- 
stitute. The first meeting was held Feb. 2, 1853, in the lecture room that stood 
in the rear of the First Congregational church. It at once became popular, for the 
membership embraced the most influential of the young men of Aleriden and 
many of those of riper years : attractive rooms were fitted up in the Collins block 
and weekly meetings were held, at which debates took place and a series of lec- 
tures was given each year in the town hall or other convenient places. Many of 
the most prominent speakers of the country were among the lecturers and the in- 
stitution became a great help, giving young men a chance to acquire knowledge 
and information who would otherwise have had perhaps no inclination or at least 
opportunity to come in contact with the best thought of the time. A library of 
several hundred volumes was contained in the rooms and the influence of the In- 
stitute was felt in many ways through the whole community. As already stated, 
the rooms were changed to the town hall in 1855 and it was maintained for per- 
haps a dozen or fifteen years, and when at last it ceased to exist the books were 
inherited by the Y. M. C. A. 

Before 1849 .Ufln^s Andrews had opened a place of amusement and recreation 
known as Hemlock Grove, which speedily became very popular ; indeed it is not 
so many years ago since the Grove was still a popular place of resort, where Sun- 
day school picnics were held and various societies and organizations availed them- 
selves of the attractions afforded bv its grateful shade and novel entertainments. 



1 To show to what extremes the temperance movement was once carried in this town, the following 
vote is quoted, passed at a town meeting held June 3, 1842 : 

"Eesoh^ed, That whereas the unlimited sale of Ardent spirits is, in our opinion, injurious to the 
purchaser, and the cause of a great proportion of our poor Taxes, and that the sale is. in our opinion, 
a source of considerable profit to the seller, we are therefore of opinion that all profit arising from 
the sale should go into the Town Treasury to help pay our poor rates : we, therefore, the Inhabitants 
of this Town would authorize the Civil authority and Selectmen to appoint some suitable person to be 
furnished by tlie said Selectmen with a good article of Spiritous Liquors and Wines to be sold on ac- 
count of the town, and the profits arising from said sale shall be paid into the Treasury of the Town, 
and that the persons so authorized shall be required to keep a record of the quantity sold, the quantity 
purchased by each individual, with their names, and a true report made to the next annual meeting of 
this Town." Vote was adopted, ayes 85, nays 57. 

Shortly afterwards the question again came up, because tlie previous act had not been properly 
enforced by the Selectmen, and, naturally, the pendulum swinging the other way, a vote was proposed 
which authorized any inhabitant to have liberty of using or vending spirituous liquors. The re.'iolu- 
tion stood, ayes 64 and nays 64. The moderator. Fenner Bush, then cast a negative vote and the 
resolution was defeated. 



F.ARLV HlSKiRV. 37y 

III ilx- Connecticut Whii,>- of (Jctol^er 20, 1S52. a])])cars the tollnwini;- advertisc- 
niciil : 

■■ r.i iwlini;" I I'xiulini;' ! 

Till- Lovers of tliis healiliful and a-rccahlc exercise are respectfully informed 
that the far-famed 

Hemlock (Irove Alleys! 

arc o])en to the public every day and evening" in the year (Sundays excepted). 
The establishment is conducted on strictly temperance princi])les and nothing- 
is neglected that will contribute to the comfort of those who may favor it with 
their calls. " 

' >n page 380 is a reduced facsimile of a poster issued in 1857 which, in glow- 
iig words, pictures the attractions of the ])lace and gives an idea of how popular 
the resort had become. 

Another place of resort was on West Peak where attractions had been placed 
it <!rew a multitude of nature's admirers. 
In the Whig of February 19. 1853. we are toM that 

"Mr. W. J. Cadwell of Hanover, is, we understand, engaged in an enterprise 
which will make the 'Hanging Hills of Meriden," and especially West Peak, as 
familiar as 'household words." He is constructing a road from the \\'aterbur\- 
turni)ike to the summit of the Peak, which w ill be of so easy a grade the ascent w ill 
scarcely lie felt. A house is to be erected on the Peak, and a telescope of great 
power, which is now being manufactured in Xew York, at a cost of $800. will be 
mounted on a revolving pedestal, afTording a view scarcely surpassed in extent. 
varietN of scenery and beauty. With West Peak, Hemlock Grove and Cold Spring 
•■ e >shall have summer resorts superior to any inland town in Xew Knghnid." 

I he house was duly completed and the telescope installed; but the next year 
was being conducted by A. J. Hills and for .several years it was one of the at- 
tracti(;tns of the town. It was destroyet! l)y tire all of fortv years ago. 

Capt. ( ieo. 75. Conklin, who for several years owned anil managed the .Meriden 
Hotel already described, afterwards disposed of it to Peter Xear and his wife, who 
maintained it for a numl)er of years. Captain Conklin. h<iwever, did not intend 
to give up the hotel business but had larger ambitions than could be satisfied by 
the hotel at the c<»rner of Railroad avenue and Main street. In the Whig of Jul\- 
iH^^. appears the following under the column entitled I'.revities and Xews Items. 

"told .spring I louse 

' )ne of the finest retreats in the cnuntry is at told ."^|)ring. ("a])l. Conklin has 
just finished his fine House, on an eminence near the spring, commanding a fine 



380 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

view of a large tract of country, and himself and lady are prepared to receive and 
entertain visitors. The ice left in the glens, the wild scenery, the beautiful drives 
in the neighborhood, combine to make it attractive to all. Call and see the cap- 
tain at his home, and taste his bountv and humor." 



HEMLOCK 

GBOIE. 

The abovr nanird Urove l« open for t iolrors nnd r*r Ihr arranimodalioDor Escuroion and Pir 3(ic 

■"^"THAT OLD ABM CHAIR" 

aod each of (he lev»er oue« is a- intilins as ever. The 



is situated in the lirox— (be »aler ^ni«he« from the eretiee ora large rock nhirh it is suggested 
Moses smote nhen he naierrd the igfaeliten during llieir forlj jears nanderings furnishes an 
abundance of the material nhieh makes X.rmona«f<> no ?oorf. 

That COMET did not hit our REVOLVER, 

We iiiran llic Rr>ahln|{ Snluu, anil xe are liiip|.> lo loTorni our iiuiiierou* friends thai II la a« eooj as iie». 
Inn-e rccentl,v been put in "/</» Jop" order as «/l nho use them can lestlfj. 

■ii— a v..-,-«. •™iB«'-«.v ..> Nfcj^Mv^s >Tr:r;'» > iMMti^ ggE5^ ^ ■aaiBfea ig'S Ngsv^tsao*' Tii>ii*m\hij r^ ^^:: v- — ? e j 

Owr Pic NIc eroiintl iwcap^le of ahcHerlnc l«,«0Oi*fr*OH<>iiultT it-i leafv cnnopv. Aii» KelKinuN St>cif(%. or SiiMi.Vlli 
^boolf or any of the HtibUc Silioob in tonii cuii haie ilir U4^'of'> ATI REH^^I.^LL, nt any lioif frffrn not btherwNe ea- 
Si«ed,ft^ or charge. 

"EVERY DAY BRINGS SOMETH NC NEW" 

A DANCING B0AR:D 

ca|Mble of accotomfxtatlf]]; the crowd, haa been added to the vther attrarllont r>r fhi§ famous resorL Parties wishhig our 
Vic NIc grouod or Dancing Board should make appllcallqn Id iteasoo lo present diBappointiueiil. 

Th^ O. B. B% will dlsrour^e Mweel mu*tir if applied to In !%ea<«on. 

Omr JItUitary PrUnda are lelWrned thnf we hinr a Tnrcrl i;r«uud m hicli defies eompelltfon a» lo location, ahade AC 
The JHeHden Light OuartU are respecttull; inforiued that It In at Ibeir service free of charge, at any lime when not 
Cttgaged. PedlarM Hill doK be allowed on the crounds with their '*lrap«" without a permit from llfr subscriber. 

Merfideii, June I84T. OOr Motto— ''Ftrst come first served." Jl'LllS ANDREWS. 



^ 



This building" is now known as the old poor house, having been abandoned 
-when the present "Cold Spring Home" was built a few years ago. It was Capt. 
Conklin's desire to make a resort that would be patronized by people of New York 
.-and other large places seeking a spot for rest and recreation, and indeed, in those 



EAKLV lIISHtRV. 381 

days it was a romantic and charming place ; the Captain had hniU a rnstic stone 
bowling: alley and the spring at that time was celebrated on account of the great 
coldness of its waters ; for a number of years it was a place of resort for Aleriden 
people, and it also seems to have had a New York clientage.^ 

The property was acquired by the town about i860. The writer is in posses- 
sion of a iliary of the period which gives accounts of excursions and picnics of the 
\oung peojjle of that day and the names of Hemlock Grove, Conklin's Cold S]iring 
House and Hill's ^^'est Peak House occur fre(|uently in its pages. 

It seems to have been in the period just mentioned that the attempt was begun 
to induce the public to buy l)uilding lots in that ])ortion of Meriden known for 
!uany years as New City. 

If there is crystallized truth in the aphorism of ^Montesquieu stating that 
"Happy the people whose annals are blank in history -books" then Meriden must 
have been a very happy place during these and succeeding years. The town was 
growing rapidly and the people were prosperous but its history has made little im- 
pression on the memory of those living. 

The pages following are mostly gleaned from the diaries and newspapers of the 
period and while there is nothing startling to cull from the different sources, a 
fair idea of the events of succeeding years can be gained in this wav. 

In an issue of the Whig dated Sept. 15, 1853, attention is called to the rapidity 
of the work in constructing the State Reform School building ; the location of the 

1 The following, taken from the Weekly Recorder, .June 22, 1864, gives an idea of the place before- 
ftK glory had departed : 

■T'old Spring, in the western part of the town, under the great mountain, has from time im- 

•i ••morial been a place of local resort, and has acquired some distinction abroad as a watering place. 

•• twelve vears ago a large hotel was here built and, for two .seasons, kept as the Cold Spring 

i-^e. The number of boarders were comparatively few, mainly New York celebrities, who could 

opre pa.s« away a few weeks pleasantly, amused with the natural beauty and romance of the place — 

with a drive on the .spacious race course — with rolling "nine-pins" in the "cobble-stone" bowling 

saloon, or drinking mint juleps and .sherry cobblers concocted from the cool, sparkling water that 

poured forth from the iced .spring beneath. But the Cold Spring House proved unprofitable as a 

'I, and, aftfr exchanging hands, proprietors, occupants and inmates, times numerous, finally, with 

kirounds. became the property of the town of Meriden, and here, for the three years preceding the 

' of .January last. Mr. Nathan Fenn, a Connecticut Yankee, has cared for the poor of the town, 

at the same time carried on a very extensive manufacture of brimstone matches, his shop being what 

orifdnallv built for the bowling saloon of the Cold Spring Hou.se. Here he employs some fifteen 

b<)vs and girls, and puts up about two thousand gro.ss of matches per month. Cold Spring is 

i an outlet for the water which, during the summer, melts away from the large quantities of ice 

remaUiUiK under the huge boulders of the Hanging Hills, and finds its way, under the surface of the 

Rroiind. to this ,»lace. Strange as it may read to those who have not ocular evidence of the fad, it 

18 none the less true that ice may he found around and under rocks in the vicinity of the spring through 

the months of July and August ! Although the crop of Ice last winter was unusually small, vet Cold 

Spring had Us due proportion ; and a visit to its natural, out-door "Ice-houses ' on one of the warmest 

day* of last week, revealed Its plenteousness. The temperature of the various localities betrays 

almoxt Instantly the whereabouts of the cooling luxury. Here the air about one will be as cool as that 

of an ire hou.'-p. while at a yard's distance the heated atmosphere of a summers sun, in its sudden 

l>r«-alh, !.•< alnio.>it oppres-^lve. Let those who are skeptical as to the existence of ice, in mid-summer, 

Fn H natural surface, and exposed to the action of the elements, visit Cold Spring and satisfy them- 
i)..-- ,,f ..t rf-ality." 



382 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



institution in Meriden having shortly before been determined by the legislature ; 
mention is made also of the new factory being erected for the Meriden Machine 
Company ; it is now occupied by j\I. B. Schenck & Co. ; the work on the new hotel 
now called the ]\Ieriden House is described : attention is called to the new brick 
store that John Ives is building on Broad street then called South Market street. 
And again the article speaks of the residence which is being constructed for Charles 
P. Colt on Colony street, which until a short time ago was the home of Major J. A. 




OLD TOWN HALL. 



Hurley: another dwelling, mentioned as partly built, is one that is to be the home 
of Hiram Butler, which is modeled on the style of a southern villa : it is to-day 
the homestead of Judge James P. Piatt: and Franklin Hall, a brick block, until 
a few years ago standing immediately north of the Center Congregational church, 
v^as another building mentioned. 

At a town meeting held April 29, 1844, the movement was started to build a 
town hall, but nothing tangible was done until 1853. The diary already quoted 



I•:AKL^■ msToRN'. 383 

savs under date of I'cljriuirv 18 that year, "this afternoon attended a town meeting' 
held for the purpose of considering the expediency of huilding a town house : after 
an angry discussion a motion was made to adjourn wliicli was finally carried after 
much excitement." Another meeting was held a week later and there was again 
a clash owing to a desire by uptown residents to have the new building in their 
section, and a like wish vigorously expressed by downtown interests. A compro- 
mise site, midway, was finally selected and the property of the widow of Roswell 
Cowles was bought and the building was begun shortly after a town meeting held 
Sept. 17, 1853. It was considered a very fine structure when finished and the 
cost is said to have been about $30,000. It was not completed for use until the 
latter part of 1855 and the following copy of a newspaper announcement tells the 
story of its first use by the pul)lic : 

GRAXD COXGRATIXATORY FESTR'AL 

The Citizens of Meriden and vicinity are invited to participate in a 

SOCIAL FESTR'AL AXD GRAXD CELEr.l^VriOX 

To be held at the 

XEW TOW^X HOUSE 

on 

WEDXESDAY EVE. DEC. 5TH. 1855 

There to ai)propriately celebrate the comi)letion of the alxive named si)lendid edifice 

and to formally Dedicate the 

LARGEST PCI'.LTC" MALL 1\ THE STATE 

The occasion will l)e enlivened 1)\ a])])ropriate speeches, music, etc. 

and b\ a 

VREE COLLATION 

'Jhe proceeds after paying l{x])enses will be given to the Meriden Young Men's 

Institute 

Admission 2=, cents: children Half 1 'rice 

X. B. Should AX'ednesdav evening be stormy, the l''esti\al will be held on the 
first pleasant day hereafter. 

Per order 
lULTl'S H. I'RATT. (."hairman n\ Town I'ommittee. 



384 A CENTURY OF AIERIDEN. 

The new town house was duly and properly opened on the date announced, 
viz. Dec. 5, 1855, and the first use it was put to after this '"Grand Congratulatory 
Festival" w^as a lecture by Henry Ward Beecher on the evening of December 28th, 
under the auspices of the Young Men's Institute ; the subject was "Patriotism," and 
the editor of the Weekly Transcript does not seem to have been greatly impressed 
by the famous man's efforts for he says under date of Jan. 3, 1856, "As a lecturer 
he is the most able, the most conceited, the most pathetic, the most silly, the most 
eloquent, and the most vulgar that we ever saw stand before a refined audience." 

The first town meeting took place in the new building Mar. 31, 1856. Pre- 
viously the basements of the Center Congregational and the Broad Street Baptist 
churches had been used, not only for town meetings but for elections as well. 

As already announced, the rooms of the Young Men's Institute were moved to 
the town hall and thenceforth the various lectures arranged by this association 
were held in the hall and indeed all amusements that required a large auditorium 
were held there. In 1889 it was decided to enlarge and remodel the building and 
the work was finished in 1891. On the morning of February 14th, 1904, it was- 
totally destroyed by fire. On Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858, a very elaborate celebration 
of the completion of the laying of the Atlantic Cable or Ocean Telegraph, as it 
was called, was held in the town hall. At 9 o'clock a. m. the American and British 
flags were floated from the dome and a discharge of three signal guns notified 
the public that news had been received of an exchange of messages between the 
Queen of England and the President of the United States. Bells began to ring and 
a cannon in charge of the Light Guards belched forth its thunder in a national sa- 
lute of thirtv-two guns in the morning and twenty-one guns in the afternoon. In 
the evening a crowded meeting was held in the hall at which General Walter Booth 
presided and ringing speeches were made by Rev. Mr. Miller, Judge James S. 
Brooks, Dr. James Wylie, Dr. Hatch, Dexter R. Wright and others. A brass band 
was present, patriotic songs were sung, the hall was beautifully illuminated, and af- 
ter the meeting a procession through the streets took place in which the Light 
Guards took part, accompanied by bands from Meriden and- Wallingford : the 
streets were brilliantly lit by bonfires and an enormous one was made on West 
Peak. Altogether it was one of the most spectacular events that had ever taken 
place in Meriden. 

The weekly press consisting of the Whig, the Transcript and the Chronicle, 
covering the period from about 1852 to 1859, contains little of local news but 
much information was printed in the advertisements which have been freely 
consulted in the foregoing pages. But with the establishment of Riggs' Literary 
Recorder in 1863 considerable of local interest was printed and one of the first 
articles of this nature which seems to the wTiter to contain matter worth inserting 
in these pages in an abridged form is the following from the issue of Sept. 26, 
1863: 



3^5 



blish- 
nt of 
nents 
fifty 
■liars, 
iiliiijj;- 
> and 
ibout 
riiii:- 



lorn- 
th of 
The 
1 by 
cti< 111 
C(l in 
ce if 
I (li.l 
f the 
with 
•arks 
Ot."s 
and 
At 
•avi-d 
ttiiijM^ 
: and 
f of- 



('ark«T 



384 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

The new town house was duly and properly opened on the date announced, 
viz. Dec. 5, 1855, and the first use it was put to after this "Grand Congratulatory 
Festival" was a lecture by Henry Ward Beecher on the evening of December 28th, 
under the auspices of the Young Men's Institute ; the subject was "Patriotism," and 
the editor of the Weekly Transcript does not seem to have been greatly impressed 
by the famous man's efforts for he says under date of Jan. 3, 1856, "As a lecturer 
he is the most able, the most conceited, the most pathetic, the most silly, the most 
eloquent, and the most vulgar that we ever saw stand before a refined audience." 

The first town meeting took place in the new building Mar. 31, 1856. Pre- 
viously the basements of the Center Congregational and the Broad Street Baptist 
churches had been used, not only for town meetings but for elections as well. 

As already announced, the rooms of the Young Men's Institute were moved tO' 
the town hall and thenceforth the various lectures arranged by this association 
were held in the hall and indeed all amusements that required a large auditorium 
were held there. In 1889 it was decided to enlarge and remodel the building and 
the work was finished in 1891. On the morning of February 14th, 1904, it was 
totally destroyed by fire. On Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858, a very elaborate celebration 
of the completion of the laying of the Atlantic Cable or Ocean Telegraph, as it 
was called, was held in the town hall. At 9 o'clock a. m. the American and British 
flags were floated from the dome and a discharge of three signal guns notified 
the public that news had been received of an exchange of messages between the 
Queen of England and the President of the United States. Bells began to ring and 
a cannon in charge of the Light Guards belched forth its thunder in a national sa- 
lute of thirty-two guns in the morning and twenty-one guns in the afternoon. In 
the evening a crowded meeting was held in the hall at which General Walter Booth 
presided and ringing speeches were made by Rev. Mr. Miller, Judge James S. 
Brooks, Dr. James Wylie, Dr. Hatch, Dexter R. Wright and others. A brass band 
was present, patriotic songs were sung, the hall was beautifully illuminated, and af- 
ter the meeting a procession through the streets took place in which the Light 
Guards took part, accompanied by bands from Meriden and- Wallingford : the 
streets were brilliantly lit by bonfires and an enormous one was made on West 
Peak. Altogether it was one of the most spectacular events that had ever taken 
place in Meriden. 

The weekly press consisting of the Whig, the Transcript and the Chronicle, 
covering the period from about 1852 to 1859, contains little of local news but 
much information was printed in the advertisements which have been freely 
consulted in the foregoing pages. But with the establishment of Riggs' Literary 
Recorder in 1863 considerable of local interest was printed and one of the first 
articles of this nature which seems to the writer to contain matter worth inserting 
in these pages in an abridged form is the following from the issue of Sept. 26, 
1863: 




;ikli's-i;n i; \ii;\\ <>i .\ii;i(iiii :.\ aihjit i!^55. iuum wiiai is xuw ruiisi'ia r stuiikt. 




, ii;w 111' \vi 






II \i.i., i\ liSii 



384 

The m 
viz. Dec. I 
Festival" 
under the 
the editor 
by the far 
he is the i 
eloquent, 

The fi 
viously th 
churches 1 

As air 
the town 
were held 
were held 
the work 
totally de; 
of the coi 
was callec 
flags wer 
the public 
Queen of 
a cannon 
lute of th 
the evenii 
presided 
Brooks, I 
was prese 
ter the n 
Guards t 
streets w 
Peak. .A 
place in I 

The ^ 
covering 
much in] 
consulted 
Recorder 
articles o 
in these 
1863: 



EARLY HISTORY. 385 



PARKERS SNOW iV CO. 



We have during the past week visited the extensive manufacturing estabHsh- 
ment of Parkers Snow & Co. of this town — a firm which enjoys a large amount of 
cajiital and employs more workmen than an\' two manufacturing establishments 
in the state.- Parkers Snow & Co. employ upwards of four hundred and fifty 
men. and their monthly pay roll foots up more than eighteen thousand dollars. 
This princely company manufacture machine work of all descriptions, including 
Campbell's Country Printing Press, Coining Presses, Steam Engines, boilers and 
apparatus for heating dwellings and public buildings. In the gun works, about 
three hundred men are employed who turn out from eighty to one hundred Spring- 
field Rifled Muskets per day." etc.. etc. 

( )n Friday, March ii, 1864. the Recorder printed the following: 

DESTRUCTINE FIRE 

$72,000 WORTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED 

ONE MAN killed: TWO SERIOUSLY INJURED. 

The most destructive fire our town ever witnessed occurred Wednesday morn- 
ing [March 9], consuming five buildings, seventy-two thousand dollars' worth of 
property and burning seventeen different firms and families out of doors. The 
fire originated in Andrews Exchange Building and was first discovered by 
George A. Fay shortly after two o'clock (midnight) when he saw the reflection 
of the fire upon his walls. ^ He immediately arose and before he had succeeded in 
getting dressed the light disappeared. He watched some five minutes to see if 
anything more could be discovered ; but seeing nothing he again retired. It did 
not at that time occur to him that it might be a fire and he took no notice of the 
matter till some twenty minutes afterwards when the fire was again reflected with 
considerable brilliancy. Upon going to the window, he could ])lainly see sparks 
and brands of fire dropping through the second floor into II. T. Wilcox & Co.'s 
grocery store directly beneath. He immediately dressed, gave the alarm and 
rushed down to Lyman Clark's"* and caused the steam whistle to be sounded. At 
this time and for half an hour afterwards, an ordinary fire engine would have saved 
the adjoining buildings on either side. .Mr. Fay now set himself about getting 
out the safe and stock of Mr. O. F. J^outhwick'' who was absent in Xew York and 
also made an efifort to secure the xaluablc lil)rarv of Hon. O. H. Piatt whose of- 



1 Successors of Snow. Brooks & Co., a firm competed of Oliver Snow and .lames S. Brooks. 
Brothers' Gun factory is the direct successor of Parkers, Snow & Co. 

2 Certainly an exaggerated statement. 

3 He was then rooming in what we now call the Circle Hall Building. 

4 Where Saleski's building is now situated, 37 S. Colony street. 

5 Boot and shoe dealer. 

^5 



386 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

fice he reached by ascending the water conducting pipes. But the intensity of the 
atmosphere rendered it impossible for him to penetrate the room and he was obhged 
to give over the undertaking. The tlames soon generated a gas among the chem- 
icals, and when the walls of the buildings became sufficiently weakened, they were 
suddenly thrown outward. Some twenty persons were standing in front of the 
building, on or near the walk, where the walls fell over, when they all rushed back, 
receiving trifling injuries, but three men were seriously injured. J\lr. Porter Ed- 
gerton, engraver, was struck on the head by the falling walls and rendered sense- 
less. He was dragged from the ruins and carried to the depot and expired in half 
an hour." The buildings destroyed by this fire were Conklin's, or Xear's hotel, the 
Collins block, Andrews' Exchange, and the building standing where Mosher's 
Drug store is located, at that time occupied by W. A. Butler. 

From the diary of George A. Fay the writer has learned of another fire which 
broke out at 3 a. m. on Sept. 5, 1862, in the machine shop just south of the rail- 
road station when it was located on Winthrop Square. The shop was destroyed, 
the house of J. S. Norton, Sr., just west of it, was also burned to the ground and 
the passenger station badly damaged. The shop at that time was occupied by 
some one making sewing birds for Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co. 

On July 16, 1870, occurred the great fire which completely destroyed the two 
top floors of the main building of the Meriden Britannia Co. The Republican of 
that date has this to say : 

"The most terrible fire which has ever aftlicted this city broke out this morning 
in the Meriden Britannia Company's works." "The fire originated in the top- 
most story at the north part of the brick building. At about two o'clock [a. m.] 
a disagreeable smoke was smelt in the composing room of the Republican office 
* * * * In ten minutes afterwards the Britannia shop gong blew out its stern 
summons. The 2 a. m. down train at this moment came along and added its warn- 
ing voice, and the alarm becoming general the city fire department were soon on 
the spot. * * * The flames spread rapidly and the firemen were unable to 
stay its slow but sure onward progress. * * * In twenty minutes after the 
fire was first discovered the flames burst through the roof. At 3 a. m. the roof 
fell in with a tremendous crash and the flames increased in their intensity." Ac- 
tive work saved the two lower floors from destruction, but the loss was great and 
for several months the large force employed by the company was thrown out 
of work, and the damage not only to the company but to the community at large, 
was very great. 

On March i, 1863, the Messrs. Byxbee Bros. (John C. and Major Theodore) 
began the erection of a wooden hotel building just south of Winthrop Square (or 
the passenger station of the N. Y. & N. H. R. R. as it was then) and for several 
years conducted a well appointed hostelry: on Mar. 21, 1868, the building was de- 



KARLV HISTOKV. 387 

>i!"o\ed bv fire and for a time it was feared that the entire block of Ijuildings south 
to Main street would follow in its wake ; but diligent etifort ])y the tirenien confined 
the confiagration to the hotel. The embers had hardly begun to co(j1 before the Byx- 
hee I'rt)tliers had started to clear away the debris and soon the walls of the ])resent 
brick block were in process of construction. 

The factory of the Aleriden Woolen Co. was built by the firm of J. Wilcox & 
V o. in 1865. Their factory had been previously located where the present plant of 
the Wilcox Silver Plate Co. branch of the International Co. is situated, on the south 
si«ie of Pratt street. On May 3, 1865, fire completely destroyed the old shop. 
throwing the workmen out of employment and stopping for a while the large pro- 
duction of goods which had been placed on the market in increasing ([uantities by 
this enterprising firm. It was considered at the time as the most disastrous fire 
that had ev'er visited ^leriden. 

in the year 1869 there was standing between the block now occupied by Gris- 
u old, Richmond & Clock and the First National Bank, the old Elisha A. Cowles 
residence, used at the time by Mrs. Moses Wright as a boarding house; west of 
that a Structure once the home of the post ofiice and immediately west of that, the 
dry goods store conducted by the firm of Williams & Smith. On the morning of 
Dec. 3, 1869, at 2 a. m., a fire was discovered in the old post office building and 
in spite of all efforts that structure, Mrs. Wright's boarding house and the dry 
gt^xls store were completely destroyed by the conflagration. 

In 1870 H. C. Wilcox began the erection of the ])lock which now occujiies the 
site oi these burned structures, ground being broken I'eb. 15. It was so much in 
advance of any building previously erected in Meriden that it was called Palace 
P>lock. a name which it retains to this daw 

In the month of March, i860, occurred a very destructive fire which destroyed 
the block of buildings on the north side of East Main street from State to Pratt 
streets. It began in the "furniture emporium" belonging to George R. Willmot 
and on account of the limited a])paratus for fighting fire in those days the district 
was swept clean. ^ 

In giving a list of places of amusement in Meriden during this period one has 
l)een omitted that was so bizarre, quaint and uni(|ue that a j)lace in the list is cer- 
tainly deserved. Reference is had U) what was known as I'^agle Cottage on South 
Colony street on ground ik^w occupied by the Meriden P>rewing Company. The 
earliest reference to it that the writer can find is contained in the issue of the Re- 
corder under date Xovember 13. i8'>3. and then evidently on account of oue of the 
eccentricities of architecture or ornamentation developed bv that singular man. 
N'ornian Allen, the owner of the place. .\11 sorts of odd attractions were added as 
the years wcin !)y. mainly mechanical contri\ances designed to be excited by a 
breath of wind to some surprising i)erforniance. (^n top of tlie house was ])erched 

t Dlar>- of Mrs. Benj. H. Catlin. 



388 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

a counterfeit presentment of a man and a Hon and when the wind blew the man 
was convulsed into various contortions in his efforts to get the mastery of the 
beast of prey. Like arrangements were scattered about the grounds ; the house 
was painted in a most surprising combination of black and white, as if it had been 
raining paint on South Colony street, and in an apple tree was built a pavilion 
where ice cream and lemonade were served. As the years went by the place at- 
tracted so much attention that Air. Allen determined to make of it a place of amuse- 
ment. According to the Republican of April 12, 1870, Mr. Allen was given per- 
mission that week to build a wooden house on his premises for the purpose of mak- 
ing a music room, menagerie and "happy family," and on June 15, 1870, accord- 
ing to the same paper "Norman Allen's picturesque residence, with its beautiful 
grounds will be opened to the public this evening. Should the weather be favor- 
able a grand display of fireworks will take place. The balloon parlor will be 
lighted with gas, the English lion ignominiously suspended in chains to the neck 
of a very big spread eagle, the emblem of this glorious country, will roar gratis, 
the eagle will favor the public with its best screech, Norman Allen will deliver an 
inaugural address, the band will play and so will the fountains," etc. 
In the Recorder of June 5, 1871, we read: 

"The most noticeable feature of South Colony street is Mr. Norman Allen's 
Eagle Cottage and ice cream. We visited Mr. Allen's place on Saturday evening 
and were more than satisfied with what we saw and heard. The Rocky ]\Iountain 
scene interested us more than anything else. Here a train of cars, loaded with 
passengers, has just emerged from the tunnel and is proceeding on its way. (Jn 
the side of the mountain, a little higher than the track, a saw mill with an appro- 
priate sign over its entrance is seen in operation," etc. "In the museum are a large 
number of stereoscopic views * * outside there is every convenience for those 
who wish to test Mr. Allen's ice cream." A really surprising amount of mechan- 
ical ingenuity was shown by Mr. Allen in producing his different attractions. For 
several years the place ministered to the amusement of the people and then like 
the Arab he folded his tent and stole away to places where the shekels were more 
plentiful and the crowd of pleasure seekers more numerous. When one passes 
the place and sees the complete metamorphosis, one realizes how true is the saying 
that "the place that has known him shall know him no more." But who that ever 
visited the museum will forget its strange attractions, or the son of the proprietor 
who used to parade the streets, bell in hand, announcing in a loud voice the pro- 
gramme for the coming evening. 

An attempt has been made to picture Meriden as a village and again as a grow- 
ing town that was beginning to feel that its increase in numbers had been suffi- 
cient to warrant the adoption of whatever dignity, position and influence would 
be gained by the incorporation of its central and more densely populated part into 



EARLY HIST()U^. 389 

„ vil\. Its rapid gniwlh IkuI spread al-mad llx' fcclin.L;- thai Mcridcn was hound 
t(i become a large coinnuinity and now and tlicn estimates of future growth had 
been made, based on the rapid increase in importance of some of the manufacturing 
industries and the location and ftjrmation of new plants. As already stated, the 
census of i860 showed 7.42^) souls, or an increase of over 100 per cent, in ten 
\ears. As a matter of fact, the showing" in 1870 was only 10,495, ^'^ that it was 
apparent that some of the estimates had been over sanguine. 

MERIDEN A CITY. 

The city of !Meriden was incorporated by act of the General x\ssembl\ jnl\ 11. 
1S07. and on July 24, 1868. an amendment to the charter was passed in order to 
permit the construction of a water supply or city reservoir. 

The first election resulted in the choice of the following officers: Mayor, 
Charles Parker; clerk. John H. Uario : aldermen. William j. Ives. Hiram iUitler, 
< ieorge W. Lyon, Jedediali Wilcox: councilmen. Lenir.el J. Curiis, ( )\ven 15. Ar- 
nold, Charles L. Upham. Charles A. Roberts, Hezekiah H. Miller. Mli Ives, Augus- 
tus C. Markham, Eli C. lUitler, Aaron L. Collins. Isaac C. Lewis. Jared R. Cook. 
jared Lewis. Horace C. Wilcox, Dennis C. Wilcox. John C. liyxhee. Walter Hul)- 
bard ; treasurer. Asahel H. Curtis; collector, Samuel ( ). Church; auditor. Joel H. 
Guy. 

ibis was certainly a selection of a \cr\ high order : they were all men of abil- 
it\ and although enterprising, they also possessed a great fund of business sense 
and sagacity that started the city under the best ])ossible auspices. 

The change seemed to inspire the community with a desire to take every meas- 
ure or step that could add to the genuine imi)r(^vement and appearance of the city. 
Within a year or two the following dwellings were erected — all creditable to the 
city: (leorge A. Fay.^ 1868; Lenniel J. Curtis,- 1868; Julius Pratt," 1868: l^dward 
Miller.'' 1868; Henry T. Wilcox,'' 1868; Jedediah Wilcox," 1870, considered at the 
time one of the finest residences in Connecticut, and now the home of Dexter W. 
Parker. The Corner district schoolhouse was completed and dedicated Sei)t. 4. 
iVf)8. St. .Andrew's Episcopal church was completed in 1867, and the .Methodist 
church was dedicated Jmie 26, 1868, and the Main Street Paptist church was ded- 
icated July. 1868. and in tlie same year the Center di.strict schoolhouse was built, 
and also the engine house and ])olice station on Pratt street, now the ])ropert\ of 
the Turner society, and the X. V.. X. H. &• H. R. R. C'^. liegan the erection in the 
same year of the present freight ■station north of C':imp street, and in the following 



1 144 Curtis street. 

2 128 Curtis street. 

3 118 Colony street, now lioniH of Floyd Curlb 

4 .1«0 Broad street. 
B 4«)o Colony street. 
« 816 Broad street. 



390 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

vear after great debate and much hot discussion the city began the building of its 
tirst reservoir now known as Merimere. 

In 1868, after much complaint of the lack of adequate police protection, the 
citv decided to create a force wdiich would at least be the nucleus of a future and 
larger body of blue coated men, so on Monday evening, September 14th, the com- 
mon council elected Jared P. Parker, chief of police, and on November 17, 1868, 
the following men were added to the force: S. S. Wilcox, A. H. M. Pratt and 
George Van Nostrand. On Alonday evening, December 5, Mr. Pratt having de- 
clined to serve, Capt. Roger M. Ford was elected to fill the vacancy. 

Some of the arguments used in opposing the appointment of a police force are 
rather amusing. One alderman said Middletown had given up their police force 
because they found they bred riots ; another said he didn't believe we needed a 
police force, for Waterbury had only one man and he had nothing to do : another 
who was opposed to paying a fair rate of pay, said it was a lazy sort of life any- 
way and he would be glad to take such a position at $2 per day. 

During the year 1869 the grading and widening of the following streets was 
begun : Broad, Pratt, Colony, Main, Liberty, and Curtis. The great changes in 
the profiles and widths produced many lawsuits but they were finally adjusted 
by compromise or the decisions of the courts, and Meriden began gradually with 
her changed streets bordered by flag sidewalks, to take the appearance of the mod- 
ern city. , 

On May 9, 1870, the common council passed a by-law relating to the number- 
ing of houses and lots and on May 23 the same year the council adopted the names 
of streets that are still retained by those thoroughfares then in existence. 

The really final event to convince Meriden that it was at last a city was the 
announcement in the Republican under date of Sept. 7, 1869 that "canvassers are 
now collecting the names of our citizens with a view of publishing a directory." 

NEWSPAPERS OF MERIDEN. 

The newspapers of the period have been frequently mentioned in the fore- 
going pages and they evidently played an important part in the daily life of the 
people. 

The first newspaper printed in Meriden was called "Northern Literary Mes- 
senger" and published by O. G. Wilson. A copy in the writer's possession dated 
Feb. 3, 1849, s^ys 't is "edited by an Association of Gentlemen" and "Devoted to 
Literature and the Arts." This copy is No. 5 of Vol. IV., which would seem to 
bear out the statement in an article of The Meriden Press-Recorder under date 
March 28, 1883, that the first number of the Messenger appeared in September, 
1844. The local news, as usual in that period, amounted to nothing but the ad- 
vertisements gave us a little information. The paper was printed in a building 
that stood just west of the Center Congregational church where the Central Hotel 



EARLY HISTORY. 391 

is Situated. Xo. 297 East Main street, but the number above referred to had hardly 
made its appearance before its pubHcation was suspended and on March 24, 1849, 
the "Mcriden Weekly Mercury" made its l)()\v to the i)ul)lic under the manage- 
ment of (). G. Wilson and Geo. W. Weeks, as successor U> the Messenger and in 
an editorial the announcement is made that "The Messenger" "is dead ! Stark dead ! 
It died a natural death on the 3rd of February last, purely for want of breath 
( i. e. California gold) which caused its locomotion to stop." The Press-Recorder 
above quoted says that the paper had been run under its new name only six weeks 
when the building was destro\ed by fire. It was then printed in the old Academy 
building. How long it continued no one seems to know. 

rhe same authority says "The Connecticut Organ" was started in 1851 by 
{-"ranklin K. Hinman as printer with ( ). II. Piatt as editor, but that 'Sir. Hinman 
sold out the paper early in 1852 to James X. Phelps & Co. and this statement 
seems corroborated by a copy, before the writer as he pens these lines, dated May 
I. 1852- the name of Xew Pritain Journal had been added to the title: how long 
it continued to be published is uncertain ; perhaps the Connecticut Whig was suc- 
cessor to it for a copy dated Mar. 30. 1854. says "X^ew Series, \"ol. 3. X^o. 36." 

R. W. Lewis and ( ). H. Piatt were the jjublishers of the Whig and Mr. Piatt 
was also its editor. Geo. W. Rogers was afterwards associated with Mr. IMatt. 
The i)aper was discontinued about 1854. 

Contemporary with this publication was a journal called ".Meriden d>anscri])t." 
published by Lysander R. Webb & Co., begun in 1850, and after the W big had 
sus{)ended Mr. Piatt became editor also of the Transcri])t. This paper continued 
to exist until August, 1856, when ^Ir. Platt"s increasing law business compelled 
him to cease all connection with newsj)a])er work. 

In the early part of the same year Ro])ert Winton, a Canadian who had been 
connected with newspaper work in .\orth .\dams, Mass.. came to .Meriden. and 
being encouraged and aided by the leading manufacturers and merchants, estab- 
hshed a newspaper called the .Meriden Chronicle, which was ])rinted in A\'ilcox 
block where Griswold, Riclimond iS; (llnck are now Incated. although on an u])])er 
floor. 'I'his publication continued three years, and was then bought 1)\ a Mr. ."^^till- 
man who established a paper called The limner. Tt was Democratic in ])olitics 
and lasted only four weeks. 

f >n Aup;. 20, 1863. Luther (i. Riggs .started the .Meriden Literary Ri-corckr. the 
printing house being located in what is now known as Circle Hall l)uilding on 
lonx street. His associate was a Mr. Dorman. 

Mr. Riggs had talent and abilitx but lacked balance and his cour.se here was a 
stormy one. and the controversies he engaged in brought him onlv great adversitv 
and more than one personal chastisement. 

All these varirms i)ublications so far described were weekly sheets and there 
was no daily newsj)a|)er imtil tlie Weekly \'isitor begun on ^Tarch 21, 1867. bv 



392 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Monroe Eaton commenced a daily issue on Jan. i, 1868. On March 16 it was 
merged into the Weekl\' and Daily Republican which was at first under the edi- 
torial control of Marcus L. Delevan and George Gibbons and later of William F. 
Graham. The publication was continuous until March i, 1899. when it was con- 
solidated with the Morning Record, a newspaper established on Oct. 8. 1892. by 
the same publishing house, so that since March 16, 1868, it may be said that this 
same newspaper has been printed by this establishment. The editor at present is 
Thomas H. Warnock. 

There were various other short lived newspapers which may be briefly named, 
viz: "Daily News," "Evening Recorder" and "Morning Call," under the leader- 
ship of Luther G. Riggs. "The Penny Press," established by J. H. Mabbett in De- 
cember, 1881, soon changed to the Evening Press and on Oct. 16, 1882, consolidated 
with Riggs' Daily and Weekly Recorder, and was called the Meriden Press-Re- 
corder and continued until 1884. For a brief period in 1872 William F. Gra- 
ham published a newspaper called the evening Monitor which was soon merged 
with the Republican. 

On March 4, 1886, The Journal Publishing Company was incorporated with 
Francis Atwater, president ; T. L. P^eilly, secretary ; F. E. Sands, treasurer, and 
Lewis Allen, editor. They immediately began the publication of The Meriden 
Journal, a newspaper which has a wide circulation and wdiich has steadily grown 
in influence as the years have rolled by. 

The publication of The Evening Times began May 22, 1905. The moving 
spirit of the enterprise w-as Henry C. L. Otto, whose untimely death on November 
7, 1905, took aw^ay the mainspring of the organization, and the paper was discon- 
tinued on ]\larch 2. 1906. 

EARLY LAWYERS OF MERIDEN. 

The first full fledged lawyer resident in Meriden seems to have been Benajah 
Andrews whose homestead stood where the present residence of Mrs. T. F. Breese 
is located, 501 East Main street. For several years he was judge of probate in 
this district and his name appears many times on legal documents drawn up dur- 
ing the first half of the nineteenth century, but the writer has been unable to learn 
many facts relative to his life. 

Dexter R. Wright came to IMeriden immediately after graduating from Wes- 
leyan College in 1845 ^'^d took the position of principal of the Aleriden Academy. 
In 1848 he graduated from Yale Law School and began the practice of his profes- 
sion in this town the same year. 

After Franklin Hall was built his office was in that block. His influence was 
felt in many directions for he was a man of energy and resource. He attained 
political honors while living here. In 1862 he enlisted in the T5th regiment and 



i;.\l<LV 11IST()K\. ^<-Ji 

.,.1^ made colonel l)Ut ill health coinpelleil him to retire in \>^\^- He retf.rned to 
Meriden and sold out his hr.sinc-ss here and removed to Xow Ha\en where he 
had an active practice. 

Tiltun E. Doolittle was located in Meriden .several \ear.s after ^ra<luatin,u- from 
N'ale Law school in 184^). The map of Meriden made in 1S51 shows that his of- 
fice was located on West Main street just west of the Guy residence. 

Hon. Orville H. Piatt, senior I'. S. senator from Connecticut, came to Meriden 
a voun^ man in 185 1 : he had studied law in the office of Judge Hollister of Liteh- 
tield and was admitted to the bar in 1849. I lis many activities and resources were 
constantly in evidence during the early years of his residence in this town, (jut- 
side of his [profession as a lawyer, and those who were best acquainted with him 
knew how great his abilities were and it is safe to say that none of them w;is sur- 
prised bv the eminence he attained in the service of the government as senator 
<Uiring his career of twent\ -six years in that distinguished body. It is not the pur- 
p<tse to give his biograplu here as it has been printed in another part of this book. 

I.\" (OXCLL'SION. 

There comes a year in the cycle of time embraced in an historical narrative 
sketching the growth of a ])resent day couinumity. even though the story be of 
s(» unpretentious a nature as the chronicles of a town like Meriden. when the rapid 
accummulation of facts and midti])licit\- of details, render ])erspective distorted. 
and prepare one to recognize the homel\ truth contained in the remark, that one 
"couldn't see the woods for the trees that were in it." 

We have followed the story of the development of Meriden imlil we have seen 
the struggles of the early pioneers succeeded by a dawning of the cousciousness 
that there was a future full of hope and promise for all who would energetically 
coiuitnie the labors of those gone before. The town of 1806 has been succeeded l)y 
the city of 1867. the spirit of enterprise is everywhere, factories are growing and 
new ones springing up. and the year 1870 seems a fitting period in which to write 
the word m.ms to this |)art of the ■Centennial iiook, " 

.\nd so at last, notwithstanding all that has been left untold, the end of these 

annals is here, and at a very much later date than was anticipated when the work 

was undertaken some ten months ago. I'egun with the idea of writing a sketch 

t sonic thirty or forty ])ages this stor} has grown in ;i most surprising manner 

ntil with dismay page yx^ has been seen and ])assed and courage is lacking to set 

limit to that one on which these final words will appear. 

I he writer, as nuich as an\ one who may chance to read these annals, is in.- 

presserl by the sins of omission an<l commission that are to be found both in style 

iikI construction. He can oidy plead in apology that the material has had to be 

'llected in great haste, and then digested with such a rush as to prochice the nu- 



394 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

merous examples of literary dyspepsia that the printed pages render only too fre- 
quently apparent. 

The great storehouses of information on which the writer has constantly relied 
are contained in the land records of Aleriden and Wallingford and the probate rec- 
ords of these two towns reinforced by the earlier ones of Xew Haven. The wealth 
of facts there found, has been largely supplemented by the memories of those 
whose age enables them to give reminiscences that would otherwise be utterly lost, 
or whose associations in the various localities have caused them to treasure up the 
traditions and stories of the past that are handed down from generation to gen- 
eration. 

To give a list of the names of those who have patiently submitted to question 
after question and who have voluntarily given information not sought for because 
the writer had no clue to such sources, or who have assisted in ways too numerous 
to mention would require almost another chapter. But although these names are 
omitted the waiter's gratitude is no less profound. 



EARLY HISTORY, 



395 



APPENDIX 



RliI'KESENTATI\"ES IX THE GENERAL AsSE.MIJLV FknM AllCKlDEX. 



CCIMI'ILFT) 1!Y HEk.NLAN 11 ESS. 



1800 
1807 
1807 
1808 
1808 
1809 

i8og 
1810 
1810 
181 1 
181 1 
1812 
1812 
1813 
1 81 3 
1814 
1814 
1815 
1815 
1816 
1816 
1817 
18.7 
1818 
t8i8 
1819 
1820 
1 821 
1822 
182.1 
1824 
1825 

l82<) 

1827 
1828 



Oct. session, Brenton Hall- 
May session, Amasa Curtiss. 
Oct. session, Theophihis Hall. 
May session, Amos White. 
Oct. session, Nathaniel Yale. 
May session, Xathan Yak-. 
Oct. session, Solomon R. Hall. 
May session, Jared Benham. 
Oct. session, Solomon R. Hall. 
May session, Partrick Clark. 
Oct. session, Partrick Clark. 
-May session, Samuel Paddock. 
Oct. session. Samuel Paddock. 
May session, Theophilus Hall. 
Oct. session, John Hall. 
May session, John Hall. 
Oct. session, William Yale. 
Ma\- session, William Yale. 
Oct. session, James Baldwin. 
May session, James Baldwin. 
Oct. session, Stephen Bailey. 
May session, Stephen Bailey. 
Oct. session, Othniel Ives. 
May session, Othniel Ives. 
Oct. session. Elisha Curtis. 
William Yale.l 
.'Xshbel Griswold. 
Levi Yale. 
Partrick Clark. 
Samuel Paddock, 
.Amos Curtis. 
William Yale. 
.-\shl)el Griswold. 
(iershom Birdsey. 
.Ashbcl Griswold. 



Jr. 



1829 Walter Booth. 

1830 Titus Ives. 

1831 Ashbel Griswold. 

1832 Noah Pomeroy. 

1833 Enos H. Curtis. 

1834 Eli C. Birdsey. 

1835 Hezekiah Rice. 

1836 Asahel Curtis. 

1837 Horace R. Redtield. 

1838 Walter Booth.^ 

1839 James S. Brooks. 

1840. Eli C. Birdsey. 

1841. Tie vote — no election. 

1842 Ira Couch. 

1843 Henry Stedman. 

1844 James S. Brooks. 

1845 Tie vote — no election. 

1846 Elias Howell. 

1847 Ashbel Griswold. 

1848 Isaac C. Lewis. 

1849 James A. Frary. 

1850 William J. Ives. 

1 85 1 Hiram A. Yale. 

1852 Julius Pratt. 

1853 Isaac C. Lewis. 

1854 .Albert Foster. 

1855 James S. Brooks. 

1856 i^evi Yale. 

'857 James S. Brooks. 

1858 .Asahel Curtis. 

1859 William W. Lyman. 
i860 .Andrew J. Coe. 

1861 Owen B. .Arnold. 

1862 Isaac C. Lewis. 

1863 De.xter R. Wripht. 



1 UntU 1819 there were two elections annually. 

2 Three elertions ; fir.«!t two re.'sulted In tie. 



396 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



1864 


Orville H. Piatt. 






1881 


1865 


Oliver S. Williams. 






1882 


1866 


Isaac C. Lewis. 






1883 


1867 


Andrew J- Coe. 






1884 


1868 


William A. Hall. 








1869 


Orville H. Piatt. 






1885 


1870 


John Parker. 








I87I 


Joseph J. Wool ley. 






1886 


1872 


H. Wales Lines. 






1888 


1873 


Chas. H. S. Davis. 






1890 


1874 


Owen B. Arnold. 






1892 


1875 


Wallace A. Miles, Asahel H. 


Curtis.l 




April 


1876 Wallace A. Miles, 


Asahel H. 


1894 




Curtis. 






1896 


Nov. 


1876 Wallace A. Miles, 
herlain, Jr. 


A. 


Cham- 


1898 
1900 


1877 


James P. Piatt, George R. 


Willmot. 




1878 


James P. Piatt, Samuel Dodd. 


1902 


1879 


Emerson A. Merriman, G. 


H. 


Wilson. 


1904 



William W. Lyman, G. H. Wilson. 

John Morse, Reuben T. Cook. 

George O. Higby, William H. Golden. 

Chas. H. S. Davis, William Wallace 
Lee. 

William Wallace Lee, Chas. H. S. 
Davis. 

William H. Barbour, Louis H. Hart. 

James H. Chapin, E. D. Castelow. 

E. D. Castelow, Joseph H. Potts. 

Oscar L. Bradlej-, Timothv M. Crow- 
ley. 

Benjamin Page. Jacob S. Morrill. 

William G. Gallager, Geo. W. Couch. 

Geo. W. Couch, Geo. L. Ellsbree. 

August Maschmeyer, George E. Bick- 
nell. 

George E. Bicknell, Willis L Fenn. 

Willis L Fenn. Fred'k L. Huntington. 



List of State Senators from Meriden. 
compiled by w. d. w. p.vkker. 

From 1806 to 1818 we lived under the original King Charles Charter of i6f^2. 
During the period mentioned there was no office of state senator, those occupying 
that relative position being called "assistants." No authentic information indi- 
cates that any of the "assistants" were residents of Meriden. they being taken 
from the state at large. 

From 1818 (when the October sessions of the General Assembly were abol- 
ished) "Senators" came into vogue, but not districted. 



1833 Ashbel Griswold. 

1834 Walter Booth. 
1837 Noah Pomeroy. 

1848 Fenner Bush. 

1849 Dexter R. Wright, speaker of the 

House, 1879. 
1854 Julius Pratt. 

1861 Orville H. Piatt, clerk of the Senate, 

1855 ; secretary of state 1857. 

1862 Orville H. Piatt, speaker of the 

House, 1869; United States 
senator, 1879- 1905. 



1871 George A. Fay. 

1874 H. C. Wilcox. 

1876 Joel H. Guy. 

1879 H. Wales Lines. 

1885 Wm. H. Golden, Jr. 

1887 Edgar J. Doolittle. 

1889 George N. Morse. 

1891 Seth J. Hall, "Dead lock year.' 

1893 Seth J. Hall. 

1905 George E. Bicknell. 



1 Beginning in 1875 Meriden was entitled to two representatives. 



early history. 
Town Cm:rks of ]\Ii:rii)i:x. 



397 







COMPILED 11 V I 


11: KM AN HESS. 


!8ot) 


Amos White. 




IS44 


Joel Miller. 


l«Ot) 


Isaac Lewis. 




l^<45 


Lyman Butler. 


18^3 


Partrick Lewis. 




1849 


Hiram Hall. 


i8j<> 


Amos Curtis. 




1854 


Linus Birdsey. 


iS.W 


Partrick Lewis. 




1854 


John Ives. 


1X34 


Alljert R. Potter, 


appointed Feb. 9, 


1865 


Levi E. Coe. 




1834- 




1866 


John H. Bario 


1834 


Kli C. Birdsey. 




1878 


Selah A. Hull. 


1843 


James S- Brooks, 
1843. 


appointed Oct. 9, 


1886 


Herman Hess. 



First Selectmen oe .M i:kii)i:n. 



COMPILED BY GEO. \V. MH.LEK. 



i8o() i:zekiel Rice. John Hall. 

i8d7 Theophilus Hall. 

1S08 .Marvel Andrews. 

i8oy .NLirvel Andrews. 

1810 Partrick Clark. 

181 1 Partrick Clark. 

1812 Partrick Clark. 

1813 Partrick Clark. 

1814 Partrick Clark. 

1815 Othniel Ives, 
s'lh Othniel Ives. 
•^17 Llisha Curtis. 
>!|8 Klisha Curtis, 
''ly .Ashael Merriam. 
"^JO .\shael Merriam. 
"^^i .Ashael Merriam. 
Sjj Scth D. Plum. 
>;-'3 Seth I). Plum. 
S24 Seth 1). Plum. 
N.'5 .Seth I). Plum. 
>!j<i Moses Baldwin. 
X27 Moses Baldwin. 

iHjH Moses Baldwin. 

' l8jy Klisha Curtis. 

18.K) Klisha Curtis. 

1831 Klisha Curtis. 

|83J C)rrin Hall. 

1K33 Kli C. Birdsey. 

18^4 Benj. I'pson. 

i8i> C;il\in Cue. 



1836 


CaKin Coe. 


1837 


Noah Pomeroy. 


1838 


Stephen Atkins. 


1839 


James S. Brooks 


1840 


Moses -Vndrews. 


I84I 


Noah Pomero\\ 


1842 


Noah Pomeroy. 


1843 


Noah Pomeroy. 


1844 


Calvin Coe. 


1845 


Levi Yale. 


1846 


Levi Vale. 


1847 


Levi Yale. 


1848 


Levi Yale. 


1849 


Calvin Coe. 


1850 


Joel Miller. 


1851 


Joel Miller. 


1832 


Levi Yale. 


1853 


Levi Yale. 


1854 


Levi Yale. 


1855 


Levi Y.iK'. 


1856 


Joel 1. Butler. 


1857 


Othniel Ives. 


1858 


Othniel Ives. 


1859 


Othniel Ives. 


i860 


Othniel Ives. 


I86I 


Humphrey Lyon. 


imj 


Bela Carter. 


1863 


Bcia Carter. 


i8r.4 


Bela Carter. 


18^.5 


Dtliiiitl Ivc-;. 



398 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
187I 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 

:88i 
1882 
1883 
1884 
i88s 
1886 



Othniel Ives. 
S. C. Paddock. 
George Gay. 
George Gay. 
George Gay. 
George Gay. 
George Gay. 
Oliver Rice. 
E. D. Castelow. 
E. D. Castelow. 
E. D. Castelow. 
E. D. Castelow. 
D. S. Williams. 
D. S. Williams. 
D. S. Williams. 
D. S. Williams. 
Geo. W. Miller. 
C. C. Kinne. 
C- C. Kinne. 
C. C. Kinne. 
H. E. Hubbard. 



1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
189 1 
1892 

1893 
1894 

1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 

1903 
1904 

1905 
1906 



LeGrand Bevins. 
LeGrand Bevins. 
LeGrand Bevins. 
LeGrand Bevins. 
LeGrand Bevins. 
LeGrand Bevins. 
LeGrand Bevins. 
Geo. L. Ellsbree. 
Geo. L. Ellsbree. 
Geo. L. Ellsbree. 
Ernest A. Leigh. 
Geo. W. Miller. 
Geo. W. Miller. 
Geo. W. Miller. 
Geo. W. Miller. 
Geo. W. Miller. 
Geo. W. Miller. 
Geo. W. Miller. 
Geo. W. Miller. 
Geo. W. Miller. 



List of Judges of Prob.\te for District of Meriden. 

compiled by herman hess. 

.Tames S. Brooks, appointed by Legislature. 

Benajah Andrews, appointed by Legislature. 

John Parker, appointed by Legislature. 

Hiram Hall, elected 1851. 

Orville H. Piatt, elected 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856. 

Hiram Foster, 1857, 1858, 1859. 

George W. Smith, i860, 1861, 1862, 1863. 1864, 1865. 1866. 1868, 1869. 1873. 1882. 1884, 

1886, 1888. 
Levi E. Coe, 1867. 

Emerson A. Merriman, 1870, 1871, 1872. 1874. 1875, 1876, 1878, 1880. 
John T. Pettee, 1876. 
Wilbur F. Davis, 1890, 1892. 
John Q. Thayer, 1894 to date. 



M.VYORS OF THE CiTY OF MeRIDEN. 



Charles Parker, elected August 12, 1867. 
Russell S. Gladwin, elected June 7, 1869. 
Isaac C. Lewis, elected June 6, 1870. 
Chas. L. Upham, elected Dec. 17, 1872. 
Horace C. Wilcox, elected Dec. 15, 1874. 
H. Wales Lines, elected Dec. 19, 1876. 
George R. Curtis, elected Dec. 15. 1879. 



E. J. Doolittle, Jr., elected Dec. 20, 1881- 
Chas. H. S. Davis, elected Dec. 21, 1886. 
Wallace A Miles, elected Dec 18, i888- 
Benjamin Page, elected Dec. 17, 1889. 
Andrew W. Tracy, elected Dec 15, 1891. 
G. Herrick Wilson, elected Dec 15. 1892- 
Amos Ives, elected Dec. 19. 1893- 



EARLY HISTORY. 399 

I r\ I I.. Coe, elected Dec. i8, 1894. Edward E. West, elected Dec. 19, 1899. 
Amos Ives, elected Dec. 21, 1897- George S. Seeley, elected Dec 17, 1901. 

Thomas L. Reilly. elected Dec. 19, 1905. 

Clerks of the City of Meridfn. 

J..hn H. Bario, elected August 12, 1867. John H. Bario, elected Dec. 6, 1873. 

II It MiL," Pomeroy, elected May 29, 1873. Selah .\. Hull, elected Dec 19. 1876. 

Merman Hess, elected Dec. 21, 1886. 



400 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



EARLY VITAL STATISTICS 



A transcript of the record of Vital Statistics of the First Congregational church, 
Meriden, compiled mainly by Albert H. Wilcox, clerk of the society. 

EARLY MARRIAGES. 

An Account of the Number of Persons thai I Have Married: the Number from October 
Anno Domini 1729 the time When I was Ordained till January 1 : st 1736-7 according to the 
Best of My Remembrance : 

(Theophilus Hall) 

Samll Barns & his Wife: one Judd of Waterbury to Robert Royce his Daughter. 
Isaac Brockitt, to one of Samll Culvers Daughters: Caleb Merriman to Another and 
Samll Tyler to Another : 

one Baldwin of Brandford to Jacob Royce his Widow 

Aaron Cook to his Second and third wife : 

Thomas Royce to his second Wife. 

one Holibert of Middletown to Thomas Royces Daughter. 

Giles Andrews and his Wife : 

Stephen Ives & his wife : 

John Webb & his Wife : 

Lazarus Ives & his Wife. 

one of Joseph Curtiss his sons to Elizabeth Parkers Daughter : 

Hawkins Hart and his Wife : 

Nathaniel Pentfield and his Wife : 

Moses Curtiss & his Wife: 

John Austin & his Wife : 

Timothy Gailord & his wife : 

the number is 20 couples 

Enos Curtiss & his wife: 
Isaac Curtiss to his third wife: 
Danll Johnson to Joanna Preston : 
John Hull to Mary Andrews 
Joseph Parkers' son & his wife : 
Daniel Murwine to Mehitabel Twist: 
Daniell Ives and his wife: 
Abraham Ives to Barbary Johnson : 
John Ward & his Wife: 
Samll Hough to Mehitable Royce: 
Henry Stanton to Sarah Scofield : 
Jonathan Curtiss to Deborah Mix: 



EARLY HISTORY, 40r 

Jan :3 : Ncheniiah Manross of N : (Cambrig?) to Widow thankful Cooper: 
Feb : 28 : David Ives to Elizabeth Merriam : 

March : 19 : Abel Doolittle of Westbiiry to thankful Moss of Wallingford : 
Octo : 16 : Abel Austin of Wallingford to Temperance Hough : 
:3i : Mr. Ignatius Rhody of Lynn to Mrs. Sarah jMerriam : 

Decern : 19 : Joseph Hoult of East Haven to Wid Joanna Johnson of Wallingford: 
Couples : 6 : 

Marriages Anno Domini 1737 : 
beginning Jan*"*' . I^t . 

Jan Married Joseph Adkins of Middletown to Abigail Rich : 
Feb : 28 : Nash Yale to Sarah Emerton. 

June : 20 : Xehemiah Pratt of Sea Brook was married to Deborah Hougii of Walling- 
iord. 

July ;:ii : Married Timothy Bartholomew to Mary Hull 
N(tv : 3 : Jedediah Norton to the wid Eunice Curtiss. 

Nov : 29 Eleazer Peck of Southintown to the Widow Ann Camp of Meriden: 
Decern : i : John Hendrick to Ruth Daughter to Daniel Mix: 
Couples : 7 : 

Marriages : Anno Domini 1738. 
Beginning Jan^y : i :st 

March : 27 : John Painter to Deborah Welshire: 
May :4 : Benjamin Andrews of Middletown to Tabitha Sanford. 
Aug ;^t 30 : Zerubbabel Jerom to Phebe Cook a second W'ife: 
NovtT : g : Joseph Gailard to Elizabeth Rich 
Nov : 13 : William Jerom was Married to Elisabeth Hart 
Couples : 5 : 

Marriages A : D : 1739 : Begin : Janry : ist — 

Feb : ( : Married Ephraim Munson of Wallingford to Comfort Curtis? 
June:6:Stephen Atwater to Elizabeth Yale 
June : 26 : Ephraim Royce to Eunice Harriss 
Sept : 23 : Samli Levit to Adah Curtiss 
Couples : 4 : 

Marriages : A : D : 1740 : Begin : Jan : i :st 

March : 17 : Married Andrew Andrews of Wallingford to Esther Royce 
April : 2 : Zebulon Frisbee to Luce Lewis both of Wallingford : 
July : 21) : Jonathan Preston to Sarah Williams of Waterbury 
Nov : 5 : Timothy Shattuck of Middletown to Desire Hall 
Decern :3 : Benjam Matthews of Cheshire, to Luce Clark of Xorthbury 
Couples : 5 : 

Marriages A I) 1741 begin : Jan'V : i^^t; 

July : 1 : Married Ebenezer Hawley of farmington to Mary Hart: 
Octob : 14 Daniel Luttonton of East Haven to Susanna Clark 

Novem : 19 : Mr. John Johnson of New Haven to Widow Joanna Royce of Wallingford 
Decern : 15 : Benjamin Brooks of Cheshire to thankful Hickock 
Couples : 4 : 



402 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Marriages : A : D : 1742 : begin : Jan^y : ist ; 
Jan : II : Married Joseph Stone to Abigail Jearom : 
April : 21 : Thomas Heart to Hannah Coe 
May : 12 : Nehemiah Manross to Sarah Royce 
June : 2 : John Wai to Phebe ford : 
Octo : 7 Gideon Royce to Mary Dutton 

Decern : 15 John Adkins of Middletown to Elisabeth Jerom 
Decern : 30 : Amos Camp to Wid. Mary Andrews 
Couples : 7 : 

Marriages : A : D : 1743. beginning Jan^y i : 
Novem :2 : Samuel Foginson was married to Lois Royce: 
Nov : 10 : David Rich Juni' to Mehitabel Ives : 

Nov : 15 : Phinehas Royce of Northberry to thankful Merriman of Wallingford : 
Nov : 30 : Jehiel Baldwin to Mary Way: 
Couples 4 : 

Marriages : A : D : 1744 : 

Jan : 24 : Married John Way Jun^ to Hannah Royce : 
Jan : 26 : Thomas Berry to Rebecca Yale : 
Feb : 2 : Daniel Cowls of Kinsington to Martha Powel : 
May : 24 : Benjamin Hart to Phebe Rich : 
Aug : 2 : Noah Yale to Anna Ives : 
Aug : 22 : Jonathan Collins to agnis Linn : 
Sept : ig : Stephen Mix to Rebecca Ives: 
Couples : 7 : 

Marriages : A : D : 1745 : 
Joseph Cowls Jun. to Susannah Cook 
Tim : Jearum to Ann Norton : 
John Prout to Widow Royce : 
Reuben Royce to Kesiah Moss : 
Joseph Moss to Jones's Daughter : 
Samil Beach to Hannah Benham 
Couples: 18: 

Marriages : A : D : 1746 : 
Feb : 20 : Nathanael Yale to Hannah Weeks 
June : 23 : Abraham Hall of Wallingford to Mary prindle : 
Nov. : 25 : Asa Royce to Annah Royce : 
Decem : 17 : Noah Austin of Wallingford to Abiah Hough 
29 : Amos Beach of Goshen to Sarah Royce : 
Couples : 5 : 

Marriages : A : D : 1747 : 

March : 25 : Married Gideon Royce to B. Wid. Rebecca Elenoth of Wallingford : ye 2^ 
wife: 

May : 12 : Caleb Merriman of Wallingford to Margaret Robinson: 



liARLV HISTORY. 4O3 

Octo : 13 : David Dutton to Widow Juda Yale both of Wallingford : 
21 : Linus Beach of Goshen to Dinah Royce 
May 4 : Mr. Walter to Susanna Sniitli : 
Couples : 6 : 

Marriages ; 1748 : 

Feb :9 : Married John Coach to Azubali Andrews of Wallingford 

10 : Joel Ives of Wallingford to Rebecca Merriam : 

: 1747 : In the Summer XathH : pecks Son to David Cooks Daughter of Wal- 
lingford : 

Octo : 5 : David Way to Eunice Hall of Wallingford 
Couples : 3 : 

Marriages : 1749 : Married 
Feb : 2^ : Josiah Robinson to Eunice Ives. 

May :2 : Jared Spencer of Haddam to Susannah Dickinson: 
4 : John Hall to Elisabeth prindle : 
10 ; William Andrews to Widow Mary Yale : 
July : 20 : Tina Thomson of East Haven to Esther Curtiss: 
Nov : 9 : Thomas Scofel of Hadlime to Jerusha Scofel : 
21 : Saumel Jerom to Luce foster : 
Decern : 22 : John Yale Jun. to Eunice Andrews 
Couples : 8 : 

Marriages : 1750 : Married 

Jan : n : James Cobbon to Irania Powel : 

18 : John Whiting to Sarah Foster: 

May : 9 : Jesse Merriam to Mary Johnson : 

July : 25 : Daniel Hall to patience Baldwin : 

Octo :3i : Joseph francis Junf to Mary tuttle of Wallingford. 

Couples : 5 : 
Marriages : 1751 : 

Jan : 29 : Married Joseph Mitchel of Deerfield to Lydia Foster 
Feb.; 14 : John Ball to Anna Mitchel: 
& Barzeliel Ives to Hannah Merriam : 

April : 24 : Gershom George (?) to Mary Salter of Cheshire: 
May 29 : William Merriam Jun to phebe Ives 

Couples 5 

Marriages : 1752 : 

March : 29 : Married Mr. Jacob Deming of Kensington to Mrs. Abigail Jerom : 
June ;3 : Thomas Berry y® 2^ to Annah perkins: 
Nov :9 : Samuel Andrews 2<^ to Lydia Royce 
27 : Nathan Cobbin of Deerfield to thankful foster: 
Marriages : 1752 : 

Decern : 20 : William Hough Jun : to Mary Hall 
27 : Benj. Hall of Wallingford to Mary Daughter of .\bijah Ives 
Couples : 6 : 



404 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Marriages : 1/53 : 

Jan : 17 : Tim foster Junf to Elisabeth Berry: 

24 : Nathll Hart of Wallingofrd to Elce Hall & Daniel Macky of Cheshire to Hannah 
Yale: 

Feb : 22 : Joshua Curtiss of Cheshire to Sarah Psalter: 
May : 8 : Stephen Royse of Cornwal to Mary How of Wallingford 
June : 26 : Benjn Tyler to Mehitabel Andrews of Wallingford: 
Sept : 24 : Moses Blachley of Northbury to Hannah Dunbar of Wallingford : 
Nov : 28 : Joseph Rexford to Lydia Spenser 
Decern : 19 : Benj" Merriam to Mary Berry 
: 27 : Amos Hall to Mary Johnson of Wallingford 
: Aug : 1753 : Abijah Ives to Josiah Mixs Widow 
II C. 

Marriages 1754 : 

Jan : 9 : Married John Berry to Luce Royce 
16 : Matthias Hitchcock of Cheshire to Widow Sarah Hough 
31 : John Thomson Juni" of Wallingford to Hannah Eaton of N. Haven : 
Feb : 6 : Eldad Curtiss to Tabitha perkins : 
March : 20 : Moses Hall to Elizabeth Johnson 

May : 16 : John potter of Southington to Widow Elisabeth Spenser 
Decern : Mr. John Moss to Widow fenn : 
Couples : 7 : 

Marriages : 1755 : 

Jan. Married Nath^ pentfield Jun^' to Lydia Barns 
13 : Thomas Dutten Jun'" to Anna Royce of Wallingford. 
March : 13 : Jonathan Webb to Elizabeth Judd 
Spt. 24. Willm Merriam to Mary Austin of Wallingford 
Octo : 14 : Benjii Whiting Jun^ to Esther Merriam 
Decem : 10 : James Scofel Jun"" to Hannah Hough 
Couples : 6 : 

Marriages : 1756 : Jan. i : 

John prout & Sarah Corbet : 

22 : Thomas Merriam to An Moss of Wallingford 

March : 11 : Abel Merriman of Wallingford to Ens Merrimans Daughter 

Morlo. A. Blachley to Stephen Ives Daughter of Wallingford : 

May : 12 : perkins to Susanna Curtiss 

13 James Scofel Jun^ to Hannah Hough 

Aug : 18 Joseph Atwater Junr to phebee Holt of Wallingford : 
Sept : 16 : David Wetmore to Sarah Stanton of Middletown 
Oct : 19 : Joshua How Junr to Merriam Blachley of Wallingford 
Couples : 9 : 

Marriages : 1757 : Jan 20 

Asa Bronson to Achsah Curtiss 

26 : Timothy St John of Norwalk to Deborah Royce 



EARTA' HISTORY 



405 



I'cli ; 10 Asaliel Beacli to Kesiah Royce of Walliiigford 
17 ; Recompence Miller of Middletown to Isabel Ives 
_'3 : Gideon Horsford to Jeruslia Cook & Amos Cook to Rhoda Horsford of Walliiig- 
ford : 

April 14 : Christopher Robiiist)n to Sarah Mix 

21 : Enos tuttle to Sarah francis 

27 : Thomas Shyoha (?) to Mary Hull ol Walliiigford 

Marriages : 1757 : 

May :5 : Moses Hull to Mary I\o^ of W'allingford 
March Thomas Berry Junr" to Annah Merriam 
May :u : Den i son Andrews to Abigail Whiting 
Aug :9 : Mr. John Merriam to Mrs. Hannah Ives: 
Nov : ID : Jotham Hall to Elizabeth Saxton of Middletown. 

16 : Abel Cook to Mary Atwater of Wallingford & Gideon Barns of Canaan to Luce 
Way 

Decem :8 : Thomas Atwater to Lose Hull of Cheshire 
13 : Waitstill parker of Wallingford to Martha Hall 
Couples : 18: 

Marriages : 1758 : 

Feb. 16 : Jesse parker of Wallingford to Dorothy Spenser 

22 : Divan Berry Jun*" to Lydia Yale 
March : 9 ; Elnathan Ives to .\nnah Vale 

28 : Divan Berry to Widow Andrews 
April :6 : Isaac Royce to Hannah pentfield. 

May : 10 : Dennis Covert of N. Haven to Esther Jones of Wallingford: 
June : i : Samll pentfield to Rebeca Scofel : 

29 : Filisha Goodich Juni" to Sibil Mix. 

Sept : 21 : Joseph Higbee to Abigail Ives of W'allingford. 
Couples : 9 : 

Marriages : 1759 : Married 

Jan : 17 : Elijah powel of Middletown to Mary Andrews :& John Ives to Mary Hall: 

Feb : 8 ; Hezekiah Warner of Middletown to Lois pentfield : 

March 7 : Abel Curtiss to Hannah foster. 

June 7 : Ezekiel Royce Jun'' to Lydia Hough. 

21 : .Ksa Barns to Lois Yale 

28 : John Smith of Saybrook to thankful Curtiss 

Novem : 15 : Joseph Merriam to Sarah Austin of Wallingford 
19 : Daniel Hall Junr to Zeruiah Whitmore 

Decern : 27 : William .\iidrews to Mary Curtiss • 

Couples : 10 : 

Marriages : 1760 : Married 

Jan : 10 : John Hough to Lois Merriam 

29 : Barnabas Hough to Eunice Weeks. 

Feb : 21 : Thomas Foster to Elizabeth Berry 

May -.22 : John Newel of farmington to Ruth Merriam: 

June Bartholomew Andrews to the daughter of Andrew Andrews of Wallingford 



406 A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 

July : I : Benjamin Rexford to Esther Hall 
Oct : i6 : philemon Johnson of Wallingford Sarah Hall 
20 : James Clark a streyer to the Widow Yale 
Decern : 4 : Allen Royce to Miiidwel Cowls 
Couples 9 

Marriages : 1761 : Married 

March : 24 : John Denison of E. Haven to Sarah Hough 
Nov : 19 : Daniel Mecky to Sarah Yale. 
Decem : i : Silas St. John of Sharon to Ahigail Royce 
Couples 3 

Marriages 1762. 

Feb : 11 James Churchhil of Middletown to Sarah pentfield 
May : 12 : Jahleel Clark to Esther Yale & Jacob Tyler to Hannah Rigford : 
27 : Robert Royce of Wallingford to Jerusha parker 
Sept : 30 : Decon Parker of Cheshire to Widow Ruth Merriam 
Nov : 18 : Danll parker of Wallingford to Merriam Curtiss 

Matthew Grant of Torrington to phebe Foster : & William Grant of Torrington to 
Lois Foster 

Decem : 2 : Cornelius Coverling to Sibil Iglestone 
Couples 9 : 

Marriages : 1763 : Married 

Feb : 24 : Joseph Cowls to Widow Rebeccah Rice : 

March 31 : Benja"in Curtiss to Mindwell Hough 

Oct : 18 : John Morgan of Middletown to Ann Hall Daughter of Israel Hall 

20 : Elijah Scofel to Jemima Shaler 
Nov : ID : Isaac Parsons to Leah Clark 

17 : Mr. Obediah Allin of Middletown to Widow Hannah Macky 

21 : David Hotchkiss of Waterbury to Abigail Douglass 
Decem :i : Nathanael Luttenton to Elizabeth Macky: 

15 : William Johnson of Wallingford to Hannah Cole : 
Couples . 9 . 

Marriages : 1764 : Married 

Jan : 16 : James (or Janna) Meigs of Salisbury to Rebecca Whiting :6:3: 
23 : Ephraim Allin of Kensington to Widow Azubah Yale. 3s : 

Feb : 6 : Eldad Peck of Kensington to Mary Foster : 6s : & Jonathan Foster to Rebecca 
Foster — 2/3 : 

May : 10 : Robert pattin to Eunice Curtiss : 2/6 
Sept : 6 : Isaac Hall Junr to phebe Ives of Wallingford 5/2 : 
Octob : 4 : Ephraim Rice to Abigail Fox of Cheshire 3:1 
II Daniel Bradley of oblong to Rebecca Berry Jun : 6s: 
15 : Joseph Hall to Sarah prout : 2/9 
Couples 9. 37s 

Note. The figures following each marriage recorded in the years 1764, 1765 and 1766, are re- 
cords of wedding fees kept in shillings and pence, and added at the close of each year. 

Albert H. Wilco.x, Clerk First Congregational Church. 



ICARLV IIISKIKV. 4O7 

Marriages : 1705 : Married 

Jan : 16 : James (or Janna) Meigs of Salisl)ury to Rd)ccca Whiting : 6/3 : 
May : 10 : Comfort Butler to Mary Berry : 3/5 

Sept : 12. ye Revd Burrage Merriam of Stepna to Mrs. Hannah Rice 5/10: 
Nov -.2' Joseph Yale to Martha Levingston 14/2: 
Couples : 4 : 16:5 

Marriages : 1766 : Married 

Jan : Z}t John Miles Jun to Abigail pirkins : 3s: 

Feb : 27 : Samuel Whiting to Hannah P>orry :3s: 

Marriage : 1766 : Married 

Jinie : 26 : John Butler to Lois Cole 3/9 

Decern : 11 : Thomas Mix Jun"" of Wallingford to Lois Collins. 6s: 

Couples :4 : 15/9 
Marriages : 1767 : 

Record of marriages by Rev. John Hubbard. 

"1783. Noybr 3 Samuel Collins marrieed to Phebe Ives 
December Xlth 1783 Lamberton Clark married to Martha Re.xford. 
February 12, 1784. Married Ephraim Merriam &• Bulali Galpin &■ Levi Robinson and 
Ehzabeth Vale. 

Record of marriages by Rev. John Wiiiard. 
Marriages : 1786 : 

Sept 25 Mr. Hezekiah Miller of Middletown and Miss Bradley of X. Haven 

1787 Feby Mr- Edward Collins Mrs. Mary Hall were married 
F'eb\- 28th Mr. Dowd & Miss scovil were married 

March 22. Mr. Moses Sibly of Ashford & Miss Patience Veamans 

April: 19 Mr. Isaac Rice & Rachel pain 

June 14 Mr. Levi Douglass & Miss Hall of Cheshire were married. 

July u : Mr. John Merriam & Mrs. Johnson were married 

July ly Mr. Samuel Plough Jr. & Miss Anna Page 

Sept 10 Mr. Shelden Johnson & Miss Hannah Rice. 

Kov. 15 Mr. Matthew Hough & Miss Martha Cowles 

1788 I-eby. 14 : Mr. Ozias I'dster & Miss Phcbe Miles. 
April 23 : Mr. Dewolf & Miss Hannah Robinson 
May I : Mr. Todd & Miss Polly Rice were married. 

NoTK. The foregoiiiB ropy (•oiiipri.«ps all the record of murriages kept by Rev. Theophilus Hall 
during his ministry. Mr. Hall died March 2r>. 17t;7, in the 6(ith year of his age. and in the 38th year 
of bli< mlnlKtry. He was .succeeded by Rev. John Hubbard, and the following are all the marriages ri - 
cordid during hi.s pastorate which ran be found. It is known that many of Rev. Mr. Hubbard's old 
church papers wiTe stored in the attic o fa house tornu rlr located in the southeast part of Meriden at 
church papers were stored in the" attic of a house formerly leicated in the southeast part of Meriden at 
■ place oalle-d Spruce Olen. This house was afterwards owned by Mr. Hubbard's great grandson, Isaac 
I. Hubbard, and wn'- burned with nearly all its contents, August .Tl, ISG.'i. It is supposed that many 
of Mr. Hubbard'K church rce-ords were destroyed at that time. Rev. .lohn Hubbard died November IS, 
]7S«. 

Albe;it H. Wiuetx. Clerk I'irst Congregational Church. 



4o8 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

June 22 Aaron Lyman Esquire to the Widow Rebeckah Hough 

Oc 2nd Mr. Solo Yale & Miss Sarah Andrews were married 

Oc. 6 Mr. Jesse Merriam Jr & Miss Sally Andrews 

Oc Mr. Hull & Miss Carter 

Nov 27 Mr. Jerom & Miss Polly Cobbon 

Nov 27 Mr Timothy Hall of Cheshire & Mrs. Hannah Hall of Meriden 

1789 Jany Mr. Josiah Norton & Miss Phebe Edwards were married 

Feby Mr. Samuel Hally & Miss Babbit both of Middlefield were married 

May 4 Mr. John Miles & Miss Ruth Atwater were married 

June 18 Mr Levi Ives & Miss Fanny Silliman 

Marriages 1790 Jany 

Mr. Amerton Yale & Miss Mercy Scovil. 
Feby Mr. Matthew Yale & Miss Lucy Ives. 
April Mr. Joel Mix & Miss Eleanor Merriam 
May Mr. John (Richmon?) & Miss Rhoda Adnans 

June Mr. Bacon & Mrs. Edwards Sepf : 26. Mr. Fletcher Perkins & Mrs. Damaris 
Miller 

1791 Jany Mr. John Butler & Mrs Phebe Foster 
Feby Mr. Thos Foster Jr & Miss Hannah Yale 
May Mr. Barnabas Yale & Miss Lois Merriam 
Aug 24 Mr. Benja Hall & Miss Sally Hall 

Octr 20 Mr Matthew Hough & the Widow Woodruff. 

Nov 4 Mr. Joseph Ives & Miss Clarissa Hall 

Nov 17 Mr Hotchkiss of Cheshire & Miss Keturah Hough 

1792 Jany. Mr. Hull & Miss Rice 
Feby 2 : Mr Elihu Ives & Miss Hall 

Feby 9. Mr. Joel Foster & Miss Lucy Whiting 

Marriages 1792 April 19 . . ^ . .- , 

Mr James Avery Hough & Miss Sarah Todd 

Octr Mr Nathl Merriam & Miss Eunice Curtis 

1793 Mr Noah Foster & Miss Anner Ives 
April Mr Aaron Johnn & Miss Rice 
Octr Mr Aaron Curtiss & Susannah Cutler 
Nov. 14. Mr Levi Hough Lucretia Merriam 
Nov 14 Mr Talmage & Miss Bellamy 

1803 Feb or March Mr Hall of Canada and Miss Hart daughter of Mr Benjamin Hart 
of Meriden 

March Doct Theophilus Hall and Miss Bathiah Meriam 

May or June Mr Yale & Mrs Butler 

August 29th Mr Lawrance to Miss Curtiss 

September 1 Lyman Rice to Mindwell Meriam 

Nov. TO. John Way to Miss Deborah Houg*h. 

Decem 10 Saturday Seth Plumb to Miss Betsey Hall 

Dec 20 John Bliss to Sally Foster ■" 

Dec 29. Matthew Foster to Miss Preston 



Mr. Willard's remaining records cannot be found. Mr. Ripley commenced in 1803. G. W. P. 



EARI.V HISTORY. 409 

JaiiN igi'i Jesse Hawley to Miss Aurilla Covvles 

Septem 11 '^h 1804 Chancy Curtis to Anna Hall. 

Joel Vale to Lucy Rice 

October Sherman Rice to Roxaiia Meriam 

Nov. .^i 1804 Phinehas Hough to Miss Desire Cook 

Nov 21 1804 Ceaser .\ugustus Ste^^venson to Elizabeth Cambridge 

1804 Robert & Catherine Freeman 

1805 Sept .\masa Hall to Miss Permelia Sanford 
Oct Mr Smith to Miss Douglass 

Do 24ih Mr W Baldwin (?) to Rosetta Gri>\vold 
Nov Edward Johnson to Miss Hull 
Obed Shepherd to Mary Yeomons 
March 13 Levi Rice & Isabel Ives 

1806 : Ja 20 Webb I Heart to Clarissa (Peck?) 
.\pril 2ist 1806 Isaac Hough to Miss Plymert 
do 2i Mr Richards to Esther Hough 

July or .August Dorius Bcnham to Synthia Cone & Phmehas Lyman to Mrs Monsons 

Oct Mr Yeanians 2^ daughter 

Nov Laura Stow 

Mr Hall to Polly Preston. 

EARLY n.VPTISMS. 

Meriden In Wallingford Xoveni'> : J<1 1729 I Baptized Abigail ye Daughter of John Way 

Theoph Hal. Paster 

this Instant 23 I Baptized Robert : son of Nathaniel Royce 

December 28 I baptized Abel ye son of Benjamin Curtiss — 

January 25 I Baptized Samuel ye son of David Rich 1729/30. 

March 8 : I Baptized thankful Daughter to Jonathn Roberts — 

March 22 I Baptized Stephen, son of Josiah Royce. 

.\pril 5 I Baptized Joanna Daughter .\bel Royce, Benjamin s<5n of Benjamin Royce — 

12:1 Baptized Mary ye wife of John Cole. 

May :3 : I Baptized Sarah, Enos, Israel Children of Israel Hall 

10 : I Baptized John the son of John Meriam Jun**. 

June : 7 I Haptizeil Hannah :L\<lia Daughters of Tim (?) Royce and son of Daniel 
Harris 

9 : Ezra — son of .Moses \'ak-— jirivately 

21 : .Abigail and Jerusha children of James Scotield 

July : 12 : Ezra ye son of Lent Royce 

.August 2 John ye son of John Vale 

August :9 Danison ye son of Sam'l .Andrews 

I'j . Samuel— Eunice children of Will'" Andrews— 

Dfccniber -.27 1730 Benjamin ye son of Joseph Meriam 

March : 21 : 1731 : EInathan ye son of Elnathan Ives. 

April :4 : Sarah Daughter of thomas Foster 

11 : thankful Daughter of John Cole 
2Q .Abigail Daughter of Israel Hall 
Rebeckah: Benjamin children of Benjamin lve>. 



4IO 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



May I : Mary Daughter of Theophilus Mix— privately 

2}, : Thomas son of Abel Yale — 

(Sept ?) ID Samuel son of James Scofield 

Num : 34. 
October 24 1731 Baptized Benjamin son of Insign Whitng 
Thomas son of William Merriam 

31 : I Baptized Joseph son of John Way Elisha son of Nathaniel Royce Novemb : 14 : 
Baptized Susanna Daughter of Benjamin Curtiss or Whtng (?) 

24 Baptized Samuel & Mary twin chl of Samuel Ives privately 
28 Baptized Reuben son of John Hickock 

December 19 baptized Hannah Daughter of Benjamin Ives 

173-'- 
January 16. Charles son of Josiah Royce 
february : 13 : Elizabeth Daughter of Daniel Harris 

20 : Titus son of John Ives Elizabeth Daughter of Ebenezer prindle. 
2-/ Mary Daughter of Divan Berry 

Alarch : 5 : Luce Daughter of Left. Eze : Royce 

May : 21 : Jacob son of Abel Royce and Luce Daughter of Tho : foster. 

June — of Tim Royce 

July 9 titus son of William Andrews 

Aug : 6 : Ephraim son of Sarg. Camp Marshal son of James Allin : 

2"] : Sarah Daughter of Theo. Mix Sometime after — Eldad son of Mcses Curtiss 

April : 8 : 1733. John son Divan Berry Samuell son of Samll Ives. 

Feb. II. Abigail Daughter of Elnathan Ives 

March — Titus son of Eng. Curtiss 

April : i : Sarah Daughter of David Ives( ?) 

April 29 Solomon of John Yale 

October 28 1733. Baptized Esther, Mary, David (Mery) Hannah, Thomas, Elizabeth & 
Abigail children of David Way & Rachel, Else William, Mary & Jonathan children of Wil- 
liam Anderson 

November : 11 : James son of James Scofield & Dante (?) Daughter of aaron Aspinwel 

25 : Arthur Rexford & Esther Daughter of Willm Merriams. 
January 6 : 1733/4 nathanel son of Capt. Merriam 

Febry : 10 : Rebeca of James Allin & Hannah of Thomas foster — privately 
March . 17 . Lois of Benj. Ives. 
24 : Willm of Willm Andrews 
31. Amy Daughter of David Way. 
April . 14 Titus son of Ens. Curtiss 

21 : Caleb son of Josiah Royce 

May 5 : Rebecca Daughter of Ens. Whiting 

Jime : 2 : Jonathan of Jonathan Roberds 

July : 7 : John of John Hecock 

July : 21 Samuel, Arthur Joseph & John of Rexford 

Num 32. 
August : II : 1734 Baptized thankful wife of Tim Foster 
Abigail Daughter of Israel (?) Hall Mary, of Theo. Mix 
18 Deborah of Left Zekiel Royce 
September : i : moses & aaron of Samll Andrews — twins 



EAKLY HISTOKV. 4^ 

December 29 1734 baptized Anna Daughter of Joseph Mcriam 

February 28. 1734/5 : Benedic of Abel Royce & Jerusha of Elnathan Ives 

March : 16 : 1735 baptized my own Daughter Hannah 

29 ; Ambrose ye son of Thomas Hal 

April : 6 : Joseph & Jesse children of John Ives twins. 

20 : Mary Daughter of Will : Meriam 

Mav :4 : Samuel of John Cole & Divan of Divan bury 

18 ; Phebe Daughter of Sarg Nath Royce 

June : 1 : Timothy, Lydia, thnakful. & Hannah children of Tim Foster & Kilbrut of 
Dan Hall (?) 

8 ; Christie son of Josiah Robinson 

1735 the child born to Wid : Camp of her dec<i husband baptized privately 

Sept : 7 : Ruth of Tim Royce & Abigail of Moses Curtiss 

14. Mary of John Meriam 

21 : John of Samuel Hough 

Novr : Benjamin of Benjamin Curtiss 

Feb : Abigail daughter of James Allin 

March (20?) Ann of Dan or (David) ? Way. 

April : II : 1736 : Baptized Timothy, Mamre, & Lazarus, children of Lazarus Ives. 

May ; g : Baptized Caleb of Aron Aspinwell. Baptized Ambrose of Lazarus Ives 

July : II : David son of Benj. Ives- 

July : 25 : Baptised Allin of Left Ezeqiel Royce. 

August : 8 : Baptised Theophilus my first born son 

Sept : 12 : 1736. Abigail Daughter of Ens. Whiting 

October: 3 : Ruth Daughter of Will™ Meriam 

17 : Luce, Daughter of John Way 

Novem : 14 (or 19) Mary Daughter of Enos Curtiss 
Decern : 12 Joseph son of John Yale 

19 : Rebecca daughter of Tim Foster 

Jan : 2 : 1736/7 Daniel of Arthur Rexford & Thomas of Thomas Foster. 

23 : Mary Daughter of John Hickock 
Feb : 6 : david of David Sanford 
20;Jotham of Israel Hall David of Abel Yale 
March : 13 : Aaron of Aaron Lyman 

March : 27 : John of Sarg. Royce & Isaac of Joseph Meriam 

(Num : 23) 
April : 3 11737 : Baptised Mehitabel Daughter of Abel Royce 

24 : Tim sone of Joseph Cowls Jun^ 

May : I : SaniU of Sam'l Andrews & Esther of Asa Yale 

9 : phebe an Indian woman privately upon a sick bed 

15. Hannah Daughter of Jos Hills Junr 

June . 26 : baptised my Indian Children, patience & Anthony 

Sept : 4 : Meriam Daughter of Benj. Curtiss 

n : John of John Meriam 

18 : Bethiah of Divan Berry 

Octob : 16 : daughter of Daiil Harriss 

2^^ : Samuel of David Way. 

Decern -.4 : My Second Son Avery & Lois daughter of Nash Yale. 



412 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Jan : 29 : 1737/8 : Matthew of Capt Meriam 

Feb : 19 : Job of Benj™ Yale 

26 : Levi of John Ives & Josiah of James AUing 

March : 12 : Ruth of Benj Ives 

19 : Hannah of Phinehas Hough 

April : 2 : Luce, of peter Curtiss 

22, : Isabel of Lazarus Ives 

June : 25 : Sarah of Henry Stanton 

Aug : 13 : Sarah of Doc Cooper 

August 20 : 1738 Elijah of James Scotield 

(Nuni 26) 
Octo : 15 : 1738 : of Thomas Foster 

16 : Benjm of Doc. Hough privately — Nov. 12 : Susannah of Sarg. Willm Merriam 
Jan^y : 7 : 1738/9 : baptised John of Ebenezer prindle SaniH of SaniH Austin Ruth of 

Asa Yale Lydia of Jedidiah Norton 

March : 4 : Joanna Daughter of John painter 

18 : Josiah of Elnathan Ives 

25: Mary of Tim Foster Thomas of Benjm Yale 

April Deborah of Joseph Merriam 

May : 27 : Sarah of Benj Curtiss 

July : 15 : Benjamin of Arthur Rexford 

22 : Baptised my own son Samuel 

Aug : 19 :Hannah of Jos Cowls Jun'', Sarah of William Jerom 

Sept : 9 : Lois of Asa Yale Kesiah of Joseph Hills — Juni" 

30 . Abigail Cooper adult 

October : 8 : Ezekiel of Left. Royce & Burrage of John Merriam Jun^ 

Decem : 2^ : Hezekiah of Abel Royce : 

30 : Thomas of Doc Cooper : & Abigail of Alexander Douglass 
Feb : 10 : 1740 : Lydia of Tim Jearom 

March : 3 : phebe of Tho : Foster privately 
16 : Lent of Joash Royce 

23 : Joshua of Lazarus Ives 

April : II : John of Sarg Will™ Merriam 

June : i : Lydya of Phinehas Hough 

8 : peter of peter Curtiss Ruth of Stephen Atvvater 

15 . Joash of Israel Hall 

22 : David of Ben : Ives 

July : 27 : Rebecca of James Scofel 

(Num 36) 
August :3 : 1740 : Baptised Lois of Capt. Merriam : Anna of Enos Curtiss : (?) Heze- 
kiah & Joseph of Joseph Hall (or Hale) 
10 : Benjm of Benjamin Yale 

17 : Eunice of Jedh Norton. 
Mindwell of Ephraim Royce 

24 : Mary of William Andrews: 

31 : Samuel of Ensign Whiting 

October : 12 : Clark of Sargt NathH Royce. 
Janu : 18 : 1741 Abigail of Willm Jearom. 

25 ■ Bartholomew of Timothy Foster 



F„\RLV HISTORY. 4^3 

2/ . Hannah of Divan Berry privately — 
Feb : i : Solomon of Sarg . Benjm Roycc. 

22 ■ Asa of Asa Yale 

March : i : London Servant of John Webb 

April : 26 : Joseph son of Joseph Cowls Jun^" 

May : 10 : Son of Samuel Austin 

June : 4 : Ruth ford. 

July : 19 : Abigail of Left. Ezekiel Royce 

July : 26 : James Cobbon. Phebe. Zerubl Jeroms wife. & Tht.nias of David Sanford 

.Aug : 2 : Robert of ZerubH Jerom 

23 My twins Theophilus & Luce & .Abigail of .Arthur Re.xford 
Sept : 13. Sarah of Xash Yale 

Sept : Ruth of Benjamin Curtiss 

October : 18 : Samuel of Joseph Merriam 

r)eccm : 6 : Lydya of David Way : 

John & Sarah twins of Thomas Berry. 

27 Martha of Samuel Cowls 

March : 14 : Lois of Thomas Foster 

21 : William & John twins of Willm Lusk 

March 28.Lydia of Benjamin Yale 

April : 7 : Andrew of Tim Jerom Juni". 

May : 16 : Kesiah of Ephraim Royce 

May :28 : Reuell (?) of (Theophilus) (?) Mi.x 

1742 : May : 30 : Baptised Saah of .Alexander Douglass 

June : 20 : Mary of Divan Berry 

July : 18 : Kesiah of Joseph Hills Juni". 

Sept : 12 : Jesse of Joash Royce & Elizabeth of Joseph Stone 

primus servant of Lazarus Ives : Sometime ago 

IQ Abigail of Joseph Cowls Jun«" Stephen of Stephen .Atwater 

2<> Susannah of John Merriam Juni" 

October : 17 : Elisha of James Scofel & Jane of John Livingston 

Nov : 21 : Huldah of .Abel Royce 

Decern : 5 : Jedediah of Jed : Norton : 

26 Rebecca of thomas Berry 

:Num 48 : 
JarK : 9 : 1743 : Hannah of Ebenczcr Royce: 
March : 13 : Josiah of John Way & Sibil of .Asa Yale 

27 ; Amasa of Lazarus Ives 

.April 10 : .Agift a child of David Hills. 

June 5 John of John painter. 

June 26 : My Daughter Mary & Levi of Benjm Ives 

July : 17 : Esther of Abel Yale & Enos of SaniH Cowls 

31 : James of phinehas Hough 

Sept : 18 : Thomas of Zerubbabel Jerom : 

25 : Lydia & Mindwell children of Ebenezer Cowls 

cK-tnl)er : 2 : Samuel of Ens : Whiting 

\t : Abigail of Daniel Bradley 

2}, : Deborah of Joseph Merriam & .Am()s of AnK)s Camp 

30; Lydia of Timothv .Andrews 



414 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Feb. : 26 : 1744 : Abigail of Ephraim Hough: 

IVIarch : 11 : Reuben of Elnathan Ives : & phebe wife of John Way 

April : i : Huldah of Ebenezer Cowls. 

April : 8 : Zebulon of Zebulon Peck 

May :6 : Nash of Nash Yale & Mary of Elijah Peck 

13 : Hannah of Divan Berry 

20 : Sarah of John Way & Huldah of Tho. Foster 
June : 17 : Levi of Samll (Austin?) 

July : I : James of Sargt Nathl Royce & Comfort of Enos Curtiss 

8 : Alexander & Rebecca twins of Alexander Douglass 
July : IS : 1744 Ephraim of Ephraim Royce 

Aug : 5 : Jehiel of Jehiel Baldwin 
Sept : 2 : Joseph of Joseph Stone 

9 : Anna of Israel Hall 

Josiah of David Rich Juni" & fortune servant of Sargt Jerom 
Sept : 23 : Abel of David Way 

Sept : 30 : Eunice of Stephen Atwater Timothy of Joseph Cole Junr 
Nov : 9 : Mary of Lazarus Ives Enos of Benjm Yale 
Nov : II : Aaron of Benjm Cui'tiss 

Decem : 30 : Kate Servant of Sam Hough : the number baptised 1744 ; 28 
1745 : Jan : 27 phebe of Joash Royce titus of Gideon Royce. 
March : 10 : My Son Elisha 

31 : Benjamin of ye Widow Hart Ellis servant of John Ives 
April : 21 : James of Willm Lusk 
26 : Joel of Jeremiah How Jun^ privately 

28 : phebe of Asa Yale 

May : 5 : Mindwell of Daniel Hough 
12 : Asahel of Zerubbabel Jerom 

26 Luce of Elijah Peck 

June : 9 : Levi of Noah Yale & Nehemiah of Thomas Weeks 
July : 7 : Lament of Jonathan Collins. 

21 : Elisabeth of Willm Jerom 
Aug : II .-Rebecca of Abel Royce 
18 : a child of James S'cofel. 
Sept : 8 : Rhoda ford 

15 : Susannah of Joseph Merriam 

22 : Phinehas of phinehas Hough & Willm of Ichabod Stark 

29 : Sarah of Ephraim Berry & Joseph of Joseph Hills : 
Octo : 13 : Edward of John Painter 

27 : Chloe of Moses Yale : 

Decem : 8 : Martha of John Livinstone- 

15 : allathere of John Way. 

22 : Asahel of Ens. W. Merriam 

28 

1746 : Jan : 22 of David Rich of N : Cambridge 

Feb : 2 : Ebenezer of Ephraim Royce 
'9 : Theophilus of Stephen Mix 

In March or April : Sarah of NathH Royce & Irania of Arthur Rexford 
April : 27 : Katherine of Moses Mitchel 



RARLV HISTORY. 4^5 

25 : Grinne of servent of Sargt Jerom 
June : i : Alexander of Alexander Douglass 
8 : thankful of Sargt Benjamin Ives. 

29 : Enos of Enos Curtiss 

1746 : July : 6 : Moses of Joseph Cols Jun'" 
20 : Rhode of William Andrews. 

Aug : ID : Mary of Gideon Ives : & tobiah servant of Widow Ives. 

17 : abel of Zebulon peck 

Sfpt : 7 : Insign of Dan'l Hough 
Octo 5 Mary & Clare children of Joel Mitchel 
Decern : Elisha of Timothy Andrews 
In Meriden : 19 

1747 : Jan : 18 : of Abel Yale & ozias of Benj Yale. 
Feb : i : agnis of Jonathan Collins & David of Jehial Baldwin 
8 : Ann of Saml foginson : 

15 : .Abigail of John Way 

March : 8 : oliver of Ebenezer Royce : 

18 : or 13 : Ezra of Asa Yale. 
22 : My daughter Eunice : 
April : 26 : abner of Joash Royce 
May : 17 : 1747 : John of Laz : Ives. 
Lois of Willm Jerom 

Eunice of Nathll Yale 

June : 7 : of Sam^l Cowls 

12 : Mary of Abraham Hall privately 
28 : Caleb of aaron aspenwell 

July : 12 : Rebecca of Stephen Mix 

26 : Lois of Nash Yale 

Aug : g : Mercy of phinehas Hough 

16 ; anna of Thos Foster & of Noah Yale 

Sept : 6 : David of Stephen Atawter & Champe a Negro child of Laz. Ives 

13 : Mehitable of Jos. Merriam & Dan of Sam' (Austin?) 
Octo : II : Eunice of Ephraim Royce 

25 : Elisabeth of Nathl penttleld : & Rachel of Asa Royce : 

( 28 : ) 
Jan : 10 : 1748 : Joel of Joel Mitchel 

17 : Huldah of Elnathan Ives. 
24 : Elijah of Danll Hough 

March : Flunice of Ebenezer Cowls privately 

rj : buel of Ebenezer Hough 

April : Joseph of Jacob .\ndrcws .\masa of Gideon Ives 

^4 : negro child of John Merriam Jun'" 

May : 18 : or (13) of Jonathan Collins & of Joseph Cowls Junr 

'5 '■ Higginson of Joseph Hills 

July : 24 : asaph of Moses Mitchel 

.\ug :7 : My Daughter Mehitabel & Lydia of llphraim Berry. 

14 : Wait of Gideon Royce & Susanna of John i)ainter 
Sept : Levi of Benamin Ives 

Decern : Stephen of Stephen Mix. 



4l6 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

1 8. 

1749 : Jan : Rebecca of SaniH Mitchel & Mary of (Joash?) Royce, afterward Benj. Yales 
child. 

Noah Yales child : Abel yales child : Tim Andrews child : (alether?) of John Way : 
Laz. Ives child. 

October : 29 : Comfort of John Cole : Eunice of Gideon Ives. Thomas of dan^l Hough:, 
afterwards Jonathan Collins child : 

Dec 10 Jacob Andrews child 

24 Samuel of Danll Baldwin 
Num : 19 : 

1750 : Jan :28:Mary of Stephen Atwater : 

march : 25 : Justus of Gid Royce a child of Stephen Mix : a Negro child of Amos Camp 
Apbil :8 : (perish?) of James Coburn :a child of phinehas Hough 
May -.zy : Enos of Saml Austin : Mehitabel of (As-royse?) 
1750: Baptisms : June 129 :(or 24) Elisha of Ebenezer Cowls. 
Time Servant of Dec^ Benj" Royce 
June : Moses of Moses Mitchel 

July : 29 : Daniel of Abel Yale Barnabas of Nathl Yale 
Sept : 9 : Mary of John Way. 
October 7 : Samuel of Samii Rexford 
Nov : 18 : Esther of Joseph Cowls Jun 
Decem : 30 : Rachel of Timothy Andrews 
Num : 17: 

1751 : Baptisms : Jany 2"] \ Mary of Jonathan Collins 
Feb : 24 : Jerusha of Saml Coles 

March : 17 : Samuel of Dan'l Hough. Elias & Gideon of Elias Roberts 

18 : Esther of Doc : I : Hall privatey. 

24 : Elisabeth of John Yale Junr 

May : 5 : titus of Will Andrews Samuel of Samuel Jerom 

19 Sibel of Joseph Curtiss 

Aug : 4 : Anna of Ephraim Berry 

18 : Eunice of Ebenezer Cowls My Daughter Mehitabel : 

25 : John & Justus of Nehemiah Manrow : 

Sept : 8 : Esther of Daniel Hall — afterwards Abel of Nehemiah Manro 
Nov : 24 : Benjamin of Jacob Andrews : 
Decem : i : Samuel of Ebenezer Royce: 
num : 20 : 

1752 : baptisms : Jan : 5 : amos of Gideon Ives. 

12 Samuel of Ba^'zeleel Ives afterwards anna of Noah Yale privately 
Feb : 7 : Ruth Lothrop 
9 Gideon of Gideon Royce 
16 : (Thodel?) of Samuel Rexford & Lucy of Sam^ Jerom 
23 : Christopher of Joseph Merriam 
In Jany a child of Elias Roberds 

1752 : Baptisms : March : Benjm of Benjamin Yale & Lois of Enos Curtiss: 
afterwards a child of Stephen Mix : 
April ye 19 Ann of phinehas Hough : 

26 : Hannah of Danll Baldwin Juni" 

May : 3 : Rebecca of David Ives & : Jeptha of Joseph Curtiss 



KAHl.V lllSKiKN'. 4^7 

Aiij; :2 : Mary of Moses Mitchcl & Josiah of Jolin Vale Jun'" 

cj ; Hlisabeth of Doc Hal & Seth of Asa Royce : 

2J^ : Mary ann of Hez : Dickinson: 

^5 Klisabeth of Stephen Atwater privately 

Sept 24 N S Stephen of Kphraim Royce 

Oct 22 Daniel of John Levinston 

Nov iq Ezekiel of Hez Dickinson 

j( : phebe of Lazaus Ives : 

i>ece :3 : phinehas of Tim ; Andrews : 

10 : Lois of Joseph Hough 

J4 : Martha of Danl Moss of Kent : 
Xum : 28: 

Ha(iti»nis : 1753 : Jan : 21 : Baptised Lois of Danl Hall 

Feb ; 4 : Asahel of tho : Dutton : 

March :4 : Joseph of Sam : Austin : 

25 ; l'"unice of Dan : Hough : 

May : 6 : Moses of Ebenezer Cowls : 

27 • Jonathan of Ephraim Berry : 

June : 10 : Amos of Heman Hall : 

17 ; thankful of Ephraim Hough : afterwards Xathanael of Abel Yale: 

Octo : 14 : Eunice of Sam" Merriinan Xath or Xash of Joel Mitchel & Joseph of Jo- 
tph Cowls Jun"" 

Decern : 2 : Keturah of Jon : Colllins Rachel of Reuben Royce : Enos of Gid : Ives : 
, t. T.- Bethiah (<i tim : Foster Jun''. 
Xum : 16 or 17. 

lohn of John Parsons private!}- 

Baptism> : r754 : Jan : 13. Mary of Gideon Royce: 

20 : Amos of Thomas Mix: 
2f' : Daniel Holt. 

March ; 17 : Elisabeth of Daniel Baldwin Jun'" 

.■\pril .- : Jotham of Moses Mitchel & John of Sam" Jerom : 

21 ; Eunice of Daniel Hall 

May 19 : a child of Joseph Curtiss: 

2t : Ebenezer : .Allen of Tim : Brunson : 

July : 14 : Joel of Noah Yale: 

2f);R»ith & Joiin & Huldah of Josiah Robinson Jun'" :& of Sam" (ialpin : alter- 

ards Asa of asa Royce : a chid of Stanley : 

Stpt : 15 : Susanna of Left : Lyman : Justus of John \:t]v Jun'' 

Octo : 13 : Benjamin of La2:Ives. Samuel of John P.erry :& M> Servant phyllys :a 
liUI of EU-nezer Cowls :& one of Ephraim Royce: 
Xum : 23 

Raptism.s 1755 : Jan : Baptized 3 children att town: 

feb -.2 : Dojle of Dan" Hough, afterwards a Child of tim'l' I-'o-tcr Jun'' 

April : 20 :a child of John Livinstone : 

May :25 : My Son Elisha: 

June I : Huldah of .Miner Curtiss : Jonathan <.f Jonathan Collins a child of Joseph 
wis Jun"". 

Aug : 3 : Molle of Hez : Dickinson. 

10 : Tim : of Jerom :& David of David S).cns,r: 



4i! 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Octob : 12 : Jeruslia of Gideon Ives : 
Nov :23 : philene of francis Wetmore : 
Aug: 12 child, att town att one time; 
Decern : 28 : Benjamin of tim : Andrews : 

Num : 13 in the month : & 15 att town 
Baptisms : 1756 Jan :ii : John Coach & azubah his Wife: 

18 : Elisabeth of John Coach & John of Samll Scofel : 

25 : Mehitabel Timthy ; Moses & abner of John Way : & Nathanael beedle & Samuel 
of Samuel Johnson. 

Feb : i : Enoch of Caleb Merriman 

Since : Samll, Lydia. anna of David Royce Danll of Danll Hall (or Holt) a child of 
Joseph Curtiss : Joseph of Ezra Royce. a child of SaniH Galpin phebe of Willm Merriam: 
June :6 : Mehitabel of John Berry: 
13 : phinehas of NathH pentfield Jun'" 
July : 4 : amerton of Nash Yale : 
II : Lois of Ephraim Hough 
Aug : 8 : Katherine of Danll Baldwin Jun'' 

19 : ( ) of Nash Yale 

26 : Susanna & Mary of Will™ Hough : 

Decern : Giles of Tim foster Jun^ Eunice of Josiah Robinson Sarah of John Cooch 
Num : 32 : J : Scofel & Noah Yales 

Baptisms : 1757 : Jan : 2 : 

(S E Clark :& Sam?) of Jesse Merriam privately : after Justus of Gideon Royce :& a 
child of Ebenezer Cowls 

Feb : 6 : Hannah of John Way since a child of doc Hall one of lA.mbrose tuttle : one of 
Danll Hough : a child of Samll Hall : 

April : 24 : John of SaniH Jerom : 

May :8 : Mary of Robert Austin : Mary of Moses Mitchel : & John of John Yale : 

15 : Gideon of Gideon Ives : . 

22 : Amos of Moses Royce. 

June : 19 : Jedidiah of Nathan Scofel : after a child of Titus Merriman : 

Note. — Remaining records of Baptism.s of Rev. Mr. Hall cannot be found. Most of the records 
of baptisms by Rev. .John Hubbard are missing. The following are all known of. 

November 16 1783 Elisha Merrimans Chid named Orin 
Thomas Spencers Child Matthew 

November 2;^ Capt. Chamberlains Child Clarissa baptised 
1784 Isaac Hubbards Child baptised January 18 named Rebecca 
Israel Halls child baptised February i named Elisha 
February 8 1784 John Merriams Child baptised named Anna 
Baptisms by Rev. John Willard 
1786 July a Child of Mr & Mrs Hull named— 
Aug a Child of Benjamin Curtis & wife named Asahel 
Septr A Child of Mr & Mrs Farrington named Orrin 
Septr A Child of Mr & Mrs Amasa Rice named Lee By Mr Huntington 
Sept. The wife of Mr. Ammerton Yale. 
Sept. A Child of Ambrose Hough named : 

Ocf :5 Children of Mr. Jonathan Collins & his Wife named as follows. Keturah. Levi. 
Selden, Lament & Dema. 



EARLY HISTORY 



419 



Oct A child of Mr. Caleb Hough named orrin 

Oct. 2 A child of Mr. Elisha Merriman named Damaris 

Nov 25 Capt Dan Collins 

Dec : 6 : A child of Air Elisha Cowles named Eldad : 

Dec 31 :A Child of Mr. Ashbel Beach named Samuel Bellamy 

Dec 31 : A Child of Phineas Hall named Noah : 

1787 

March : 18 : 4 Children of Capt Dan Collins cS: his wife were baptized named. Molly, 
Susannah, Lucy & Lyman. 

Also a Child pf >|r Israel HaM 

April 29 :-5 Children of Chatham Freetiian & ALareah his wife were baptized : Named 
Jube & Kate. 

June A Child of Air & Mrs Lawrence named billy. 

Also a Child of Lieut Hough & his wife named Ruben 

Dec 30. A Child of Capt Joseph Edwards & his wife named Betsey 

1788. 

Jany 2otli a Child of Mr Griswold named Rosetta 

Feb 3 Mr Samuel Collins, also 2 Children of his named Samuel & Hulsey 

Note. — No further record of bapti.-ms until the year 1803. G. W. P. 

Baptisms 1803. 

A child of Joel Yale named Harriet 
Do of Iva Curtis named Samuel Ives 
Do of Asahel Yale named Keturah 
Do of Dea. Yale named Neomy hannah 

May 29 5 children of Mr. Root named Samuel, Joel, Sophia. Sabrina & lucy 
July 3 an infant of Avery Hough 
July 31 An infant of Moses Hall by Mr. Miner 
-Vov 20th An infant of C Samuel) Butler named Samuel 
Jan I 1804 An infant of Silas Rice named Ruth Curtis 
May 27 do do of Isaac Rice named Benjamin 

July 29th 1804 the children of Benjamin Merriam Junior & Noah Foster 
By Rev James Noyse namely Julia & Benamin Ely. Meriam & Levi. Eli. Mary, Oth- 
nie! & George Fauster. 

I-"aII a child of Aaron Johnson 
July 7 1805 do of Iva Curtiss named Erastus 
August nth If I mistake not. a child of John Yale 
Baptisms 1805 Octo 13th The Wife of John Yale 
1806 .August 3 A child of Isaac Rice Titus Andrews 
\ugust Eli Bams 

do Three children of Eli Barns by .Mr Smith 
N'ov 2 Two of Theophilus Hall 

Dl'.ATIIS. 

A Bill of Mortality or an acomnt of the Xiuui)er of Deaths in the parish of Meriden in 
Waliingford began to be taken IVb.i 1736-7. 

The number of Deaths from Deceml.r , ; .^..s : ,1k- tune I began t,. preach att Meriden 
tt 1 August :29 : 17.U : the time I came to Dwell at Meriden : (according to mv best Re- 
membrance :) ■ 



420 A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 

Isaac Royce & his Son ye wife of John Merriam Jun. & his child : 2 children of Theophi- 
lus Mix : One Thomas Prindle : the wife of Moses Yale & her child : a daughter of Thomas 
Yale : a child of Enos Curtiss Thomas Seward 2 Infants of SaniH Ives twins : a child of 
Divan Berry : the aged Widow Robberds : a child of Ebenezer Prindles : one of Israel Halls 
children 

mim : i8 

deaths from 1728- 1748 

The number of Deaths from Angst 29 : 1734 : till January i : 17367. 

Samll Ives and his wife : Sarg : Cap & his Infant : Josiah Royce : Lydia Yale : a daugh- 
ter of Capt' Meriam : a child of TheoP Mix : Ebenezer Prindles Daughter : a child of John 
Meriam Jun : a child of Moses Curtiss : a child of Joseph Hills Jun. 2 Children of John 
Hickox : a child of Willm Meria™ : 2 children of Thomas Foster : Aaron Lymans negro. 

Deaths Anno Domini 1737 : beginning JanV : i : 

Feb : 20 : a child of Benj : Ives : 

March : 3 : Died Moses Curtiss : 

May: 2 : Died Timothy Royce 

May : 14 : Died Phebe an Indian Woman In my House : 

May : 16 : Died Mary Infant of Zerubbabel Jearum 

Ma}- : 22 : Dyed Sarah Daughter of Ens : Whiting : 
the number 6 : 

Deaths Anno Domini 1738 : Begin : JanV : i : 

June : 28 : Died John ye Son of John Merriam Jun : 

Septem : 3 : Died Rachel Daughter of Lef Ezkel Royce 

Decem 30 of Thomas Foster : 

number : 3 : 

Deaths: A : D : 1739 : Begin : JanJ' : i^t ; 

Feb : 4 : Dyed Lois Nash Yales child 

Feb : 14 : Dyed John, Ebenezer Prindles child : 

May : 7 : Dyed my own son Theophilus Hall : 

July: 14 :Dyed John ye son of Sarg* Josiah Robinson 

Sept : 18 : Dyed Lydia Jedediah Nortons child 

Oct : ID : Dyed Kesiah Joseph Hills Juni" child : 

Nov : 15 : Dyed Theo : Mixs Negro man : 

Decem : 31 : Dyed Levi, John Ives child 
number : 8 : 

Deaths : Anno Domini 1740 : Begin Jan'-V : i^t ; 

A'larch : 31 : Dyed Susannah Sargt Will"i Merriams child 

May : 2 : Dyed Esther Abel Yales Wife 

May : 7 : Dyed Ebeni" Sanfords Negro Boy : 

May 12 Dyed Deborah Joseph Merriams child : 

June : 8 : Dyed Jonathan Joseph Cowls Jun child : 

June : 8 : Dyed Doc William Hough's wife : 

July : 7 :A son an infant of Robert Collins Jun : 

Nov: 2 : Mr Bartholomew Foster Died : 

Deaths : Anno : D :i74i. Begining Jan^y : ist; 

Jani" : 29 dyed Hannah Infant of Divan Berry : 

Feb : 7 : Dyed Rebecca Rich : 

May : 13 : ye aged Thos Beach 

May : 18 : dyed an Infant of Ebenr Sanford : 



EARLY HISTORY. 421 



Ma\- : 23 : Dyed a son an Infant of Abraham Hills 
Sept : 12 : Dyed Abigail Daughter of John Way : 
Sept : 17 : Dyed Joseph son of Joseph Cowls Jun^ : 
Decern : 9 : Dyed a son of Moses Yale : 
Decern : 10 : dyed ye wife of John Way : 
Decern 127 : an Indian child att Mr. Sanfords 

number 10 
Deatiis: A : D : 1742 begin Januiy : i : 
Jan : 2i : Dyed John : a twin of Thos. Bern . 
Feb : 4 : y^ wife of John Cole 
March : 11 : Sarah other twin of Tho^^ : Berry : 
March 29 : Doc Ebenezer Cooper 
May : 2 : Samuel a child of Ens : Whiting : 
Octo : 21 : Eunice Yale: 
Oct : 25 : Susannah Infant of John Merriain Jun'" 

Num : 7 : 
Deaths : A : D : 1743 : begin Janv : 1 : 
Sept : 23 : the wife of Tho Berry 
October : 15 : Lydia child of David Way : 
October : 19 : Sarah another child of David Wa>- : 
Nov : 25 : Dyed y^ wife of Timothy Andrews 

number : 4 : 
Death : A : D : 1744 : 

Feb : 20 : Phebe an Indian Child In my House : 
April :ii : an Infant of John Cole : 
Aug : 20 : Alexander Infant of Alx'l Douglas : 
Sept : 7 : the other twin of Alexander Douglas : 

num : 4 : 
Deaths : A : D : 1745 
Feb: 16 : Benjamin Hart 
Feb : 25 a negro child of Sargt Jerom 
June : 18 : Joseph ye son of John Ives : 
Aug : 4 : John Ives 
Aug : 30 : Robert Collins Sen'" 
Aug : 29 : Titus the son of Willm Andrews 
Sept ; 4 : Samuel son of Capt Royces att N. London 
10 : Levi a child of Sargt Benjamin Ives 
29 : Mary a child of Gideon Royce : 
Octo 28 : Mathew Infant son of John Way : 

num 9 
Deaths : A : D : 1746 : 
Feb : 9 : Samuel Ives 
: 14 : Phebe a child of Asa Yale 
March : 27 : Sarah daughter of Benjamin Curtiss 
April : 7 : An Infant child of Robert Collins : 
May : 2 : the wife of Gideon Royce : 
4 : a child of Curtiss 

10 : a child of Ebenezer Royce 
12 :a child of Moses Mitchel : 



^22 A CEiSfTURY OF MERIDEN. 

July : 20 : an Infant of Joseph Cowls Juni" 

Aug : 3 Primus Servant of Capt" Merriam : 

8 : My own son Elisha 

26 : the aged widow Andrews 

October : two negro twins of Lemuel Hough : 

Decern : 13 : a negro child of Lazarus Ives 

num : 15 : 
Deaths : 1747 : 

April : 7 : a child of Edward Collins 
May : 12th ; the wife of Abraham Hall 
Tune : 3 : the wife of Robert Collins 
July a negro child of Widow Ives 
Aug : 10 : a child of Abraham Hall 
18 : ve wife of Thomas Yale 
Octo ; 3 : Child of Noah Yale 
17 : ve wife of Ephraim Royce 

27 : Dan Baldwins negro man 

20 : London servant to John Webb : 
: 21 : Samuel Houghs negro woman 

num 12 
Deaths : 1748 
Feb : 9 : Widow Ives Negro woman 

28 : Sargt Jerom negro child 

March : 26 : ye wife of Ebenlezer Cowls 

April : 23 the wife of William Andrews : 

24 : a child of Ebenezer Cowls 

June : 2 : Robert Powel 

Deaths — 1748 

Sept : 6 : a child of Jehiel Baldwin 

8 : another child of Jehiel Baldwin : 

10 : a child of Ephraim Hough : 

1 1 : Moses Yale : 

21 : a child of Edward Collins : 

22 : ye wife of Jehiel Baldwin 
Octo : 9 : My daughter Mehitabel : 
15 : ye Widow Mindwel Royce 
Nov : 9 : ye wife of Aaron Lyman 

num : 16 : 
Deaths : 1749 : 

Jan : 15 : a child of James Corbett. 
22, : a child of John Couch 
May -.21 : a child of Asa Royce 
June : 22 : a child of Tim Andrews an Idiot : 
July : 26 : a child of Edward Collins : 
Aug : 9 : a child of Abel Yales 
Octo : 19 : Lois daughter of Benjan Curtiss : 
Decem : 12 : A child of Nathl Pentfield : a monster: 
24 a negro child of Nathtl Yale 

Num — 9 : 



KAKI.V 11>;< KV 



4-'3 



Ui-alhs: 1750 : 

Keh : 2} : Dyed Sargt Jim. Jeroni : 

April :3 :a child of Joseph Hills 

May : 13: Bristo negro of John .Xkrriain Jnn 

July : I : Theophihis Mix 

14: Gideon Royces negro man : 

Sept :6 rye wife of Henry Slanton : 

zb : Mr. Thomas Vale : 

October :8 :A child of Nehcniiah Manrow 

14 : David Way 

19 ; A child of Nehemiah Manrow : 
2L) A negro child of Amos Camp 
: Nov : 1(1 : A child of James Corbit : 

Nnm : II : 
Deaths : 1751 : Dyed 
Jan :5th :A child of Jacob Andrews 
: A Boy of Benjn Vales 
Feb : 10 : A child of James Curtiss 
13 : 2 Children of Ichabod Stark : 
24 : A negro child of Ebenezer Royce 
April 130 : the Wife of Mr. John Merriam 
May : 21 : John Merriam Jun'' negro child. 
Aug : 7 . Sargt Jos Merriams negro woman 
Q ; a child of James Cobon 
10 : the Wife of James Cobnrn : 
23 : old Mr. Camel 
31 : A child of Gideon Porter : 
Sept :6 : Henry .Stanton 
13 : A child of John 'S'ale Jnnr 
If : John Way 
lo:As!ibnrn Way. 
Sept : a child of Joseph Hill 
( >ctr. : 4 ; Left. William Merriam : 
f) ; a child of Jonathan Collins : 
Dcrcm 23 : John Front : 

d of Capt Robinson 

num : 22 : 
Deaths : 1752 : 

Feb :g : Ruth I,f»throp a girl att Capt- kolim^on^ 
N'arch : Mr James .Mlin. 
\pril , lo'b :a child of (iideon Royce : 
Dvaths : 1752 : June : 27 : David Hough. 
19 ; a child of Zadoc Doolittle : 
.Susannah Hough 
Aug • .-4 : Sargt Joseph Merriam 
Sept : 20 : N :S : an Infant «)f Janus Corbit 
Octo : 3 : a child of Zadok Doolittle : 

15 : the wife of Divan Berry : 
18 ; Kl>enezer Rovce 



424 - A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Num : II : 
Deaths : 1753 : 

l^eb : 2T, : ye Wife of William Merriam : 
April : 24 :a child of Joseph Curtiss : 
30 : Bethiah Daughter of Divan Berry : 
Iviay : 20 David Ives : 

Aug : 15 : My Daughter Hannah (?) at New London : 
18 : an infant of Ephraim Hough : 
Decern : Oliver of Widow Abigail Roys. 

Num : 7 : 
Deaths : 1754 : 
an infant of John Salter 
March : 30 : Widow Elizabeth Ives : 

Seme time in the Summer 2 children of W^arner : 

Oct : II : Mr. John Merriam 

14 : a child of Hez : Dickinson. 

15 : another of Hez : D'c inson 
30 : Benjn Curtiss : 

Nov : 5 : a child of Francis Wetmore : 
9 : James Hough : 
15 : Capt : Webb, Mother Merriam : 
Decem : 21 : Mary Tudrah or Tindrah? 

Num : 12 : 
Deaths : 1755 : 

March : 9 : a Boy of Ambrose Tuttle : 
April : 24 : the Wife of Eldad Curtiss : 
June : 2:My son Elisha : 
29 : a child of John Levinston : 
July : 17 : a child of John Berry : 
28 : a child of Asa Royce 
Aug : 31 : a child of Doct Hall 
Sept 21 : a child of Jos Andrews of Southington 
Nov : 12 : a child of John Couch : 
13 : another of Couchs child : 
Decem : 15 : a child of Widow Way 
: 19 : Stephen Mi.xes Wife 

Num : 12 : 
Deaths : 1756 : 

Jan : 11 : ye Wife of Timothy Andrews 
March : 29 : Moses a lad of James Scofel : 
April 5 : a child of Moses Mitchel : 
24 : A Child of Ichabod Stark : 
July : 8 : a child of Gideon Ives : 
18 : A child of Ichabod Stark 

Sept : II : a child of Titus Merriman 
13 : a child of Caleb Merriman : 
Octo : 4 : a child of Ephraim Royce : 
8: Joseph Thorpes wife 
9 : a child of Ephraim Royce : 



KAKI.V llISTtn<V. 4-5 



24 : A cliild 1)1 Klon Anilrcw? ; 
Nov : 2S : a child of Will : Hough 
Decern : i : a child of Jos : Curtiss : 
3 : ye wife of John Meriani : 
8 : Willm Andrews. 
: before : a cliild of Abner Curtiss 

Xtini : 17 : 
Deaths : i757 : 

Jan : I :a child of Ephraim Royce : 
J : a child of Jesse Merriani 
April : 3 : Wife of David Spenser : 
May : 14 : Deacon Sam^ Royce 
July : 24 :the wife of Dan'i Hall Jun'" 
Aug: 2 :a child of Ephraim Houj^ii 
Octo :4 : Aged Mr. Collins 
Nov :a infant of P>enj :Ri)>C(.' Jun'" 

Num : 8 
Deaths : 1758 : 

Jan : 17 : an Infant of Asa Bronson. 
20 : Decon Benjm Royce : 

Feb :3 :a Negro Girl of Josiah Robinson Jun"' 
19: the Wife of Enos Tuttle : 
June ;8 ; My Negro child Gin. 

29 : My Negro child Rose : 

Aug : II : a child of Charles Bailey 

Nov : 6 : an Infant Negro child of SaniH Hough 

after a Negro child of Left. Hough 

Decern ; 23 : an Infant of Ens : Hough 

N : 10 : 
Deaths : 1759 

Jan : 1 : Dyed an Infant of Divan Berry Jun'' 
March : 11 : the Wife of Decon Robe't Royce : 
19 ; a Negro child of Capt : Rol)inson : 

30 : Smith a stranger & a single woman 
April : 2 : Decon Robert Royce. 

.\f)<iut .\pril or May a child of Xoah N'ale 
July ; the aged Mr. Harris 
Sept : 21 : a child of Benamin Mcrriam 
Octo : 10 : a child of Abel .\ustins 

11 : another child of his 

12 ; iiis Wife 

Nov : 13 : an Infant of Ezra Royce 
Decern : 14 :a cliild of V.us. .\bner Curtiss 

N : 13 : 
Deaths: 1760 : Dyed 

July : 24 : an Infant of Ezra Royce just born : 
Sept : 13 : a Negro Child of Sam" Hough. 
17 : a Child of E/ra Royce 
Octo :8 :a child of J.ihn Hal! 



426 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Novem : 6 : two Infant twins of Thomas Foster : 
29: The aged Mr. Joseph Cowls 
Decern : 2 : Abraham Hall 

6 : Christopher Robinson 

7 : the aged Mrs. Berry. 

N : 10 : 
Deaths : 1761 : Dyed : 
Jan : i : Ephraim Berry 

30 : Gideon Royce 

31 : an Infant of John Griswold just born 
March : 13 : Rhode Ford 

June : 29 : a Child of Josiah Robinson Juni" 

July : 19 : Daniel Meky : 

20 : an Infant of Divan Berry Juni" 

Aug : 12 : the Widow Deborah Merriam 

Oct : 22 : Joseph Blanchard 

25 : an Infant child of Abner Curtiss Jun. 

N : 10 : 
Deaths 1762 Dyed 

Feb 4 a Negro Child of Left. Camp 
March : 7 : Alexander Douglass 
May : 8 : Joseph Dickinson 
25 : Silas Curtiss son of Left. Curtiss 
June : 6 : Mr Josiah Clark 
12 : a lad of John Hall being Scalded 
July : 2 : a child of Benjam Merriam, an Idiot : 
30 : Isaac Rice 

Sept : 14 : Ephraim Rice 

26 : an Infant Child of Thomas Berry Juni" 

Oct : 5 : the Wife of Joseph Cowls : 

to: Bartholomew Foster : 

Deaths 1762 : 

Oct : 14 : Rebecca Pentfield 

: a child of Noah Yales 

Nov : 30 : Barnabas a lad of NathH Yales 
Num : 15 : 

Deaths : 1763 : 

Dyed Jan : 28 : a Child of Timothy Foster Jun : 

Feb : 6 : Mr Pentfields Negro Man : 

April : 2 : Mr. Sam Houghs Negro Woman Zill : 

June : 8 : David Yale was found Dead having hanged himself as the Jury Supposed 

Sept: 9 :a Child of Allen Rice : 

Octo : 15 ; Capt ; Webbs Negro Woman Lille 

Nov : 22 : a Child of Phinehas Hall by falling on a pen knife : 

29 : a child of Enos Hall 

Decem : 18 : Aaron Curtiss 
Num : 9 : 

Deaths : 1764 : Dyed 

April : 6 : a Lad of Left. Eben. Cowls : 



EAKLV HISTORY. 4-7 

Ma\ :o ; Lois daughter of Ens Yale: 

29: an Infant of Abel Curtiss 

.Time ; 3 : a Negro Child of Doct. Hall 

13 : a Child of Benjamin Rice : 

July : 2 : a Child of Asa Barns 

6: the other twin of Asa Barns 

Aug : 2Ti : Abigail Daughter of Joseph Coles- 

Ni>v : 20 : Elizabeth Pentfield : 

N :9: 
Deaths: 1765 Dyed 

Jan : 30 an Infant of Thos Berry Jun'" 
May : 3 : a Child of Joseph Merriam by Swallowing a Ry Ear 

30 : Experience Tyler an old Maid : 

31 : the Wife of Jonathan Collins : 
July ; 2 :an Infant of Isaac Hall Jun'" 
Sept : 4 : Dec : Ezekiel Rice Esq : 

Num : 6: 

Deaths : 1766 : Dyed 

Feb : 4 : Phebe Daughter of Laz : Ives : 

March :2i :Joel a lad of SamU Jerom 

April : 2 : Capt Josiah Robinson : 

Nov : 10 : Mary Infant of Samll Whiting. 

Decern : 5 : Infant of Banjn Hough 
Num : 5 : 

Deaths: 1767 

(The following records of deaths are not the handwriting of Mr. Hall, probably some 
clerk's.) 

Revd liieophilus Hall died Mach 25, 1867 act f>otli an in y^ Sgtli year of his ministry. 

.\ child of Joesph Meriam 

Joseph Meriams wife 

a child of Benjn Meriam 

Capt Meriams wife. 

Deac" Sam'l Rices widow 

A child of Joseph Cole 

a child of Divan Berry Jun"" 

a child of Caleb Merriman 

a child of Eliphalet Horton (or Norton) 

Mrs Mehitabel Hall daughter of thi? Rcv'1 Theopjiihis Hall died Sept. 11 

The Widow Smith 
William Merriams child 

.\ child of Yale Bishop 

No. 14. 
I he whok' nimiber of deaths in ye proceeding Catalogue from Dccemr i 1728 to JanX 
T 17^18 

34R- 
J7f>8 — Dimon Berry 
The Wife of John Livingston 
July 25 Danll Hough 



428 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Deer The Widow Eaton 
12 Danil Hall 

The youngest child of Ephraim Rice 
1769 Elijah Scovils Child 
June Ailing Rice's Wife & Child 

Note. — The next record of deaths is that ot Rev. .John Hubbard's ministry, and is all that now 
remains of the records of this church. 

Novembe 25, 1783 Samuel Merrianis Child Benedictt died 

30 Nathaniel Douglass Child 

Thomas Berry died. 

December 3d Day died Capt. Divan Berry. 

Record of deaths, by Rev. John Willard. 

1786 July The Wife of Mr John Merriam 
July The Wife of Mr Samuel Johnson 
July The Wife of Esqi" Lyman 

Novr 18 The Rev<i Mr John Hubbard died aged 60. 

1787 Jany 13. One Jervis a transent person 
Jany 19 Miss Sally Meky aged 17 : 

March 25 a child of Mr Joel Yale aged a year & 10 months 

A Child of Mr. Samuel Balden 

Mar Mr. Halsey Rice 

July 26. The Wife of Mr. John Miles aged 60. 

Oc The Widow Douglass aged about 84 

Oc. A Negro child of Capt. Webb. 

Dec An Infant Child of David Foster. 

Deaths 1788 

Janry 4th. A Child of Chatham Freeman (Negroe) 

Jany 15. Oliver Son of Giles Collins aged 19: — 

Feby 15 Mrs Ives wife of Mr. John Ives aged 45 

Feby 22 Mr. Foster aged 88. 

Feby 24. Deacon Hough Esquire aged 52. 

March 27. Mr. James Scovil aged 88. 

April : Miss Polly Galpin. 

May I A Negro Child belonging to Jack & Bet. 

May : An Infant of Mr Jesse Merriman 

May : 27 : A Daughter in Law of the Widow Andrews. 

July 7th Capt Joseph Edwards in the 46th of his age 

IS An Infant of Mr. Jotham Hall 

August 5. Mr. Moses Hall aged 53. 

August. An Infant Negroe Child belonging to Jack 

Nov. The Wife of Mr. Amerton Yale 

Dec. An Infant of Mr Amerton Yale 

Dec. The Wife of Mr. Isaac Hall. 

1789 Jany II Miss Anna Guy 

Jany a child of Mr. Ephraim Hough. 

Feby A Child of Mr Benja Rexford Jr. 

March A child of Mr. Ezra Butler. 






EAKl.V HISTOKV. 4^9 

iHilths— 1789. 

May a Child of Mr. Daniel Baldin. 

— 15. A Daughter of Mr. Simion Perkins aged 16. 

Jul\ II. Mr. Ozias Foster 

July 16. The wife of Ezra Butler. 

August 13 An infant Cliild of Mr Samuel Hough being drowned in his Mill po"d. 

Sepf 30. Mr. Nash Yale Jr. 

Oc Mr. Anthony 40 

Nov. 19. an infant child nf Mr. Simeon Perkins. 

I7ix> March 6th the wife of Mr Jesse Merriam died 

March 21*^^ The Wife of Mr. Samuel Hall aged 45 

April 6 (or 5) a Child of Mr Samuel Rice aged 10 years 

April. An i"fant Child of Mr. Lamberton Clarke 

May Mrs Coverland. 

May an infant of Mr. wade 

June jt the wife of Mr. Beckwith : 

July The Widow Whiting aged 94. 

July The wife of Mr Matthew- Hough 

July 28 Samuel Langdon, Son of Rev<^ John Willard aged a year & ten months. 

Sept'" 27 A Son of Mr. Joel Rice aged 12 years. 

Nov 17 The wife of Capt. Joseph .Shalor. 

1791. 
Jan'y 20 a child of Mr Isaac .At water 
JanV 25 Mr Edmund Merriam aged 30 
Deaths — 1791- 

Feby an Infant of Mr. Wades. 
Ffby .\n Infant of Mr Abel Barns 
March an Infant of Mr. Berry 
March an Infant of Mr. Dewolf 
March Ji the Wife of Mr. Dewolf. 
March the Wife of Mr. Sanderson 
March 29 Mr .Samuel Hall aged 52. 
Apl 19 Mr. Oliver Hough aged 21 
May 12 the wife of Mr. Levi Curtiss 
June Mr. Eli hue Lawrence. 
July .A child of Mr. I'pson. 
July .An infant of Mr Barnabas Vale. 
August 12. Mr. Jesse Merriam aged 63. 
August 24 The Wife of Mr. Phineas Hough .Xe 67 
Sepir .Mr William Merriam aged b^,- 
Sepf .Mr. Hotchkiss in the army 
Oc. The widow Hall aged 74 
Oc 2H An i'lfant ofMr-.-Xbel Barns 
Novr An Infant of Mr. Joel Rice 
Ncvr The Widow Johnson aged 85. 

Nov. Goodrich was killed in the army 

Nov. Ge(»rge Hall in the army. 

Dec. 18. an infant of Mr. Jotham Hall. 



430 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

1792. 
Jan-V. The Widow Davenport 

Fe b.v. A transient person at Mr. Timothy Fosters. 
Feby. 9. A Child of Mr. Asahel Berry aged 3 years. 
Feby. Joseph Shalor 
March 2. An infant of David Foster. 
March 10. The Wife of Mr. Caleb Todd aged 24. 
March The wife of Benja Hall. 
April. The Widow Hall aged 93. 
June : an infant of Mr. Samuel Anthony. 
Sepf. The wife of Flijah Hall 
Octr an infant of Lt- Elisha Merriman. 
1796. Deaths — { j^^ ) 

March 25. a pair of twin Children of the Rev^ John Willard & Huldah his wife who 
died in the birth. 

April An infant of Mr. Hookers 

April The Wife of Thos Stone (or Stowe) 

May. The wife of Mr. Olds. 

June. An infant of Mr. Joseph Hall. 

July 15 Deacon Isaac Hubbard aged 44 

Aug. a Daughter of Mr. (Melorth?) Silby aged 3 years. 

Sept. An Infant of Mr. Fitch Ives. 

Sept. 12. a Daughter of Mr Giles Griswold aged 3 years. 

Septi' a Daughter of Mr. Giles Griswold aged 5 years 

Septr 29. A female Infant of Mr. Giles Griswold. 

Octi'i. The Wief of Mr. Dana Andrews aged 60. 

Ocf. 2. An Infant of Mr. Amos Foster. 

Oct!" Mr. John Miles aged 73. 

Nov'". An Infant of Fbenezer Baldin. 

Dec''. 27. Mr. Raynolds Beckwith aged 92. 

1797- 
Feby. A child of Mr. Sanderson aged 2 years. 
March. Hannah, a Child of Mr. Asahel Berry aged 14. 
March 31. The widow Berry aged 85- 
April 2. The wife of Levi Hough aged 22. 
April 14 A son of Mr. Brocket aged 14. 
April 30. The Widow Sarah Andrews aged 60. 
May 12 The wife of David Scovil. 
July : An Infant of Samuel Yale. 
July 16 The wife of Daniel Baldin aged 75. 
Deaths 1797. (26) 

August 6. Mr. Caleb Merriman aged 72 
Septr 2. Mr. Phineas Hough aged 84. 
August 13. ,\n infant of Mr. Moses Root. 
18. The wife of Noah Austin aged 77- 
Octr Mrs. Parmale aged 44. 
Nov. 2. Mr Abel Curtis aged 67. 



Note. — Part of the record of deaths is missing. 



EARI.V HISIOKV. 431 

.\.i\. <>. Mr. Moses Mitchel 74 

Nov. Mr. Abel Hawley 8_'. 

Nov. an Infant of Aaron Merriani. 

Nov. An Infant of Jairus Mi.x 

Dec'". Mr. Aniasa Rice aged 4X. 

28 TI1C wife of Nath' Merriani aged ()i 

1788. ( Error— should be 1798.) 

Jan> — A Child of Mr. Crane aged 4 years. 

Niarch 18. Mr. Elijah Scovil aged 23. 

March 31. .\ child of Mr. Joseph Merriani aged 3 years 

June 5. The wife of James Baldin aged 34- 

Sepf. An Infant of Mr Bishop 

Ocf. The wife of Mr. Xasli Vale age.l .S4. 

Nov''. Capt. Bezalel Ives aged ~2. 

I7'^^ 
March 2_*. .\n Infant of Mr. Sini])^ m 
.\pl. 2. Mrs. Simpson aged 34. 
Apl. 3. A Child of Mr. Joseph Twiss aged 8. 
May 6. Capt. Jolm Wehh aged ahni)>t gj. 
Deaths— 1799. 

May 8. .^n I'M'ant of Mr. Asah.el ^ale. 
May 10. .\n Infant of Mr. .Aaron Merriani 
May 18 An Infant of Fitch Ives— 
May 24 Miss Eleanor Payne aged 44. 
May .\n Infant of Fletcher Perkins. 
May 2^- The wife of Capt. Couch aged 73. 
July .V Daughter of Prindle Hall. 
August i3. An Infant of Mr. Silas Rice. 

.\ugust 14. An Infant of Mr. Taylor. 

.\ugust 24. Mr. Moses Tufts. 70 

Sepf. The wife of Mr. John Austin aged 93. 

Scpf. 20. .\ Child of N'thl Merriani Jr. aged about 2 years 

Sept'". 30 the wife of Mr. John Butler aged 21. 

Ocf t. The infant of Mr. John Butler 

Nov'" 2i. .Mr. Elisha Cowles aged 49 : 

Dec'" 7. Mrs. Lois Veamans aged y2- 

i8oo. 
Fehy 9 Mr Daniel I'.aldiii aged S(). 

March 5. The wife of Capt Cone formerly The Widow Einiice ^'.ile age<l 
.\pl 2t). An Infant of Mr. Daniel Twiss. 
May I. An Infant of Mr. Levi Foster 
July Deacon Cowles aged 82 
Ocf 13. William Curtis aged 18. 
Deer The Widow Sarah ^"ale aged 8). 
N'ov"" Mr. Farrington aged 53. 

1801. 
Jan.^ 31 The wife of .Marvel .\udrews &• their luf.iul. 

Deaths 1801 
r.l.v ,si \„ I,,, ••,,,, ,,,- I-^Inathan Ives Jr 



432 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Feby gth The wife of Mr. Leavet aged 80 

Feby. an Infant of Mr. Amos Cowles 

March. An Infant of Mr. Moses Root. 

March. The wife of Mr. Joseph Hall aged 29 

March 30th The wife of Mr. Silas Rice aged 25 : 

Apl Mr. Miles Hull died aged 32 

Ocf an Infant of Mr. Levi Foster. 

Noyi" 9. The wife of Mr. Stephen Talor. 

Novi' 15 Aaron Lyman Esquire aged 94 wanting four days. 

Novi" An Infant of Mr Thos Stow. 

Novi" An Infant of Mr. Asahel Rice. 

Novi" An Infant Child of Mr. Aaron Foster. 

1802. 
Jany 2. Mr. Edward Collins aged ninety 

Feby 7 An Infant of Mr. Othniel Ives, which died in the birth 
Feby 14. The wife of Mr. John Plymet aged 40- 
Feby. An Infant of Mr. Samuel Baldin Jr. 
March. A Child of Mr Joel Yale aged 4 years. 
March 30. Mr Nash Yale aged 88 2-4 years. 

Records by Rev. Erastus Ripley 
April A child of Aaron Merriam. 
Death — 1802. 

April. An infant of Mr. Adkins 
Do do of Mr. Noah Foster 
Do Miss Clarissa Anthony aged 17 
do An infant of Mr. Iva Curtiss 
May 7. Mr. Noah Austin 

do A Daughter of Mr. Andrew Hough aged 21. 
June 6. Jack a Negro aged about 46. 
19 A child of Benjamin Hall aged i year. 
July 2d The Wife of Isaac Hall aged 59 
June 29. Benjamin son to Isaac Rice aged 5 years. 
July iQ. Two infants of Benjamin Hall. 
15 Daniel Hall Junior aged 46 

August 13. The Wife of Samuel Whiting Esquire aged 58. 

Sept. 14. Died at Dea John Halls the Widdow Hall of Walingford aged about 70 years. 
15. A Daughter of Cornelius Hull aged i^/^ years. 
Widdow Elizabeth Hall aged 70 
Widdow Deborah Hull 

Dec™ 6th. Mabel Allen Deceased aged 22 years 

Dec"! 30*^ a Male Infant Deceased being a Twin Child of Dec" Natht Yale 
Octi- The Widow Deborah Hull Deceas^ 

Lois Daughter of Mr Andrew Hough Deceased the last summer 
Nov. II John Austin aged 98 years 
James Daughter of Andrew Hough deceased the last summer 



Deaths 1803. 



An infant of Deacon Yale. 
Jan. 19 do of Samuel Way. 



EARLY HISTORY. 433 



Feb. 15. Samuel Wliiting lisq. aged 60. 

17 Alma daughter of James Baldwin aged 17 years 

ji). Noah Vale aged 80 years 

March 3. An infant of .\mos Curtis 

lnl> 14 .Miss .^nner Rice aged 47 

1).. !5 A Son of Dean Nathaniel Yale aged 4- 

August 29 A child of John Hooker aged i year 

Septem. .\xe daughter of Amerton Yale aged 9 years. 

October 8tli The Widdow Mitchel. 

Do. g. Mr. Nathaniel Douglass. 

Do. 15 Captain Samuel Ives aged 52. 

.\ov. 2J. A child of Yale Hough aged 2 years. 

Do 2<i .\ child of Timothy hes Junior aged 2 weeks. 

Dec 29 Samuel Leavet aged i>/. 

16 in all. 
l-'el) 1804 -A child of Oliver Andrews. 
.\ child of liberty perkins 
Feb -Mrs. Peck widdow. 
March The wife of Phinehas Lyman 
May Mrs. Selbey 
TheopheUis Hall. 
August 18 Wife of Samuel Yale. 
Septenil)er a child of Mr. Conory. 
Nov. i^t 1804 Mr Phinehas Hall aged 90- 
March 1804 a child of James Bradley 

ID in all. 

1S03. 
I'eb 171'' Joseph Meriam aged 35. 
Do 18. the wife of Berry Lyman 22. 
.March (i"i The wife of Daniel Twist 50. 
.May 29. .\ child of Moses Barns 
.May or June .\ child of .Avery Hall. 
June gtli the Wife of .Avery Hall 28. 
I>1 a child of .Abijah Bradley. 
July litli or I2tli Nob .Squaw 60 or 70. 
August 2Sth a child of Mr. Simpson aged 15m. 
September 19H1 Widow .\nna Collins 67. 
Cornelius Hull about 35. 
Do loth a child of Yale hough. 
Octn igtli Old Mr- .\ustin aged 83. 
Dii a child of Mr Tibbels aged i da.\ 
Do 26 Daniel Hall aged 7H. 
Do 29. Howel Meriman about 3f) or ^,7 
Nov 29 Jotham Hall aged 2\ 
Dec I. .Abigal Mitchel age U). 
Dec 8 1805 a child of Mr. Spencer. 
Do 14. Mr. Joel Yale aged 47 
Do 2I1 Mr. Bracket aged 49. 
Do 24. Miss Levina Mitchel aged 20 

Total 23 



434 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

1806 Jan. 12. Joseph Cowls aged 96. 
Jan. 2ist An Infant of Mr Ellinds or Allins (?) 
Feb. 23. a child of Eli Barns 2. 
March 3. The Widdow Hubbard 70. 
Do 12th Miss Polly Mitchel 49 
Do 22 A child of DanielTwist 
Do 24 or 5. Widdow Webb aged 94. 
April 9 or 10 A child of Yale hough. 
Do nth Cap" Cooch aged 81 
April 28th Selden Meriam aged 22. 
May, Child of Levi Curtis aged 3 days. 
15 Patience Johnson 40 or 50 
20 A child of Widow right aged months. 
June 7th Widdow Barns aged 62. 
Do 15 Jeremiah Winscot aged 21. 
July ist 1806. Tabatha Rice aged about 19. 
Do 29th A child of the Old Widow Hull aged 5 
August a child of Patric Clark 
Octo 9th Mr Thomas Foster aged 70 
Do nth A child of Cap N Ives. 
Nov. I. a child of Mr. Gleason 
Dec. 19 Widow Lyman aged 90 
Dec 20 Captain Holt about 80 
Do 24 Titus Meriman aged about 80 
24 in all. 



PART II. 



(\ 



MHUIDKN IN THE CIVIL WAR. 



MERIDEN IN THE CTV^L WAR 

By Col. Charles L. L'pham 



The firing upon the flag at Fort 
Sumter caused intense excitement 
throughout the entire Xorth : patriotic 
men and many whose sympathies had 
been with the South at once deter- 
mined to supi)ort the government and 
to maintain at all hazartls the integrity 
of the Union. 

.Vpril 14th. i86i.the President called 
I'lr seventy-five thousand vokmteers 
to repossess the forts, places and 
propert) which had been seized, and 
'1 maintain the per]K'luity of ])opular 
.^'ivernment." 

< >n the iCith. Gov. Uuckingham 
ailed for volunteers to form one reg- 
;me!it of Infantry to serve three 
months. Meriden (juickly responded 
with a patriotism that did not falter 
during the entire four years of war. 

The Meriden Light Guards, Capt. 
Theodore P>yxbee. was the only mili- 
tar\ organization in Meriden. 'fhc 
MKjrning after the issue of the ri(jv- 
ernors proclamation and after a can- 
vass of its members. Capt. P>yxbee* 
drove to Hartford, reported to the .\d- 



jutant tieneral his company as ready — 
the first organization to respond to 
the call. 

April 19th. an immense war meeting 
was held in the Town Hall, presided 
(jver by the Hon. Charles Parker ; elo- 
([uent and patriotic speeches were 
made by O. H. Piatt, Dexter R. 
Wright. Rev. D. Henry Miller and G. 
H. Wilson. It was unanimously voted 
to instruct the selectmen to call a town 
meeting immediately for the purpose 
of api)ropriating five thousand dollars 
ti3 e(|ui]) the Meriden Light Guard. 
Mr. Parker announced his purpose to 
give each member a Colt's revolver. 

April 25th a town meeting was held, 
of which 1 Ji Ives was moderator. 'Tt 
was voted that the town of Meriden 
appropriate the sum of five thousand 
dollars for the ])ur])ose of defraying 
the expenses of clothing. aruLs. cash 
advances, and other outfit for the com- 
panv of volunteers from this town, 
lately nuistered into the service of the 
Um'ted States and for any other com- 
])anv of volunteers of Meriden which 



• At tlic Oorenior's rail fnr voliiiitefrs for oiif 
regiment for three year.s, a canva.ss wa.s made 
of the Light Guards, and as there was a general 
de-ilre to enlixt, I at once opened a recruiting 
ofl»<e and received more than enough application.'' 
ti» form a company. They organized at once and 
plerted me Captain. As there was no train for 
wome hours. I. accompanied by Richard H. Fos- 



ter, drove to Hartford and olTered my ciMnpany 
to the Adjutant General. Governor nuckliiKham 
wa.s at his home In Norwich. A telegram was 
sent him and hl.s reply was "accepted." There 
were pre'-eiit a number of gentlemen includ- 
ing General Hawley and Cilonel Burnhani. who 
gave three chc« rs for the Prst <'jmpany offered 
and a.cppled Thkouokk Uvxbkk.. 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



may hereafter be mustered into the 
same service ; also for the further pur- 
pose of supporting the famihes of the 
said volunteers now or hereafter to be 
mustered into said service from this 
town. Voted, That Isaac C. Lewis, 
John Parker, Humphrey Lyon and 
Moses Waterman be a committee to 
receive said appropriation and to ap- 
ply the same to the purposes and ob- 
jects intended." 

The military laws of this state were 
such that the Governor had no author- 
ity to order a regiment of militia be- 
yond the state ; the Light Guard, there- 
fore, was required to reorganize as a 
company of volunteers and was mus- 
tered into the state service April i8th, 
and assigned to the First Regiment 
Conn. Vols., as Company F ; was 
mustered into the L^nited States ser- 
vice April 22nd, i86i, and left for 
\\'ashington May lOth, with the fol- 
lowing roster : 

Captain — Theodore Byxbee, promoted 
Major. 

First Lieutenant — Geo. Wilson, pro- 
moted Captain. 

Second Lieutenant — Oliver S. Sanford, 
promoted First Lieutenant. 

Sergeants — David T. Lyon, promoted 
Second Lieutenant ; Richard H. Foster 
Hiram Botsford, Frank B. Wright. 

Corporals— Joseph H. Tole, Frank J. 
Carter, Benj. W. Warner, Seager S. At- 
vvell. 

Musicians — John Mackay, Thomas W. 
Crawford. 

Privates — Julius Adams, William J. 
Brooks, Edward T. Blodgett, Albert T. 
Booth, Thomas Burns, E. Lewis Bull, John 
C. Brooks, Augustus Campbell, Albert A. 
Carter, Daniel E. Comstock, Levi O. Curtis, 



Julius O. Deming, David E. Deming, 
Charles E. Everts, Horatio W. Everts, De- 
Witt C. Isbell, Daniel B. Johnson, Rendolp 
Kauert, Andrew W. Loomis, Frank B. Lax, 
Chas. C. Lee, Wm. O. Levaughn, Abram 
I\linor, Edward McCarty, Dennis O'Brien, 
Henry H. Pierce, Francis W. Parks, John 
S. Quinn, Charles Roberts, Alexander 
Rache, Elijah Eggleston, Jr., Henry A. 
Eggleston, George A. Ely, Roger M. Ford, 
Geo. W. Flint, Raphael Gilbert, Gottleib 
Grumdeo, Samuel W. Geer, Henry Grove, 
Alfred P. Green, Frank Hunt, Dwight H. 
Hall, Nathan B. Hoyt, Lauren Hall, John 
W. Hall, Henry Hall, Edward Hibbard, 
George K. Hyde, Newton A. Roberts, 
Henry Rich, William L. Seward, John 
Splaguer, George M. Stevens, Benjamin 
R. Sherman, Theron Scott, Edward H. 
Shumway, Milton Sagendorf, Geo. W. Tay- 
lor, Peter Talbot, Edward Tallmadge, Jo- 
seph S. Wright, Henry Warnock, John B. 
Willitt, Zopher C. Woodward, Enoch Wil- 
co.x, 2nd. 

A second company to serve three 
months was immediately formed, 
which went to rendezvous April 29th ; 
was assigned to the Third regiment as 
Rifle Co. B, and mustered into the 
L'nited States service May 14th, 1861, 
and left for Washington May 23rd, 
with the following roster: 

Captain — Jared R. Cook. 

F1R.ST Lieutenant — Frederick J. Peck. 

Second Lieutenant — Asa S. Cowdry. 

Sergeants— Charles L. L^pham, Solomon 
H. Woods, Wallace Bull, Isaac W. Cook. 

Corporals — Thomas A. Knight, Eliph't 
W. Bliss, R. Scott Cheney, Frederick Doo- 
little. 

Musicians — Thomas Moesley, George 
W. Farnham. 

Privates — John V. Adams, George N. 
Bailey, Emil Berger, Elbert A. Bell, John 
Barlow, Henry C. Burr, Julius Bassett, 



MEKIDKN IX THE Cl\ IL WAR 



larwcll Booker, Frank H. Bowen. John G. 
Barrows, George W. Clark, Andrew W. 
Cook, Sylvester J. Cook, Joseph Dainton, 
John K. Doolittle, Osborne F. Elwell, Wil- 
bur Fisk, William H. Fisher, John Finne- 
gan. William B. Greene, Albert P. Greene. 
Gilbert J. Goodyear, Benjamin Gould, 
Homer Hamilton, Warren Hall, George 
Hirschfeld,. Henry W. Hirschfeld, Benja- 
min L. Hough, James F. Lewis, Walter S. 
Lord, William G. Lewis, Chas. N. Lewis, 
Thomas J. Leeds, Addison Lanfear, Jacob 
McCall, Norris Matthews, William C. 
Maines, Benjamin C. Mallory, Michael Mee- 
han, George Mecorney, James Meachin, 
William C. Moroney, Giles J. Newton, 
Joseph H. Parker, Frederick Pfannekuchen. 
Zeno M. Redfield, John L. Richmond. 
James H. Riley. Edward Riker, Chas. 
Scrader, William H. Shaw, Chas. Sleeter. 
George A. Strong, William W. Thompson. 
Elnathan B. Tyler, Albert Von Esser, John 
If. Vorra, Thomas Warnock, Samuel C. 
Williams, George C. Williams, Isaac Wil- 
liams, Henry H. White. Joel W. Yale, John 
Va!o. Jr. 

These Meriden companies were in 
Keyes" Brigade, Tyler's Division, and 
were activel}' engaged at the Battle of 
lUill Run and acquitted themselves 
with credit. Colonel Keyes says, "The 
gallantry with which the Second ]\Iainc 
and Third Connecticut regiments 
charged up the hill upon the enemy's 
artillery and infantry was never in my 
opinion surpassed." 

(ieneral Tyler says: 'T saw the three 
Connecticut regiments with two thou- 
sand bayonets march under tlie guns 
of Fort Corcoran in good order, after 
having saved us, not only a large 
amount of puhlic i)ro])crty. hut the 
mortification of having our standing 
camps fall into the hands of the 



enemy. I hope, General, that you 
will appreciate this service on the part 
of a i)ortion of my division, and give 
credit to whom credit is due." 

Upon the return of these two com- 
panies at the expiration of their term 
of enlistment, the citizens of JMeriden, 
to show the appreciation of their ser- 
vices, gave them on August 20th, a 
grand parade and ball. 

From an early hour in the day, 
friends and strangers continued to ar- 
rive from the surrounding towns, 
some in cars, many on horseback and 
in wagons, and hundreds on foot, until 
two o'clock, when the procession was 
formed, himdreds of non-residents 
were present. The procession was 
formed at the Town Hall, the military 
under command of Major Byxbee, and 
the civic under direction of Joel H. 
Guy. Esq.. marshal of the day, with 
nineteen aides. The military parad- 
ing were the Trumbull (.iuard, Capt. 
D. R. Wright, the two companies of 
returned volunteers ; a company en- 
listed for the Seventh Regiment. Capt. 
(). S. Sanford. and the \'eteran Guard, 
of Aleriden. the renmant of an ancient 
c()r])s called the Meriden Greys. Capt. 
Alfred P. Curtis ; following these was 
the civic procession on foot, on horse- 
l)ack and in carriages. The march 
about town was a splendid ovation. 
After a circuitous route the prf)ces- 
sion arri\ed al the Town llall. At 
four o'clock there was a dinner in the 
hall at which hundreds were present. 
After liunger was satisfied. Judge 
James .s. Unxiks called the assembly 
to order, when Capt. Wright inaugu- 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



rated the speaking with a patriotic ad- 
dress. Speeches were made by Cap- 
tain Cook, Elder Swan and Father 
AValsh of the Roman Catholic church. 
In the evening there was a ball, at 
which the first men of the town were 
active participants and the ladies were 
out in full force. 

THE THREE YEARS MEN. 
Company C, /TH Regiment. 

In the summer of 1861 a company 
was raised which was assigned to the 
7th Regiment as Co. C. This regi- 
ment left the state for Washington 
September i8th, was in the expedi- 
tion to Port Royal and was the first 
to land, and their flags were the first 
on the soil of South Carolina. These 
Meriden men with their regiment have 
a brilliant record and well entitled to 
their reputation as a fighting regiment. 
They saw service in Georgia, South 
Carolina, Virginia and were at the 
taking of Fort Fisher, North Caro- 
lina. 

ROSTER. 

Captain — Oliver S. Sanforcl, promoted 
Major. 

First Lieutenant — Ossian L. Hatch. 

Second Lieutenant — Seager S. Atwell, 
promoted Colonel. 

Sergeants — John J. Hutchinson, pro- 
moted First Lieutenant; E. Lewis Bull, pro- 
moted Adjutant; Edward J. Merriam, pro- 
moted Second Lieutenant, died of wounds ; 
Raphael Gilbert, promoted Second Lieuten- 
ant; Henry H. Pierce, promoted Second 
Lieutenant. 

Corporals — Alfred P. Green, 2nd, Augus- 
tus Campbell, promoted Sergeant; Ira B. 
Smith, promoted Captain; Isaac N. Wester- 



veldt, promoted Second Lieutenant, First 
Artillery ; Chas. E. Hamilton, Hobart H. 
Smith, promoted Sergeant; William C. Cut- 
ler, Dennis O'Brien, promoted First Lieu- 
tenant. 

Musicians — Wm. S. Edgerton, ist, Wm. 
S. Edgerton, 2nd. 

Wagoner — Silas Davis. 

Privates — Wm. H. Augur, promoted 
Quartermaster; George W. Andrus, killed 
in action ; Henry Avery, died ; Wm. F. 
Ackerman, died ; William E. Augur, pro 
moted Corporal ; James W. Belden, died 
of wounds; Isaiah L. Baker, wounded; Ed- 
win H. Butler, wounded ; George Blake, 
died ; George Burrows, died ; Osmond 
Bronson, wounded; Levi Barnes, died; 
Bernard G. Bassett, Waiter Bartholomew, 
John H. Bario, promoted Corporal ; Eli 
Bouchi, Watson Curtiss, Edward E. Cran- 
dell, Ralph P. Childs, Henry Deangelist, 
died ; William H. Davis, John Donahan, 
Watson W. Davis, promoted Corporal, 
died ; Isaac Dorman, William H. Evans, 
Chas. H. Fuller, Daniel Goodspeed, Alex- 
ander Goodspeed, George B. Garritt, pro- 
moted Corporal ; Anson S. Goodenough, 
promoted Corporal ; John W. Galligher, 
promoted Corporal, wounded ; Burton W. 
Goodenough, Chas. Holmes, William L. 
Hill, John W. Hall, Jasper Hale, Edwin 
Hibbard, promoted Sergeant ; Charles H. 
Howe, Edwin Illsbury, Dewitt C. Isbeil, 
John R. Jackson, Joshua Jones, died of 
wounds; Daniel B. Johnson, promoted 
Sergeant; James Kewell, wounded; Henry 
Longden, Dexter M. Latham, John A. 
Lego, died; Chas. P. Lewis, killed in ac- 
tion ; John A. Leeds, promoted Sergeant, 
wounded ; Chas. McWhinney, died in Flor- 
ence, S. C. ; James A. Miller, killed in ac- 
tion ; Abraham Minor, killed in action ; El- 
kanah Morse, John H. Munson, Thomas 
McCormick, Henry Marshall, deserted ; 
Jesse W. Perkins, George B. Paddock, 
wounded ; Horace G. Painter, wounded, 
died in .^ndersonville; Edward F. Petti- 
bone, Chauncey W. Roberts, died in Flor- 
ence, S. C. ; John Richards, Justin Redfield, 



MERIDEX IN THE CIVIL WAR. 



Derrick A. Roberts, wounded ; Samuel N. 
Sperry, Samuel L. Spencer, Edward Smith, 
George E. Sellew, Henry Slater, wounded ; 
James Thrall, Rollin Tenant, wounded ; 
Gilbert Talmadge, Robert Thompson, 
wounded ; Alexander H. Ventrus, Chas. F. 
Waterman, died; Francis Williams, Thos. 
V. Wells, Norman S. Wood, promoted Ser- 
geant ; Edward Westerhood, killed in ac- 
tion; William A. W^edmore, William War- 
ner, died in Andersonville ; Horace W. 
Wright, Charles W. Yale, promoted Cor- 
poral, wounded. 

Joined as Recruits — Julius Augur, John 
Byxbce, died ; Henry A. Edgerton, acci- 
dentally killed; William Frazier, John B. 
Flint. Walter H. Merriam, wounded ; 
Nathaniel B. Rogers, musician ; William 
Scofield, died. 

CoMP.WY K, 8th Regiment. 

This company was recruited late in 
the stimmer of 1861 and was assigned 
to the 8th Regiment as Co. K. It 
left the state October 17th for Annap- 
olis, ]\ld., and was a part of the Btirn- 
side Expedition. From North Caro- 
lina the regiment was sent to reinforce 
the Army of the Potomac when Lee 
invaded Maryland, and at the battle 
of Antietam was conspicuous for hav- 
ing advanced the farthest of any of 
our forces on their part of the field. 
Their losses exceeded fifty per cent. 
Near Petersburg and at the assault 
and capture of Fort Harrison it added 
to its reputation. Company K was 
composed of men of excellent char- 
acter, and among those who carried 
rifles were two clergymen. The 
company was noted in the regiment 
from the numlicr of enlisted men (six- 
teen) who received commissions dur- 
ing its term of service. 



ROSTER. 

Captain — Charles L. Upham, promoted 
Colonel 15th, wounded. 

FiR.ST Lieutenant — Noah P. Ives, pro- 
moted Captain and Assistant Quartermas- 
ter. 

Second Lieutenant — Roger i\L Ford, 
promoted Captain, wounded. 

Sergeants — Wm. H. Johnson, promoted 
Second Lieutenant, died ; John H. Vorra, 
promoted Second Lieutenant, wounded ; 
Levi C. Bingham, promoted First Lieuten- 
ant, died of wounds; Milo J. Goodrich, pro- 
moted Second Lieutenant; Frank J. Car- 
ter, wounded. 

Corporals — Geo. M. Stevens, promoted 
Second Lieutenant; Sam H. Foster, Wm. 
G. Lewis, killed in action; Isaac Williams, 
Edmund A. Parker, promoted Second 
Lieutenant ; Albert T. Booth, promoted 
First Lieutenant, wounded; John H. Si- 
monds, killed in action; Alpheus Starkey. 
Musicians — Geo. W. Farnham, promoted 
First Lieutenant; Edwin F. Strong. 
Wagoner — Warren Hall. 
Privates — Francis L. Albee, Levi Allen, 
Chas. W. Allen, died of wounds ; Lewis 
Allen, wounded three times ; Lyman D, 
Allen, wounded ; Bartholomew Bailey, Gor- 
don P. Bailey, Leonard Bailey, Isaac C. 
Bartholomew, Heber L. Bassett, Charles 
H. Bassett, Wallace W. Bates, died; Ben- 
jamin H. Beebe, Edward G. Billett, 
wounded; Elijah W. Bingham, Seth D. 
Bingham, Hiram A. Blakeslee, wounded ; 
Henry C. Burr, wounded ; George Camsell, 
wounded ; Kelsey D. Clark, Morris C. 
Clark, Wallace T. Cloud, promoted First 
Lieutenant ; John D. Comstock, died ; 
Lucius J. Cook, Charles H. Dagle, Geo. V. 
Dagle, killed in action ; Chas. S. Dickin- 
son, Charles Dixon, promoted Chaplain 
Sixteenth; John K. Dooiittio, died of 
wounds: William E. Dudley, i)romote(l 
Corporal, wounded : Jacob Eaton, promoted 
First Lieutenant; Osborn F. Elwell, Lem- 
uel 1*>. Fvarts, Barney I-'itz Harris, pro- 
moted Corporal; Chas. P. Fairbanks, 



8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Henry Finken, killed in action; Albert H. 
Forbes, Elam T. Goodrich, promoted Cap- 
tain; George C. Gear, John B. Gear, Fran- 
cis W. Gray, Patrick J. Gibney, Albert P. 
Green, Robert D. Greenfield, Alfred F. 
Griswold, died at Salisbury, N. C. ; Wil- 
liam Hagadon, Timothy E. Hawley, 
Thomas J. Huffstidler, Heber S. Ives, pro- 
moted Second Lieutenant Fifteenth; Na- 
thaniel C. Jonas, Henry W. L. Keach, died ; 
George W. Lane, Chas. H. Lewis, promoted 
Corporal, died of wounds; Benjamin C. 
Mallory, Luther R. Matthews, promoted 
Corporal; John L. Merriam, promoted Cap- 
tain; Augustus W. Morse, wounded two 
times; Frank H. Parker, Frederick H. Par- 
ker, promoted Sergeant ; Henry G. Parker, 
wounded two times ; John A. Parker, 
Henry H. Parsons, promoted Corporal ; 
Warren M. Parsons, promoted Corporal ; 
Edward E. Pelton, wounded; John A. 
Phelps, Daniel R. Pruden, Alonzo L Rich- 
ards, killed in action; Willis B. Richmond, 
killed in action; Newton A. Roberts, Jo- 
seph A. Root, wounded; Stephen M. Rus- 
sell, Siaicon Santa, Emerson R. Stevens, 
Ellis M. Stevens, wounded; Oscar A. 
Sweetland, wounded ; Elihu Talmadge, 
drowned ; Myron E. Terrill, Leonard K. 
Warren, Joseph H. Walker, died of 
wounds ; Ambrose P. Watrous, Joseph G. 
Witham, promoted Sergeant ; George S. 
Wilcox, wounded ; Ogilvie Wright, died. 

Joined as Recruits — Sylvanus Brenton, 
wounded ; Hiram Botsford, Henry E. Da- 
vis, Augustus Fry, wounded; William H. 
Fisher, Alvin C. Green, Wilbur F. Hart, 
Sylvester Lane, MoSes Lousell, William M. 
Pratt, promoted Lieutenant Colonel ; Wil- 
bur Range, Edwin E. Westover, died ; 
Francis Wallace. 

Company B, qth Regiment. 
This company, composed of Irish 
citizens, was organized in September, 
i86r, and assigned to the 9th Regi- 
ment as Co. B. It left the state No- 
vember 4th for Lowell, Mass., and 



from there for Ship Island, Missis- 
sippi Sound. It served with credit in 
the Department of the Gulf until 1864 
when, after a veteran furlough, it was 
sent to Bermuda Hundred, and in Au- 
gust, 1864, to Sheridan's army in the 
Shenandoah Valley and took active 
part in the battle of Cedar Creek ; 
later, it was for a time at Savanaah, 
Ga., and was mustered out August 
3rd, 1865. Though not entirely, its 
membership was largely from Meri- 
den. 

ROSTER OF MERIDEN MEN. 

Captain — Patrick Garvey. 

Sergeant — John Duffey. 

Corporals — Michael Reynolds, James 
Butler, Malachi Hackett, Edward Riley, 
James Morrissey. 

Musician — Patrick Cain, died. 

Privates — Andrew Anderson, Patrick 
Bohen, Jr., John Burke, Patrick Burke, 
wounded ; Andrew Carlin, died ; John Car- 
roll, John Cassidy, James Crevy, James 
Donohue, died ; James Doran, died ; Thos. 
Farrell, John Ferris, died ; John Frawley, 
Patrick Green, died ; Joseph Harrington, 
died ; Thomas Harvey, died ; John Hazlett, 
Michael Hughes, Patrick Hughes, James 
Kelley, John L. McKay, deserted; Michael 
Magee, died; Michael Molloy, died; 
Thomas McCormick, John Murphy, Luke 
Quinn, died ; Edward Rhatizan, promoted 
Corporal ; Thomas Roach, Daniel Ryan, 
Thomas Waldron, died. 

Joined as Recruits — Patrick Craig, Wil- 
liam Casheen, Joseph Cassidy, Co. F ; John 
C. Coogan, not assigned; James Morrissey, 
Frank McGee, Co. D. 

Companies A and F, 15TH Rkgiment 
Two companies were organized 
during the month of August, 1862, 
and were assigned to the Fifteenth 
"Lyon" regiment as Companies A and 



ft I 



MERIDEX IX THE CI\IL NN'AK 



1-". While in camp August 25th on be- 
luill of the ladies of Aleriden, who 
were represented by ^Misses Helen 
I'.rudley and Mary Brooks, Hon. O. 
H. Piatt presented them with a beau- 
tiful silk flag with a most eloquent ad- 
dress. Col. W'right, in behalf of the 
regiment, made a feeling and patriotic 
response. Afterwards, Col. Wright 
was presented with a noble black stal- 
lion, the gift of his personal friends. 
Hon. Charles Parker presented the 
horse in behalf of the donors. Col. 
Wright responded and closed his re- 
marks, saying "I make no pledges in 
return, of what I shall do. I simply 
say. I mean to do my duty, and I 
pray God will give me courage and 
nerve to do that duty well." 

The regiment left for Washington 
.Vugust 28th and was stationed for a 
time at Long Bridge, Va. It partici- 
]>ated in the battle of Fredericksburg, 
the Siege of Suffolk, Va.. by Long- 
street, and in minor affairs in North 
Carolina. It was the provost guard at 
Xew Berne, N. C. at the time of the 
great e])idemic of yellow fever in 
1864 and many died of that disease. 
In the actions before Kingston, ]\Iarch 
8th to iith. 1865. it suft"ered severe 
loss and a considerable part of the reg- 
iment were taken prisoners. 

The regiment was mustered out at 
New Berne, N. C, June 27th, and ar- 
rived at New Haven July 4th, 1865. 

KOSTRR 01" M1:RII)E\ MEN. 
Colonel — De.xter R. Wright, resigned. 
Chaplain — D. Henry Miller, resigned. 
Sergeant-Major — Julius B. Bissell, pro- 
moted First TJeutenant. 



Commissary Sergeant — Elisha S. Cur- 
tis. 

Company A. 

Captaix — Julius Bassett, killed in action. 

EiRST Lieutenant — Marshall C. Augur, 
died. 

Second Lieutenant — George C. Mer- 
riam, promoted Captain 8th. 

Sergeants — Philip C. Rand, promoted 
Eirst Lieutenant and Adjutant; Gilbert L 
Goodyear, Joseph Dainton, John B. Willett, 
promoted Captain 14th U. S. C. L ; Geo. 
W. Elint. 

Corporals — Geo. N. Bailey, killed in ac- 
tion; Levi B. Curtis, promoted Sergeant; 
Geo. W. Allen, promoted Captain 29th ; 
Thomas J. Symonds, Geo. Harwood, died 
in Andersonville; Wm. H. Catlin, Benj. R. 
Sherman, died ; Tiomthy C. Root. 

Musicians — Otis S. Kelsey, Norris S. 
Burnett. 

Wagoner — George W. Quinn. 

Privates — William H. Allen, Eugene At- 
wood, Michael Augur, Julius Augur, John 
P. Butler, Lyman P. Butler, Chas. H. Bart- 
lett, Thomas Brooks, died ; Chas. F. Beck- 
ley, Daniel J. Clark, Albert Clark, Freder- 
ick H. Carter, Richard Crosby, Henry H. 
Church, John Dainton, Thomas H. Day, 
deserted ; Albert Dickinson, James W. 
Derby, promoted Corporal ; Nathan Dar- 
ling, promoted Corporal ; James S. Ely, 
died ; James O. Eisk, Frederick Foley, Hor- 
ace F. Farnsworth, Alfred T. Finch, pro- 
moted Corporal ; James M. Ford, died, 
Florence, S. C. ; John Ferns, Franklin F. 
Field, promoted Corporal; Wilbur C. Fow- 
ler, Nathan G. Fenner, Delison B. Foote, 
David Grobel, Charles F. Green, wounded; 
John n. Griswold. James Greenland, 
wounded : I'"redcrick M. Huntington, pro- 
moted Sergeant: Mortimer Hamblin. Theo- 
dore Hayden. William Hughes, Franklin 
Harrison, .\ndrew B. Hitchcock, died; 
James H. Howard, Albert S. Hotchkiss, 
Bunting Johnson, George F. Johnson, 
Charles .\. Justin, John Keefe, Mark Kil- 
l)ride, died: Frank K. Little, promoted 
First Lieutenant. 107 I". S. C. L : Jefterson 



10 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Lawrence, Oscar E. Larkin, promoted Ser- 
geant; Stephen M. Millard, Eckford I. 
Morse, John Maltby, Felix McCabe, 
wounded; Owen Macxay, Robert M. Mur- 
dock, George L. Miner, William E. Old- 
ham, John W. Oughton, Aaron J. Pratt, 
promoted Corporal, died; James B. Parker, 
wounded, died ; Joseph J. Quinn, John S. 
Quinn, Joshua B. Rice, Andrew J. Rum- 
mell. Robert Robinson, Henry W. Rich- 
mond, Reuben Root, Willis Redfield, died ; 
J. George L. Roberts, died ; James E. Stev- 
ens, Laban A. Smith, appointed Hospital 
Steward ; Julius Shepard, Frank P. Tal- 
madge, died; Madison A. Treat, James C. 
Welch, Henry Warnock, wounded ; Ed- 
mund P. Welch, wounded; Elbridge 
Wright, promoted Corporal, wounded ; 
Samuel Whittlesey, promoted Corporal ; 
Henry B. Wood. Michael York. 

Recruits for Co. A — Theodore T. But- 
ler, Frederick Brant, Thomas B. Hawkins, 
Lewis Lawrence, Frederick E. Quinn, Ed- 
ward J. Steele. 

Company F. 

Captain — Allen W. Harvey, resigned. 

First Lieutenant — Reuben Waterman, 
promoted Captain. 

Second Lieutenant — Wm. W. Thomp- 
son, promoted First Lieutenant, died. 

Sergeants — Henry B. Levi, promoted 
Second Lieutenant, died ; Lyman H. Hall, 
John Guinang, Charles F. Harwood, pro- 
moted Second Lieutenant; William H. 
Snow. 

Corporals — Theron Scott, Chas. C. WHiit- 
ney, promoted Sergeant; Henry H. 
Wright, promoted Sergeant ; Henry J. 
Church, David E. Dunham, Hezekiah W. 
Hale, Frederick Doolittle, Frederick A. 
Higby. 

Musicians — Jonas P. Curtis, John R. 
Sabins. 

Wagoner — Alvin Kenney, died. 

Privates — William A. Atwood, Henry B. 
Andrews, Henry G. Atkins, Geo. W. Aver- 
ist. Francis P. Baker, promoted Corporal, 
killed ; James R. Baker, died ; Patrick 



Bowen, Theodore F. Bailey, Oscar M. Bai- 
ley, died; Hubbard C. Barrell, Samuel L 
Bartholomew, James O'Brien, Noah E. 
Baldwin, Phineas P. Bradley, Lyman A.- 
Beach, died; Jacob W. Brown, Henry B. 
Blakeslee, James Cunningham, Alvah J. 
Cook, died; Asa S. Cowdry, deserted; 
Lucius W. Curtis, promoted Corporal ; 
John Camel, Philip E. Chapin, promoted 
Second Lieutenant, 2nd Artillery; Clarence 
Carpenter, Franklin S. Carpenter, died ; 
Edward C. Carpenter, Daniel Copper- 
thwait, Geo. Couch, Daniel Crowley, died; 
Abraham Dunn, deserted; Patrick Duffy,. 
John N. Davis, died ; John Finnegan, . 
Michael Fitzpatrick, William Ferry, Wil- 
liam F. Fay, Cord Finken, Jesse W. Gris- 
wold, Robert D. Greenfield, Alonzo H. 
Gallup, Sylvanus A. Hull, died ; Andrew 
Hazlitt, Levi Hotchkiss, John A. Harvey,, 
promoted Corporal ; James Judge, Edwin 

A. Kenney, promoted Sergeant ; Asa Kirt- 
land, George H. Lewis, died ; Handford 

B. Lindley, promoted Corporal, Leverett 
Lindley, Chas. F. Lindsley, promoted: 
Quartermaster Sergeant; William H. Min- 
chin, promoted Corporal; James B. Marvin,. 
William McGlynn, John O. Marvel, John 
Neace, Giles L Newton, Elisha M. Pom- 
eroy, Jr., promoted Corporal ; Thomas Pil- - 
lion, Henry Pearson, William W. Pinks, . 
Edwin C. Pinks, Henry D. Pardew, pro- 
moted Corporal; Patrick Reynolds, Benja- 
min F. Ross, Patrick Roby, Stephen G. 
Rockwell, Joseph Rancorn, died ; Samuel ' 
G. Simpson, Washington Smith, James ■ 
Smith, deserted; William R. Sheppard, 
Heinrick E. C. Tittel. Wm. A. Tomp'cins, . 
Charles H. Taylor, George C. Williams, 
James H. Williams, Selden C. Williams, . 
Hubert F. Wightman. Robert F. Webster, 
Noah J. Welton, Chauncey P. Welton, . 
Benj. W. Warner, Emerson J. Wolcott. 

Recruits for Co. F — Frederick A. Byxby, . 
James C. Butler, Frederick W. Beach, Eu- 
gene E. Bridgeman, Daniel W. Easton, 
John Ford, died; Wm. G. Gallager, Alois- 
Loeffler, Elliot L^pson. James T. Carter,. 
Edwin C. Clark, William J. Fergurson. . 



MKRIDliX IN THE CIVIL WAR. 



II 



■'rank O. Gladwin, Joseph Grant, Harlow 
i. Isbcll. Reuben W. Lowell, Wallace A. 
lilies, Chas. A. S3-monds, Henry Sedg- 
iick. Edward J. Steele. 

LOMPAXY G, 27TH Regiment. 

This company was enlisted for nine 
nonths and assigned to the 27th Reg- 
ment as Company G. It was only 
)artly composed of Meriden men. 
rhey were mustered into the United 
states service October 22nd, 1862, and 
eft for Washington, being assigned to 
he Army of the Potomac. 

They were actively engaged at the 
•attles of Fredericksburg, Chancel- 
:irsville and Gettysburg. They were 
mistered out of service July 27th, 
863. on expiration of their term of 
ervice. 

ROSTER OE MERIDEN MEN. 

Major — Theodore Byxbee. 

Second Lieutenant — Frank B. Wright. 

Commissary Sergeant — John H. Stead- 
lan. 

Sergeants— George W. Taylor. 

Corporals — Wm. H. Stannis, wounded; 
"••Ilins Upson, Albert J. Puffer, George 
.. Seymour, Gilbert Upson. 

Musician— Thomas W. Crawford. 

Wagoner — James M. Warner, 

lERIDEN MEN IN OTHER ORGANI- 
ZATIONS, OMITTING SUBSTI- 
TUTES WHO DESERTED. 

tkir.son. Johnson, Private, Co. C, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 

tkinson, Johnson, Private, Co. C, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 

tkins, William, Private, Co. C, ist Conn. 

.■\rtillery. 

chler, Peter, ist, Private, Co. E, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 



Aichler, Peter, 2nd, Corporal, Co. E, ist 

Conn. Artillerj'. 
Aichler, John M., Corporal, Co. E, ist 

Conn. Artiller}-. 
Adams, Arthur, Private, Co. I, ist Conn, 

Artillery. 
Anderson, Andrew, Private, Co. K, 14th 

Conn., Infantry, died in Andersonville. 
Allen, George W., Captain, Co. E, 29th,. 

Conn. Infantry. 
Atkinson, John D., Private, Co. D, 5th 

Conn. Infantry, deserted. 
Baldwin, Truman, Private, Co. B, ist 

Conn. Cavalry, captured, died. 
Bates, Robert H., Private, Co. F, ist Conn. 

Cavalry. 
Bradley, Elisha K., Private, Co. K, ist 

Conn. Cavalry. 
Butler, Henry W., Private, Co. A, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Beebe, Newell S., Corporal, Co. A, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Birge, Lewis, Private, Co. I, ist Conn. Ar- 
tillery. 
Bullus, Thomas, Corporal, Co. D, 2nd 

Conn. Artillery. 
Button, Lucien, Private, Co. K, 2nd Conn. 

Artillery, killed in action. 
Bond, Patrick S., Private, Co. F, 5th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Becker Henry, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Bauer, Conrad, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded. 
Behm, August, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Berkcr, Conrad, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded. 
Belden, Marshall, Private, Co. A, 7th Conn. 

Infantry, killed in action. 
Brooks, William P., Private, Co. F, 7th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Barrett, John, Private, Co. C, 8th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Barnard. Theodore C, Private, Co. I. 8iii 

Conn. Infantry. 
Bates, John, Corporal, Co. E, loth Conn. 

Infantrv. 



12 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Baker, Arthur A., Private, Co. F, nth 

Conn. Infantr\', died. 
Brooks, John C, Private, Co. C, 12th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Butler, Joseph, Private, Co. H, 14th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Brown, Samuel R., Private, Co. E, 29th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Brinsmaid, Willis, Private, Co. F, 29th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Bullock, George E., Harland's Brigade 

Band. 
Benham, Henry W., Brevet-Major, General 

U. S. Army. 
Brooks, William P., Private, Co. A, loth 

U. S. Infantry. 
Butler, John F., Landsman, U. S. Navy. 
Bristol, George, Private, Co A, 31st Mass. 

Infantry. 
Bond," Patrick, Private, Co. F, ist Conn. 

Artillery, deserted. 
Barnard, George I., Private, Co. I, 8th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Burns, Thomas, Private, Co. C, i3tli Conn. 

Infantry, killed in action. 
Chapman, John, Quartermaster Sergeant, 

1st Conn. Light Battery. 
Cochran, William H., Private, Co. E, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Grossman, Edward O., Private, Co. E, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Catlin. Horace S., Private, Co. H, ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Cahill, John, Private, Co. I, ist Conn Ar- 
tillery, deserted. 
Cassidy, William, Pri\-ate, Co. K, ist Conn. 

Artillery, died. 
Caraher, James, Private, Co. K. ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Clark, Kelsey D, Private, Co. D, 2nd Conn. 

Artillery, wounded, deserted. 
Cragie, Patrick, Private, Co. F, 5th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Canary, Michael, Private, Co. G, 5th Conn. 

Infantry, deserted. 
Catlin, Chas. D., Private, Co. I, 5th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Collins, Edward F., Private, Co. F, 6th 

Conn. Infantrv, died of wounds. 



Clark, Russell N., Wagoner, Co. B, 7th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Cook, James, Private, Co. I, 7th Conn. In- 
fantry, killed in action. 
Clark, William, Private, Co. A, 8th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Cassidy, Joseph, Private, Co. F, 9th Conn. 

Infantr}-. 
Coogan, John C, Private, unassigned. 
Cummings, John, Private, Co. E, 2d Conn. 

Artillery, died. 
Clapp, Anson D., Private, Co. F, 2d Conn. 

Artillery. 
Clark, William A., Musician, Co. I, 2d 

Conn. Artillery. 
Carney, John, Private, Co. I, 15th Conn. 

Infantry, died of wounds. 
Combs, William C, Corporal, Co. G, 17th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Coleman Jeremiah, Private, Co. F, 20th 

Conn. Infantry, wounded. 
Coy, Granville, Private, Co. D, 30th Conn. 

Infantry, missing in action. 
Coy, Henry, Harland's Brigade Band. 
Co.x, David, Corporal, Co. A, 8th Conn. In- 
fantry. 
Davis Randolph, Private, Co. L, ist Conn. 

Cavalry, died. 
Derragh, Thomas, Corporal, Co. K, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Duff, Patrick, Private, Co. K, ist Conn. 

Artillery, killed. 
Di.xon, John, Private, Co. E, 8th Conn. In- 
fantry, died. 
Duerest, Paul, Private, Co. F, 14th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded. 
Dale, Benj. B., Harland's Brigade Band. 
Dennis, Alfred, Private, Co. G, 8th Conn. 

Infantry, deserted. 
Emmons, Gilbert S., Sergeant, Co. K, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Ernest, Paulus, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Eaton, Jacob, Chaplain, 7th Conn. Infantry. 
Emanuel, Salvador, Private, Co. A, 8th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Eggleston, Elijah, Private, Co. G, 14th 

Conn. Infantrv. 



MERIDEX IN THE C1\"1L WAR. 



13 



Ellis. George, Private, Co. K, 14th Conn. Guptil, Jacob T., Private, ist Light Bat- 
Infantry, ter}'. 

Felix, Augustus, Private, Co. B, ist Squad- Griffin, Julian A., Private, Co. A, ist Conn, 

ron Cavalry. Artillery, died. 

Foster, Samuel H., Com. Sergeant j\I, ist Grimes, Michael, Private, Co. B, ist Conn. 

Conn. Cavalr\-. Artillery. 

Frances, George, Private, Co. G, 13th Gangloff, Charles, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Conn. Infantry', died. Infantry, wounded. 

Fordham, Theodore P., Private, Co. I, ist Glaessner, Frederick, Corporal, Co. H, 6th 

Conn. Artillery. Conn. Infantry. 

Foster, William, Private, Co. K, 14th Conn. Gagion, John, Private, Co. A, 7th Conn. 

Infantry, died in Richmond. Infantry, wounded. 

Flower, Artemas, Private, Co. K, 20th Gode, William, Private, Co. K, 7th Conn. 



Conn. Tnfantrv. 




'f"<f(^ -^^ 



CHAPL.M.N JACOB EATON. 

1 'iwlcr, Isaiah, Private, Co. K, ist Conn. 
Artillery. 

Fowler, Abel C, Private, Co. K, ist Conn. 
Artillery. 

Fitzgerald, William, Private, Co. I, 2nd 
Conn, .\rtillery, killed in action. 

Farrdl, Owen, Private, Co. I, 7th Conn. In- 
fantry. 

Frazier, Joseph, Private, Co. 1, 71!: Conn. 
Infantry. 

Fox. John, Private, Co. G, 1st Conn. Ar- 
tillery. 

Greentield. Robert, Private, Co. K, 1st 
Conn. Cavalry. 

Grow, Henry, Sergeant, F"irst Light Battery. 



Infantry. 
Galligan, Thomas, Private, Co. F, 8th Conn. 

Infantr}'. 
Goodrich, Alfred N., Private, Co. I, 8th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Giesecki, William, Sergeant, Co. C, nth 

Conn. Infantry. 
Gillon, Charles, Private, Co. I, 14th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded, deserted. 
Griswold, Hobart H., Private, Co. H, ist 

LT. S. Infantry. 
Hogan, Patrick, Private, Co. B, ist Conn. 

Cavalry. 
Hall, William G., Private, Co. K, ist Conn. 

Cavalr}-, died in Andersonville. 
Hayden, Hector C, Sergeant. Co. M, ist 

Conn. Cavalry. 
Hays, John, Private, unassigned. 
Harvey, William H., Private, Co. G, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Hayes, Patrick, Private, Co. H, 1st Conn. 

Artillery. 
Ilawes, Charles A., Private. Co. I, ist Conn. 

Artillery, wounded. 
IloUoran, Simeon, Private. Co. K, 1st Conn. 

Artillery. 
Haggerty, Thomas. Private, Co. K, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Haggerty. William H., Private, Co. G, 1st 

Conn. Artilk-r\-. wounded. 
Ilorsefall, George H., Private. Co. L, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Iligbee. Charles C. Private. Co. D. 5th 

Conn. Infantry, wounded. 
Haas, Jacob, Private, Co. C, Cth Conn. In- 

fantrv. 



M 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Handell, Christian, Sergeant, Co. H, 6th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Hess, Frederick, Musician, Co. H, 6th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Haaga, Gottleib, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Heckler, Christian, Private, Co. H, 6th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Hotchkiss, Seth W., Private, Co. A, 7th 

Conn. Infantry, died. 
Hardy, John, Private, Co. A, 8th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded. 
Hinman, John S., Private, Co. C, 8th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Holden, Stephen L., Private, Co. D, 8th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Hyde, Phineas, Private, Co. I, 8th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded. 
Hart, Francis J., Private, Co. C, 13th 

Conn. Infantry, died. 
Homan, Henry H., Private, Co. G, ist 

Conn. Artillery, wounded. 
Hugal, John, Private, Co. D, 14th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Hughes, Edward, Private, Co. D, 14th 

Conn. Infantry, died in Andersonville. 
Hinkey, Julius, Private, Co. H, 14th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded. 
HoldeUj James, Private, Co. C, 15th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded. 
Holmes, Joseph W., Private Co. G, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Hale, Cutler R., Private, Co. H, ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Hildreth, Edgar A., Private, Co. L, ist 

Conn. Artillery, died. 
Hofifman, Joseph, Private, Co. B. 8th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Hall, Aruna, Private, Co. D, loth Conn. 

Infantry. 
Ives, John W., Private, Co. C, 15th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Jameson, Edward S., Quartermaster Ser- 
geant, Co. M, 1st Conn. Cavalry, died 

in Andersonville. 
Johnson, Chauncey W., Private, unas- 

signed, deserted. 
TCelly, Francis, Farrier, Co. H, 1st Conn. 

Cavalrv, died. 



Knight, Oscar F., Private, Co. A, ist Conn. 
Artillery. 

Kelsey, Henry C, Private, Co. E, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Kron, Jacob, Corporal, Co. H, 6th Conn. 
Infantry. 

Kern, John, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. In- 
fantry, died. 

Kohlenberg, Christian, Private, Co. D, 7th 
Conn. Infantry, died in Andersonville. 

Kudewind, Adolph, Private, Co. C, loth 
Conn. Infantry. 

Knowlton, George H., Private, Co. K, 15th 
Conn. Infantry. 

Kanel, John, Private, Co. D, i6th Conn. 
Infantry. 

Knowles, James M., Second Lieutenant, Co. 
I, 1st Conn. Cavalry. 

Kelly, John, Private, Co. G, 8th Conn. In- 
fantry. 

Link. Gottleib, Corporal, Co. A, ist Squad- 
ron Cavalry. 

Lewis, Charles N., Quartermaster Ser- 
geant, Co. K, 1st Conn. Cavalry. 

Laurence, Henry S., Corporal, ist Light 
Battery. 

Link, Casper, Corporal, Co. H, 6th Conn. 
Infantry. 

Lathrop, Henry A., Private, Co. I, 8th 
Conn. Infantry, died. 

Leonard, William, Private, Co. H, I4tli 
Conn. Infantry, died in Andersonville. 

Lane, Oscar B., Harland's Brigade Band. 

Lane, Josiah W., Harland's Brigade Band. 

Lane, Theo. F., Harland's Brigade Band. 

Leonard, Levi, Sergeant, Co. C, ist Conn. 
Cavalry. 

Lewis, James B., Private, Co. C, ist Conn. 
Cavalry. 

Lewis. Charles, Corporal, Co. C, ist Conn. 
Cavalry, wounded. 

Locke, James H., Private, ist Light Bat- 
tery. 

Lamphear, Harrison, U. S. Navy, died. 

Lamphere, Irving, Musician, Co. E, I4''i 
Conn. Infantry. 

Marsh. George, Corporal, Co. A, ist Squad- 
ron Cavalrv. „ 



MERIDEN IN THE CIVIL WAR. 



15 



IMurphy, Patrick, Farrier, Co. C, ist Conn. 

Cavalry. 
Madden, James, Private, Co. K, ist Conn. 

Cavalry. 
Miller, Charles D., Private, Co. I, ist Conn. 

Cavalry. 
Murray, Thomas, Private, Co. I, ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Miller, Henry W., Private, Co. H, 2nd 

Conn. Artillery. , 
Matthews, William S., Mnsician, 5th Conn. 

Infantry. 
Mackie, John, Musician, 6th Conn. Infantry. 
Machmeyer, Edward, Private, Co. H, 6th 

Conn. Infantry, died. 
Mayer, Jacob, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Infantry, died. 
Mayer, Frederick, 2nd, Private, Co. H, 

6th Conn. Infantry. 
Morrison, Edward, Private, Co. C, 8th 

Conn. Infantry, died of wounds. 
Moenkmeyer, Christian, Private, Co. C, 

nth Conn. Infantry, wounded. 
Mecorney, Charles R., Private, Co. B, 12th 

Conn. Infantry, killed in action. 
Mahone, Thomas, Private, Co. D, 14th 

Conn. Infantr\-, wounded. 
Mackey, Kegan, Private, Co. H, 14th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded. 
Meagher, .\le.xander, Private, Co. K, ist 

Conn. Artillery, deserted. 
Merriam, John, IMusician, Co. B, 12th 

Conn. Infantry. 
McCormack, John, U. S. Navy. 
McGee, Frank, Private, Co. D, 9th Conn. 

Infantry. 
McGlcnn, Patrick, Private, Co. D, loth 

Conn. Infantry. 
McPartlan, Charles, Private, Co. K. ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
McPartcen, Charles, Private, Co. K, ist 

Conn. Artillery, killed in action. 
McGovern, Michael, Private, Co. K, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Newcomb, Jeremiah, Private, Co. I, 2n(l 

Conn. Artillery, wounded. 
Newton, Isaac R., Musician. Co. .\, loth 

Conn. Infantrv. 



Osborne, John, Private, Co. I, 15th Conn; 

Infantry. 
O'Brien, John, Private, Co. D, 14th Conn. 

Infantry, died of wounds. 
Perkins, Frederick J., Private, Co. D, ist 

Conn. Cavalry. 
Plumb, Henry A., Private, Co. L, ist Conn. 

Cavalry, died of wounds. 
Pearson, William, Private, Co. E, ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Parker, William H., Corporal, Co. G, ist 

Conn. Artillery. 
Pratt, Robert R., Private, Co. I, ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Parkinson, Anthony, Private, Co. K, ist 

Conn. Artillery. , 

Parker, Thomas, Private, Co. K, ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Potter, Judson A., Private, Co. L, ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Pfeifer, George, Corporal, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Infantry. ^ 
Plumb, William W., Sergeant, Co. F, 7th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Peterson, William H., Private, Co. E, 8th 

Conn. Infantry, killed in action. 
Plunkett, John, Private, Co. E, 8th Conn. 

Infantry, wounded. 
Pendleton, William, Private, Co. C, 14th 

Conn. Infantry, died in Andersonville. 
Pratt, Eugene H., Musician, 8th Conn. In- 
fantry. 
Quinn, Felix, Private, Co. K, ist Conn. Ar- 
tillery. , 
Rich, Henry, Corporal, ist Light Battery. 
Reynolds, James H., Private, ist Light 

Battery, wounded. 
Roly, Patrick, Private, Co. B, ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Reynolds, Gardner, Second Lioulonant. Co. 

C, isl Conn, .\rtillory. 
Raymond, Albert C, First Lieutenant, Co. 

F, 1st Conn. Artillery. 
Ryan, James, Private, Co. K, ist Conn. 

.Artillery. 
Richardson. William W., Private. Co. D. 

-Mid Conn. .Artillery, died. 
Riley, James H.. Private, Co. F, 6th Conn. 

Infantrv. 



l6 A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 

Robinson, Lorenzo, Private, Co. F, 6th Sloane, James R., Quartermaster Sergeant, 

Conn. Infantry. Co. C, ist Conn. Artillery. 

Rache, Alexander, Private, Co. H, 6th Sloane, George F., Private, Co. C, ist 

Infantry. Conn. Artillery. 

Rebstock, William, Private, Co. H, 6th Stutter, John, Private, Co. K, ist Conn. 

Conn. Infantry, wounded. Artillery. 

Rebstock, John, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. Stoddard, William L., Private, Co. D, Sec- 

Infantrv *^"*^ Conn. Artillery, wounded. 

Roselius, Louis, Private Co. H, 6th Conn. Skehon, Dennis, Private, Co. C, 5th Conn. 

Infantrv, wounded. Infantry. 

Robinson,' William J., Private, Co. B, 7th Schaupp, Conrad, Private, Co. H, 6th Conn. 

Conn. Infantry. Infantry. 

Rogers, Emerson, Musician, Co. D, 7th Schutt, August, Private, Co. H, 0th Conn. 

Conn. Infantrv. Infantry, wounded. 

Rosa, Lewis. Private, Co. E, 8th Conn. In- Sellew, Oliver D., Sergeant, Co. A, 7th 

r ^ Conn. Infantrv, wounded, died l^lorence, 

fantrv. „ „ 



S. C. 

Sanderson, Frederic's, Private, Co. A, 7th 

_, ^ , ^ . /- TT .1 ^ Conn. Infantrv. wounded. 

Ransom, John, Private, Co. H, loth Conn. „ , _-, .^ '-n ■ ^ r- a ^\ n . 
•^ Stv es, Burrett, Private, Co. A, 14th Conn. 



Riley, Lawrence, Private, Co. E, 8th Conn. 
Infantrv, killed in action. 



Infantry 
Remington, Thomas F., Private, Co. K, 
nth Conn. Infantrv, died of wounds. 



Infantry, wounded. 

Smith, Charles, Private, Co. E, 29th Conn. 

Infantrv. 

Riggs, Ranford, Private, Co. B, 14th Conn. ^^^^.^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ p^i^,^^^^ ^^ ^^ j^t 

I"^^"try. ^^^^,^,^ Cavalrv. 

Ryman, Thomas, Corporal, Co. C, 14th g^^^f^rd. Joseph W., Private, ist Light 

Conn. Infantry. Batterv. 

Richardson, Robert, Private, Co. A, 30th Smith, Thomas, Private, Co. G, ist Conn. 

Conn. Infantry. Artillery, deserted 

Rosenberg, Simeon C, Harland's Brigade Snyder, James, Private, Co. I, 13th Conn. 

Band. Infantry. 

Ryder, John W., Private, 14th U. S. In- ^^]^^ Antoine, Private, Cc I, 15th Conn. 

fantry. Infantry. 

Rogers, Wilbur F., Sergeant, Co. F, 4th Tanner, William L., Private, Co. B, ist 

N. Y. Infantry. Conn. Cavalry. 

Robinson, Frederick S., Private, Co. C, ist Tennant, Clinton Y., Corporal, Ct F., ist 

Conn. Cavalry. Conn. Cavalry. 

Rogers, Matthew, Private, Co. G, ist, Conn. Thrall, William H., Private, Co. E, 1st 

Artillery. Conn. Artillery. 

Smith, Theophilus, Private, Co. B, ist Turner. Cornelius, Private, Co. L, ist Conn. 

Conn. Cavalry. Artillery. 

Somers, Augustus, Private, Co. A, ist Tinch, Frank, Musician, Co. A, 8th Conn. 

Conn. Cavalry. Infantry, died. 
Shields, Patrick, Private, 1st Light Bat- Tuttle, Hezekiah, Private, ist Light Bat- 
tery, tery. 
Shelton, Charles F., Private, Co. B, ist 'lodd, Edmund B., Private, 3rd Light Bat- 
Conn. Artillery. tery. 
Smith, Lewis, Private, Co. C, ist Conn. Thrall, Alfred, Private, Co. E, ist Conn. 

Artillerv. " Artillerv. 



MEKIUEX IN THE CIXIL WAR. 



17 



Thrall. John E., Private, Co. E, ist Conn. 

.\rtillcry. 
Vandervleit, Cornelius, Private, Co. D, 14th 

Conn. Infantry. 
W'arriner, Edwin, Chaplain, ist Conn. Cav- 
alry. 
Wood. George H., Private, Co. D, ist 

Conn. Cavalry, died. 
Worin, John C, Private, Co. I, Est Conn. 

.\rtillery. 
Wells Marcellns, Private, Co. L, ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Worstky. Thomas R., Second Lieutenant, 

i6th Conn. Infantry. 
WaNh, Michael, Private. Co. C, 5tli Conn. 

Infantry. 
Welch, John, Private, Co. G, 5th Conn. In- 
fantry. 
Wright. William, Private, Co. B. 8th Conn. 

Infantry, died of wounds. 
Welch, Patrick, 2nd, Private, Co. F, 8th 

Conn. Infantry, wounded, died Salisbury, 

X. C. 
Williams, Thomas, Private, Co. K, 29th 

Conn. Infantry. 
Welch, Frank AI., First Lieutenant, 54th 

Mass. Infantry. 
White, Henry II., Private, Co. G, ist Ore- 
gon Cavalry. 
Warner. Levi J., Private, Co. G, ist Light 

Battery. 
Wells, John H., Private. Co. L. ist Conn. 

Artillery. 
Warner. Irwin F., Private, Co. I, 2nd Conn. 

Artillery, deserted. 
Warner, Melvin R., Private, Co. I, 2nd 

Conn. Infantry, wounded. 
Zimmerman, Casper, Private, Co. H, 6th 
Conn. Artillery, deserted. 

Note — There are vmdoubtedly others who 
ser\ed in the Navy but it has not been possible 
to ascertain their names. 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS FROM 
MERIDEX. 

Gener.vl— Henry W. Pienhani. Brevet 
Major General L". S. Army. 

Colon EL.s—Seagcr S. Atwell. 7th Conn. 
Infantry; Charles L. rph.ini. 15th Conn. 



Infantry; De.xter R. Wright, 15th Conn. 
Infantry. 

Lieutenant Culunel.s — Wm. M. Pratt, 
8th Conn. Infantry. 

Majors — Theodore Byxbee, 27th Conn. 
Infantry; Oliver S. Sanford, 7th Conn. In- 
fantry. 

Chaplains — Charles Dixon, lOth Conn. 
Infantry, Jacob Eaton, 7th Conn. Infantry; 
D. Henry Miller, 15th Conn. Infantry. 

Captains— George W. Allen, 29th Conn. 
Inf.intrv-; Julius Bassett, 15th Conn. Infan- 
try; Jared R. Cook, 3rd Conn. Infantry; 
Roger M. Ford, 8th Conn. Infantry; Flam 
T. Goodrich, 8th Conn. Infantry; Patrick 
Garvey, 9th Conn. Infantry ; Allen W. Har- 
vey, I5tli Conn. Infantry; N. P. Ives, As- 
sistant Quartermaster; Geo. C. Merriam, 
8th Conn. Infantry; John L. Merriam, 8th 
Conn. Infantry; Ira B. Smith, 7th Conn. 
Infantry; Reuben W^aterman, 15th Conn. 
Infantry; John B. Willett, 14th U. S. C. 
Artillery; George W. Wilson, ist Conn. 
Infantry. 

First Lieutenants — Marshall C. Augur, 
15th Conn. Infantry; Julius B. Bissell, 15th 
Conn. Infantry ; Albert T. Booth, 8th Conn. 
Infantry; Levi C. Bingham, 15th Conn. 
Infantry; C. Lewis Bull, 7th Conn. Infan- 
try; Wallace T. Cloud, 8th Conn. Infantry; 
Jacob Eaton, 8th Conn. Infantry; George 
W. Farnhani, 8th Conn. Infantry; Ossian 
L. Hatch, 7th Conn. Infantry; Edwin A. 
Kenney, 14th U. S. C. Artillery; Frank E. 
Little. 107th U. S. C. Infantry; Dennis 
O'I'.rien. 7th Conn. Infantry; Philip C. 
Rand. 15th Conn. Infantry; Albert C. Ray- 
nuMid, 1st Conn. Artillery; William W. 
Thompson, 15th Conn. lnfanlr\-; l-^rank 
M. Welch, 54th Mass. Infantry. 

Second Lieutenants — Wm. H. Augur, 
7th Conn. Infantry; William P. Brooks, 
29th Conn. Infantry; Asa S. Cowdry, 3rd 
Conn. Infantry; Milo J. Goodrich, 8th 
Conn. Infantry; Charles V. Ilarwood. 15th 
Conn. Infantry; luwin D. Hall. 8th Conn. 
Infantry: Heber S. Ives. I5lh Conn. In- 
fantr\ ; William IT. Johnson, 8th Conn. In- 
fantry; J.ames M. Knowk<, 1st Comi. Cav- 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




-J ,i>s 




.^m\ 





Reproduced from Davis' History of Meriden. 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS FROM MERIDEN. 



MliKIDKX IN I UK (,1\IL W AK. 



19 



airy; Henr}' B. Levi, 15th Conn. Infantry; 
David T Lyon, 7th Conn. Infantry ; Ed- 
mund A. Parker, 8th Conn. Infantry; 
Henry H. Pierce, 7th Conn. Infantry; Gard- 
ner Reynolds, ist Conn. Artillery; George 
M. Stevens, 8th Conn. Infantry: George E. 
Sellew, 6th U. S. C. Infantry; John H. 
\'orra, 8th Conn. Infantry; Frank B. 
W'riglit, 27th Conn. Infantry; Thomas 
Wiirstley, i6th Conn. Infantry. 



RALLY 

TO THE SUPPORT OF THE 
NATION. 



Tin: I.Ot tl. 1 I ri'/,l''.>K OF ^Kllini:% nho nrr ready 
laLr naoilii r I'lTorl lc> «»<<- Ihi' \nllon in Ibii lt> Krrnlriil prril, 
ri|ar«(t-il in mrrt ill Ihr 



II l.t Kllh. ■••AH. Hi T t.-i ii'i'Irk. Ici roannll apon ■nrRsarc'v rr- 
laliDii to ihi I'l ill.H Stl'irrV. Ill hnoilo lo thr rearar. Thr 
Cow-r-^mi-nl tnlU limilU fur :ii<l. Had Virrldi-n mDNt rrnpoad Bobfv 
• »« In ni:> nnil fll:i\N. UN sIm' hna finnr In Ihr pnnl. 

HOH. SENATOR DKOH. CYRDS HORTHRUP, ESQ.. 



From the Nria Haven Palladium of July 
wth, 1862. 

WAR mr1':tixg tx .\[i^ridi-:x. 

1 he nicetiii!4' in Alcridcn last even- 
iiijc: ^va.s an honor to tlic town, and fnll 
of hope and ])r()mise for the I'nion 
cause. Amid the roar of cannim and 
the roll of drums, the people came to- 
i^ether to consult for their country. 

When we reached tlie Town Hall 
at an early hour, we found a larqe 
audience already as.semhlcd and in a 



few minutes every seat was filled, and 
the aisles were packed from the door 
to the platform. 

The meeting- was organized by ap- 
pointing Judge James S. Brooks 
chairman and a large number of \'ice- 
Presidents and Secretaries. 

Speeches were made by Judge 
Brooks, Lieutenant Colonel D. R. 
Wright, Hon. John B. Wright, of the 
Senate, Hon. O. H. Piatt and Cyrus 
Xorthrup. 

Resolutions were reported by a com- 
mittee that JMeriden will furnish all 
the men and money that arc required 
of her to put down the rebellion ; that 
the selectmen be requested to call a 
town meeting to vote $10 bounty to 
volunteers, and appointing a large 
committee to co-operate with a simi- 
lar one in X'^ew Haven in encouraging 
e'distments. 

When the question upon the pas- 
sage of the resolutions w'as put, one 
mighty "aye" rose up from every part 
of the hall and not a single "no" was 
heard, """raitors do not thrive in ^Nler- 
iden. 

At 10 o'clock, when we left, the 
meeting was still in progress and vol- 
unteers were coming forward from the 
audience. 

The meeting was not a noisy one, 
l)ul it was deei>ly earnest and thought- 
ful. .Men had met to consult i)rcpar- 
ator\- to action. Alrea<ly the work of 
enlistment has ])egun. Ten or twelve 
of the best young men in Aleriden en- 
listed \ esterday and it is ex])ected that 
tlie conii)an\- now forming imder Capt. 
i'.a-sett will soon be ftill. 



20 



A CEXTURY OF MKKIDEN. 



]\leriden has already sent over four 
hundred men to the war. Her quota 
for the new enhstments will be about 
one hundred and twenty-five. There 
is no doubt but that they will be fur- 
nished and more if required." 

ANOTHER WAR MEETING. 

Tuesday, August 12th, 1862, the 
Town Hall was packed with an au- 
dience embracing all classes of society 
and of all parties interested in the 
prosecution of the war. Judge James 
S. Brooks presided and the volunteers 
of the new company now being raised, 
were elected A'ice-Presidents. Ad- 
dresses were made by Hon. O. H. 
Piatt, Rev. D. Henry Miller, H. Clay 
Trumbull and others. 

The meeting was a great success. 
Great disappointment was felt in con- 
sequence of the absence of Col. 
Wright, who was detained with his 
regiment in New Haven. 

The expression of the meeting was 
that there shall be no necessity for a 
draft in Meriden. 

Another War Meeting was assem- 
bled at the Town Hall Friday evening, 
December i8th, 1863, to take into con- 
sideration some method of filling" ]\Ier- 
iden's quota with volunteers. 

The meeting was organized by the 
appointment of President Dr. E. W. 
Hatch. Vice-Presidents Eli Putler, 
Bela Carter, Capt. Jared R. Cook and 
Captain Luther G. Riggs, Secretary 
George W. Lyon. 

Stirring and patriotic speeches were 
made by Col. George P. Bissell, Hon. 
O. H. Piatt and Rev. Jacob Eaton. 



A committee of five, consisting of 
Hon. O. H. Piatt, Dr. E. W. Hatch, I. 
C. Lewis, Charles Parker, and Rev. 
Jacob Eaton were appointed to take 
into consideration some means for fill- 
ing the Cjuota of the town by enlist- 
ment. 

The meeting then adjourned until 
Tuesday evening, the 22nd. 

THE ADJOURNED MEETING. 

The adjourned meeting was called 
to order by the President and the fol- 
lowing were appointed additional 
\'ice-Presidents — Chas. Parker, Gen- 
eral Walter Booth, O. S. Williams, 
Lieutenant L. E. Webb, Lieutenant O. 
L. Hatch, Captain Hobart Smith, 
Lieutenant J. B. Bissell, Edwin H. 
Butler, Sergeant Wells. 

O. H. Piatt, chairman of the com- 
mittee, appointed at the previous meet- 
ing, made report and submitted the 
following" resolution which was passed 
unanimously : 

Resolved, That a committee of nine 
be appointed by the chairman of this 
meeting to devise ways and means to 
obtain a sufficient number of volun- 
teers to fill the quota of the Town of 
Meriden. 

The chair subsequently announced 
the following" gentlemen as comprising 
the committee : 

Jared R. Cook, Isaac C. Lewis, Ed- 
mund Parker, Eli Butler, O. H. Piatt, 
Wm. W . Lee, Bela Carter, Jacob 
Eaton and P. Hall. 

A letter was read from Captain At- 
well, of the Meriden Company, 7th 
Regiment, stating one-half of his com- 



.MilUIDliX IX THE CI\IL WAR. 



21 



pail}- had re-enlisted for the war and 
that many others were about doing so. 

Earnest and impressive speeches 
were made by Chaplain J. ^1. Morris 
of the 8th. Chaplain D. Henry ]\liller, 
of the 15th, and Sergeant Dickinson 
of the nth. 

August 19th, 1864, a meeting of 
those interested in filling the quota of 
Meriden under the last call for 500,000 
men was held at the Institute rooms. 
The meeting was organized by elect- 
ing Captain Jared R. Cook, chairman, 
and Captain Luther G. Riggs, secre- 
tary. The chairman briefly stated the 
object of the meeting to be to adopt 
measures for averting the impending 
draft and save the town the ignominy 
of conscription. 

The following resolution was pre- 
sented : 

Rcsohrd, That the selectmen of the 
Town of Meriden be requested to call 
a public meeting of the legal voters of 
said town, at the earliest day possible, 
for the purpose of reconsidering the 
vote of Thursday week, and extending 
the benefits of said vote to all persons 
who shall furnish an acceptable sub- 
stitute to count on the quota of the 
town. 

Pending its passage remarks were 
made by Wm. P. Morgan, Hiram Ent- 
er, Chas. Kingsley, Wm. A. Baldwin, 
I. C. Breckenridge, Chas. Parker and 
thers. 

The resolution was passed without a 
lissenting vote. 

A committee of seven was appointed 
o prepare the business of the meeting 
or action. The committee chosen 



was Charles Parker, J. C. BrecKen- 
ridge, Jared R. Cook, J. J. WooUey, 
Stephen S. Good_\ear, Edward Miller. 

They reported the following reso- 
lutions : 

Resolved, That we raise the sum of 
fifteen thousand dollars, to be appro- 
l)riated for the purpose of paying vol- 
unteers, or acceptable substitutes, to 
fill the quota of the Town of Meriden, 
to be paid in the same rates as by the 
town. 

Resolved, That we la}' a tax of ten 
dollars and upwards on every enrolled 
man in order to raise the above 
amount, said tax to be paid imme- 
diately. 

Resolved, That we request the 
Town of Meriden, at the next town 
meeting, to swell the sum of fifteen 
thousand dollars to a sufficient amount 
to pay six hundred dollars to those 
men who enlist for three years. 

Resolved, That a committee- of one 
in each school district except the Cor- 
ner district, be appointed to collect the 
amount subscribed by each individual. 

Resolved, That the above committee 
report at an adjourned meeting to be 
held in the Institute room Monday 
evening, August 22nd. 

The following persons were ap- 
pointed collectors : 

Corner district, Geo. W. L}on. Jared 
R. Cook, S. S. Wilcox; Center dis- 
trict, Charles Kingsley ; Hanover dis- 
trict, J. C. Breckenridge ; North Cen- 
ter district, Stephen \\\ Goodxear : 
Stone School House district, Oliver 
Rice : Railroad district, James Tuttle ; 
East Side district. X. P. Griswold ; 



22 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Prattsville district, Thos. G. Hotch- 
kiss ; Farms district, S. E. Johnson ; 
Southeast district, Levi B. Yale ; Ives 
district, JuHus Parker; Northeast dis- 
trict, Alerritt Baldwin; Old Road dis- 
trict, \\". W. Lyman. 

August 22nd, 1864, pursuant to ad- 
journment the meeting assembled at 
the Institute rooms. The Soliciting 
Committee reported there had thus far 
been subscribed $4,197.00. The fol- 
lowing resolutions w^ere passed : 

Rcsok'cd, That in case we do not 
raise the sum of fifteen thousand dol- 
lars, that we divide the sum already 
raised or that shall be raised equally 
between those men who shall enlist or 
furnish an acceptable substitute, or 
who shall be drafted, provided they 
(the drafted men) have subscribed 
ten dollars or more to this fund. 

Resolved, In order those entitled 
may be benefited, this money must be 
subscribed and paid prior to the next 
town meeting. 

The resolutions were unanimously 
adopted. 

looted, That three trustees be ap- 
pointed to receive and disburse the 
funds subscribed, and that the follow- 
ing gentlemen be constituted such 
trustees, namely, J. C. Breckenridge, 
J. R. Cook, H.T. Wilcox. 

Voted, To adjourn to meet Wednes- 
day evening next. 

August 24th, 1864, an adjourned 
meeting was held in the Institute 
rooms, J. R. Cook, chairman ; L. G. 
Riggs. secretary, Mr. S. S. Wilcox 
stated for the honor of Meriden he 
would be one of seventy to volunteer 



and fill its quota. He produced an en- 
listment blank when the following 
persons signed their names : S. S. 
Wilcox, S. P. Stannard, Michael Mc- 
Govern, E. H. Griswold. 

Patriotic speeches were made by 
Rev. J. J. Woolley, Rev. E. M. Jer- 
ome, Hon. O. H. Piatt, W. A. Bald- 
win, Hiram Butler, Geo. W. Lyon and 
others. 

Voted, That a committee of four 
be appointed to solicit subscriptions of 
one hundred dollars for the purpose of 
making the bounty seven hundred dol- 
lars to each volunteer for three years, 
provided the quota is filled. 

The following persons were ap- 
pointed on this committee : Hiram 
Butler, J. J. Woolley, Jared R. Cook, 
William J. Ives. 

The following persons each pledged 
themselves to pay one hundred dollars 
if the quota shouuld be filled : O. H. 
Piatt, W. W. Lyman, Julius Merriam, 
Hiram Butler, George W. Lyon, Dr. 
John Tait. 

J'^oted, That the resolution passed 
by the previous meeting, viz: "In or- 
der that those entitled may be benefited 
this money must be subscribed and 
paid prior to the next town meeting," 
be so amended as that subscriptions 
may be received till the fifth of Sep- 
tember ; provided, however, that all 
moneys now subscribed be paid as 
soon as demanded, and that all moneys 
hereafter subscribed be paid at the 
time of subscribing. 

Voted, To adjourn to meet in this 
place Saturday evening, the 27th, at 
half-past 7 o'clock. 



.MKRIDKX IX THE CI\IL WAR. 



23 



August 27th, 1864. Though not 
hirge ill attendance, this proved one 
of the most earnest, enthusiastic and 
patriotic meetings of the campaign. 
After hearing reports from the various 
committees regarding the number of 
men alread\" enhsted, eloquent and pa- 
triotic s])eeches were made by Rev. 
J. J. W'oolley, Rev. J. H. Farnsworth, 
Hiram Butler, O. S. Williams and 
others. 

I'otcd, That the Rev. J. J. Wool- 
icy and other speakers be invited to ad- 
dress this meeting on Friday evening 
next. 

I'otcd, That Jared R. Cook be ap- 
pointed a committee to invite and pro- 
cure the attendance of the Yalesville 
Band at our next meeting. 

Adjourned to meet Friday evening, 
September 2nd, at half past seven 
o'clock. 

FAIR AND FESTIVAL. 
CIRCULAR. 

To the Citizens of Mcriden: 

The committee appointed to make 
arrangements for a Fair and Festival 
to be held at the Town Hall, for the 
benefit of soldiers and their families 
from Meriden, take this opportunity of 
commending the project to ovir citi- 
zens. 

This town has sent her best and 
bravest sons to the war under the 



'^'ote — We are unable to find any account of 
a mefling on Sept. 2nd, but do find a state- 
ment that Meriden's quota wa.s filled and an 
excess of 29 men. 

The Hartford Courant says Meriden "beats 
the world in furnishing soldiers." 



pledge, both implied and expressed, 
that their families should not want 
(luring their absence, and the soldiers 
themselves should be taken care of in 
sickness and, if disabled, should be 
cared for on their return to our midst. 
This pledge is a sacred obligation 
which should be performed in the 
s])irit in which it was given. It will 
not do for us to 

"Keep the word of promise to the ear 
And break it to the heart." 

We owe it to the brave men who are 
battling for our rights and liberties to 
raise such a fund as will relieve the 
wants of all soldiers and the families 
of all soldiers from this town. 

To this end every citizen of Meriden 
is asked to contribute with a liberal 
hand to this Fair and Festival. 

The manufacturers are asked to 
give their wares, the merchants their 
goods, the farmers their wood and 
their produce, and every man and 
woman in Meriden is asked to con- 
tribute according to their abilit}', for 
the benefit of this Festival. There is 
scarcely an article which cannot be 
made available, and turned into 
money. 

The proceeds of the Fair will be 
placed in the hands of a lil)cral com- 
mittee and faithfully a]^i)licd to the ob- 
jects indicated in this circular. The 
Festival will be held \\'C(lnesdav even- 
ing. Thursday and Friday afternoon 
and evening. Dec. 30th and 31st. 1863, 
and January ist, 1864. It is ex]:)ccted 
that such entertainments will be of- 
fered to the public as will make the 



24 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



occasion one of the most pleasant ever 
known in the town of jMeriden. 

In conckision, the committee ask the 
citizens of Meriden to meet the de- 
mands made upon them in a spirit of 
generous hberahty. The fund to be 
raised should be counted by thousands 
and not by hundreds. 

Let us perform the promise we have 
made to the soldiers. Let us keep our 
plighted faith. 

Committee— O. H. I'latt, L C. 
Lewis, E. \\'. Hatch, Eli Butler, John 
Ives. 

Meriden, Dec. 24th, 1863. 

The Fair was an eminent success. 
There were present each evening prob- 
ably not less than seven hundred per- 
sons. The hall was tastefully deco- 
rated. There were tablets on which 
were painted in large black letters the 
names of local and national soldiers, 
our lamented dead and the names of 
battles in which IMeriden soldiers had 
distinguished themselves. About the 
room were numerous booths repre- 
senting tents, in which refreshments 
were served, and tables abundantly 
laden with tempting wares. 

Thursday evening was devoted to 
tableaux, pantomimes and music bv 
gentlemen from the Meriden Musical 
Association. Friday evening the young 
people enjoyed themselves with a 
grand dance. Saturday evening the 
articles unsold were disposed of to the 
highest bidder. The proceeds of the 
Fair netted about two thousand dol- 
lars. 



FAIR AND FESTIVAL. 

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednes- 
day, February 13th. 14th and 15th, 
1865, a great Fair and Festival was 
given in the Town Hall, jointly in be- 
half of the destitute families of the 
Meriden soldiers, and the Ladies' Sol- 
diers' Aid Society. Arrangements 
were made on a most extensive scale 
and a large number of our most capa- 
ble and energetic women and men 
constituted the committees. 

Executive Committee — ^Irs. P. J. 
Clark, Mrs. J. H. Farnsworth, Hon. 
O. H. Piatt and Isaac C. Lewis. 

Treasurer — Alden Clark. 

The Festival was in every wav a 
decided success. Many thanks and 
much credit was given Mrs. P. J. 
Clark and Hon. O. H. Piatt, of the 
Executive Committee for the leading 
and active part taken by them. The 
Fair netted upwards of thirteen hun- 
dred dollars. 

LADIES' SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY. 

In February, 1864. the ladies of 
^leriden formed a Soldiers" xAid So- 
ciety, their object being to incite the 
people of Meriden to more systematic 
and efficient effort in the cause for 
which they labor. This organization 
was an auxiliary to the New Haven 
branch of the V. S. Sanitary Com- 
mission. 

The officers were : 

Directresses — ]\Irs. P. J. Clark. Mrs. 
J. H. Farnsworth. 

Treasurer — ]Mrs. John Ives. 
Secretarv — Mrs. Oliver Rice. 



-MERIUEX IX THE CI\ IL WAR. 



-5 



Hoard of Managers — ]\Irs. Lucas C. 
Hotchkiss, Airs. Levi Butler, Miss 
Georgiana Parker, Airs. Dr. Churchill, 
Mrs. A. E. Bull, Aliss Helen Bradley. 
.Mrs. Eli C. Birdsey, Mrs. Fred Ives, 
Mrs. Lyman Clark, Mrs. Chas. Page, 
Mrs. D. C. Easton, Airs. I. C. Lewis, 
Mrs. I'Ji Butler, Miss Laura Brooks, 
Mrs. Jacob Eaton, Airs. Elijah Rice, 
Mrs. John Evarts, Airs. Edward Gris- 
wold. 

"It is proposed to canvass the town 
of Aleriden to collect funds to furnish 
our Soldiers' Aid Society with money 
to carry on its operations. Citizens, 
we pray you receive our messengers 
kindl\ and give — remembering the 
noble band of heroes for whom it is 
asked." 

The following reports for two 
months will show how earnestly the 
women of Aleriden worked for the 
comfort of the soldiers. 

The Ladies' Aid Society of Aleriden 
in November, 1864, donated $108 in 
casli suljscriptions to the "Ten Cent 
1-und" and likewise the following ar- 
ticles: 12 cotton shirts, 2 surgical do, 
9 flannel do, =,3, pairs flannel drawers, 
2 pair cotton drawers, 26 pair woolen 
socks, 33 handkerchiefs, 3 quilts, i 
^hou]der quilt. 13 arm slings, 17 house- 
A-ives, 40 cushions. 2 pillows, 5 pillow 
■ases, bandages, rags and lint, 18^^ 
bs. dried fruit. 3 cans blackberries, to 
jalions ])ickles. sage, hops and Ilar- 
ber's Weekly. 

The report for December, 1864. was : 
15 pairs of flannel drawers, 1 1 flannel 
hirts. 8 ])airs of socks, i sheet. 6 
andkerchiefs. 3 14 lbs. dried currants. 



2 lbs. dried apples, besides cotton and 
linen pieces. 

For purchase of materials the con- 
tribution was sixty dollars. The do- 
nation and contribution to the "Ten 
Cent Fund" by the Young Ladies' 
Fair. First Congregational Church of 
W est Aleriden amounted to one hun- 
dred and forty dollars. 

THANKSGIVING DINNER. 

At a meeting of citizens held Nov. 
14th, 1864. it was proposed that the 
loyal citizens of Aleriden send the sol- 
diers at the front a Thanksgiving din- 
ner, and a committee was appointed 
to solicit contributions of monev and 
eatables. Their report follows:" 

"The committee appointed to take 
charge of the fund and provisions for 
the Soldiers' Thanksgiving Dinner beo- 
leave to report that they packed and 
forwarded seven cases containing one 
hundred and twenty-hAc turkevs. with 
chickens, spare-ribs, pickles, jellies, 
pies, tomatoes, doughnuts, stewed 
pears, cakes, etc., with two barrels of 
onions, three barrels of apples, three 
barrels of potatoes, and two cases of 
pickles, which we have reason to be- 
lieve have reached the army and navv 
in good order. l"he committee take 
this occasion to thank the donors for 
their timely liberality, and to congrat- 
ulate the citizens of Meriden on hav- 
ing the pleasure of bearing their share 
in this outburst of loyalty and delight 
so well expressed in a National 
• Thanksgiving, and for their sympathy 
so well deserved toward our armv and 
navy, while in their untold privations 



26 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



and sacrifices they stand by the flag of 
our country. The committee have a 
small balance in their hands which 
they purpose to appropriate to the de- 
serving families of the soldiers in our 
midst. 

Committee — R. Linsley, Eli Butler, 
E. W. Hatch." 

VOTES OF THE TOWN RELATING 
TO VOLUNTEERS. 

In pursuance of notice, at a Town 
Meeting held at Town Hall on Sat- 
urday, June 29th, at 2 o'clock, of which 
James S. Brooks, Esq., was appointed 
moderator, it was 

Voted, That the sum of $3,ocxd 
be appropriated by the Town of 
Meriden in addition to the sum of 
$5,000 appropriated in town meeting 
on the 25th day of April A. D., 1861, 
and that said sum of $3,000 be placed 
in the hands of four that day appointed 
to be by them disposed of as follows : 

First, So much thereof as may be 
necessary to pay for the pistols fur- 
nished Capt. Byxbee's company mus- 
tered into the first of Conn. Vols. 

Second, So much thereof as shall 
be necessary to furnish pistols or other 
arms for Captain Cook's company 
mustered into the Third Regiment 
Conn. A'ols. if in the judgment of said 
committee it shall be deemed best to 
furnish either said pistols or other 
arms, and lastly that the balance 
thereof not expended for the pur- 
poses hereinbefore stated be held by 
said committee to be by them expended 
if necessary for the support of the 
wives and families of said volunteers, 



and for other purposes and objects 
expressed in the votes passed in town 
meeting on said 25th day of April, 
1 86 1. Also 

J'otcd, That if the committee shall 
procure pistols, rifles or other arms for 
Capt. Cook's company, they shall de- 
liver the same to Capt. Cook upon his 
agreement to return the same to the 
Town of Meriden when said company 
shall return home, except such as may, 
by the fortunes of war, have passed 
from under his control. 

In pursuance of notice, at a Town 
Meeting held on Wednesday, July 
i6th, 1862, at 2 p. m., of which meet- 
ing J. R. Cook was appointed chair- 
man, it was 

Voted, That the Town of Aler- 
iden appropriate the sum of $50 
bounty to be paid to each recruit who 
shall enlist in any Connecticut regi- 
ment now in the field, in the 14th 
Connecticut regiment or any subse- 
quent regiment which shall be organ- 
ized in Connecticut, in answer to the 
President's late call for 300,000 men, 
[provided such recruit shall be a resi- 
dent of Meriden at the time of his en- 
listment or shall enlist in a company 
started or got up in Meriden, whether 
resident of Meriden or elsewhere. 

Voted, Second, That whenever any 
recruit, resident of Meriden, shall 
have a mother or other persons de- 
pendent for support upon such re- 
cruit, such mother and other persons 
shall be entitled to receive from the 
town the same monthly payment as is 
now given bv the state of Connecticut 



MERIDEX IX THE CI\^IL WAR. 



27 



for tlie support of the wife and chil- 
dren of vokniteers, and the selectmen 
shall determine who shall be entitled 
to such monthly pay under this vote. 
Third, fotcd, That said sum of fifty 
dollars bounty be paid at the time such 
recruit shall be sworn into the service 
of the United States and that the se- 
lectmen be directed to pay the moneys 
appropriated by this meeting out of 
any moneys in the treasury belonging 
to the Town of Meriden-; and if no 
such moneys be in the treasury, that 
the selectmen be authorized and em- 
powered to raise the sum by loan or 
loans upon the credit of the town, and 
to execute and deliver the proper ob- 
ligations of the town to repay such 
loan or loans to the lender or lenders 
thereof. 

In pursuance to notice, at a Town 
Meeting held on Saturday, August 
23rd, 1862, it was 

Voted, That the town pay a bounty 
of one hundred dollars to each 
volunteer from this town for the nine 
months volunteers under the Govern- 
•jr's call for seven regiments of volun- 
teers, to a number not exceeding that 
required to make one full company. 

. otcd. That the selectmen be au- 
tliorized to borrow the money to carry 
out the above vote. 

In [)ursuance of notice, a special 
Town Meeting was held on the 24th 
day r»f August, 1863. of which Henry 
C. lUitler was moderator, which said 
meeting unanimorsly ])assed the fol- 
lowing^- |)reamb](' and resi ihiti< m. to 
wit : 



lllicrcas, JJy the operation of the 
Act of Congress approved March 3rd, 
1863, entitled, "An act for enrolling 
and calling out the National forces and 
for other purposes,"" many of the in- 
habitants of the town have been or are 
liable to be drafted into the military 
service of the United States whose 
labors are required for the support of 
their families and others dependent 
upon them, and whereby the town is 
exposed to charge on that account, and 
other inhabitants have been or are 
liable to be drafted who have not the 
means enabling them to pay the United 
States the sum required to be paid for 
the procuration of a substitute as pro- 
vided by the 13th section of the act 
aforesaid. 

First, Voted, That the selectmen of 
the town of Meriden are hereby au- 
thorized, instructed and directed to pay 
to each man from the Town of Meri- 
den who have been heretofore, or who 
may be hereafter drafted into the ser- 
vice of the United States under the 
act of Congress approved March 3rd, 
1863, entitled "An act for enrolling 
and calling out the National forces, 
etc."" the sum of $300, upon such 
drafted n.ian being mustered into said 
service. 

Seeond, Voted, That the selectmen 
of the Town of Meriden are hereby 
authorized, instructed and directed to 
pa\' to each man from the Town of 
Meriden who has been heretofore or 
who may hereafter be drafted into 
the service of tlie United States under 
the act of Congress, "An act for en- 
rolling and calling out the National 



28 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



forces, etc," approved March 3rd. 
1863, who furnishes an acceptable sub- 
stitute, the cost of such substitute not 
exceeding' in any case the sum of $300, 
upon such substitute being mustered 
into the United States service. 

Third, Voted, That the selectmen of 
the Town of Meriden be and they are 
hereb}' authorized, instructed and di- 
rected to pledge the faith and credit of 
the Town of Aleriden for the purpose 
of raising the money necessary to 
carry out the foregoing votes. 

In pursuance of call at a Town 
Meeting held at the Town House 
Thursday, August nth, 1864, at 2 
o'clock p. m., Jared R. Cook was ap- 
pointed moderator. 

Said meeting after free discussion 
passed the following resolutions of- 
fered by Hon. O. H. Piatt, to wit : 

Resolved, That the sum of twenty 
thousand dollars or so much as may 
be necessary thereof be and the same 
is hereby appropriated by the Town of 
Meriden for the purpose of encour- 
aging enlistments and of paying ex- 
penses incurred in filling the quota of 
the Town of Meriden under the pres- 
ent call for $500,000 men. 

Resolved, That said sum be placed 
in the hands of the selectmen for the 
purpose aforesaid to be used at their 
discretion. 

Resolved, That said selectmen are 
requested not to pay more than the 
sum of one hundred dollars for the 
enlistment of any man for one year, 
two hundred dollars for two years, and 
three hundred dollars for three vears. 



Resolved, That the selectmen are 
hereby authorized to borrow said sum 
of money in the name and upon the 
credit of the town. 

In pursuance of call, a Town Meet- 
ing was held in the Institute room in 
To\\n House on Wednesday, August 
24th, 1864, at 2 o'clock p. m. of which 
Henry C. Butler was appointed mod- 
erator. 

The following resolutions offered 
by O. H. Piatt, Esq., were upon free 
discussion, unanimously adopted, to 
wit : 

Resolved, That the selectmen of 
Meriden be and are hereby authorized 
and directed to pay to each man who 
has enlisted or shall hereafter enlist 
counting upon the quota of the Town 
of Meriden under the present call for 
500,000 men a sum which with the 
amount he ma}' receive from the fund 
raised and to be raised by subscription 
shall amount to the sum of six hundred 
dollars if enlisting for the period of 
three years, and three hundred dollars 
if enlisting" for a less period. 

Resolved, That the selectmen of 
Meriden be and are hereby authorized 
and directed to pa}' to each person who 
has procured or shall procure a sub- 
stitute counting on the quota of said 
town under said call, a sum which with 
the amount he may receive from said 
subscription fund shall amount to six 
hundred dollars, if said substitute is 
or shall be accepted for three years, 
and three hundred dollars if accepted 
for a less period, provided, no per- 
son shall be paid a sum which with the 



MKKIUEX IN THE CIX'IL WAR. 



29 



State bounty shall be greater than the 
amount paid by him for such substi- 
tute. 

Rcsolz-cd, That the selectmen be and 
are Iiereby authorized to borrow all 
mone_\s required to carr_\- these resolu- 
tions into effect upon the faith and 
credit of the town. 

Rcsol:-i'd, That the resolutions 
l>assed in town meeting Aug. nth, 
18^4. be and are hcreliy rescinded, but 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

-MA (OK THKODOKH I'.^XDEE. 

ill acts done by the selectmen thereun- 
ler l)e and hereby arc validated and 
"onfirmed. Said meeting also ])asscd 
he following, to wit : 

Rcsoh'Cii. Idiat the four several 
anks in this town be hereby requested 
) loan in equal amounts temporarily, 



the necessary funds to carry into ef- 
fect the foregoing resolutions. 

In pi rsuance of call, a special 
Town Meeting was held at the Insti- 
tute room of which Henry C. Butler 
was appointed moderator. 

O. H. Piatt offered the following 
resolutions which, after discussion, 
were adopted, as follows, to wit : 

Kcsolrcd, That the selectmen of this 
town be and are hereby authorized and 
directed to pay for the enlistment of 
every volunteer for three years who 
shall be credited to the Town of Mer- 
iden, a sum not exceeding one hun- 
dred dollars and shall also pa\' to t\er\ 
person who shall furnish an accepta- 
ble substitute for three }ears who shall 
be credited to the Town of ]\Ieriden a 
sum not exceeding one hundred dol- 
lars, proz'idcd that the number of vol- 
unteers and substitutes for which said 
amount shall be paid, shall not exceed 
fifty. 

Rcsolzrd, That the selectmen be and 
hereby are authorized to borrow on 
the faith and credit of the town suf- 
ficient money to carry out this vote. 

In ])ursuance of call, a special 
Town Meeting was held at the Town 
House Saturda}-, Jan. 14th. 1865. 
jared R. Cook was appointed moder- 
ator. 

/ 'otcd, That the selectmen l)e and 
tliey are hereby authorized to pav such 
sum for the enlisting of men or ob- 
taining substitutes to apply on the 
(|uota of Meriden under the present 
call for 300.000 men. as they shall 
deem fit. 



so 



A CENTURY OF 3IERIDEN. 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 



Although Meriden showed her pa- 
triotism in pronounced degree by fur- 
nishing all the men asked for by the 
government, her sons had no oppor- 
tunity of going to the front and tak- 
ing an active part in the War with 
Spain. They were, however, ready 
and even anxious for the fray but the 
sudden and happy termination of hos- 
tilities made it unnecessary for them 
to show the fighting material contained 
in their ranks. 

It was the first of June, 1898, that 
Captain C. B. Bo wen, then on the re- 
tired list of the Connecticut National 
Guard, was commissioned by the Ad- 
jutant General's office of Connecticut 
to recruit a full company of men for 
the First Infantry, Connecticut Volun- 
teers, a part of which regiment was 
then in the field. The JMeriden com- 
pany was recruited by him and ready 
to be mustered in June 15, but owing 
to delays by the war office, the United 
States army surgeons and mustering 
officer did not report here until July 
5. On that date began the physical 
examinations of the men recruited, 
and finally on the afternoon of July 
9, 1898, the entire company, ol^cers 
and men, mustered to its full comple- 
ment of 109, was formally mustered 
into the service at the town hall, 
at which ceremonv none but the 



recruits, the mustering officer and 
surgeons were allowed to be present. 
All the recruits took the oath at once, 
and that same evening, in compliance 
with orders, boarded a train for Fort 
Knox, Me. Fort Knox is an old style 
stone fort located on the banks of .the 
Penobscot river opposite Bucksport, 
Maine, about fifty miles from the coast. 
The Meriden company was designated 
by the war office as L Company of the 
First Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, and 
assigned to that regiment. The regi- 
ment had been mustered into the ser-. 
vice May 4, 1898, at Camp Hayen, 
New London, and Ma}' 22 was as- 
signed to duty at different stations. 
The colonel's headquarters, unassigned 
field officers and six companies of the 
regiment were at Fort Knox when 
Company L arrived there. The other 
companies of the regiment were sta- 
tioned as follows : With the lieutenant 
colonel two companies at Plumb Isl- 
and, N. Y. ; two companies at Fort 
Preble, ]\Ie. ; one company at Gull Is- 
land, N. Y., and one compan\- at Fort 
Constitution, N. H. The field and 
other officers of this regiment were: 
colonel, Charles L. Burdett, Hartford, 
Conn. ; lieutenant colonel, A. G. Ham- 
mond, of Fort Leavenworth, Kan. ; 
major, John Hickey, South Manches- 
ter, Conn. : major, Edward Schulze. 



SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 



31 



Hartford, Conn.; captain and adju- 
tant, J. M. Wainwright, Hartford, 
Conn. ; first lieutenant regiment quar- 
tennaster, A. H. Bronson, Hartford, 
Conn. ; first lieutenant and battalion 
adjutant, P. J. Cosgrove, Hartford, 
Conn. ; first lieutenant and battalion 
adjutant, F. E. Johnson, Hartford, 
Conn. ; major and surgeon, T. F. 
Rockwell, Rockville, Conn. ; first lieu- 
tenant and assistant surgeon, R. S. 
Griswold, Hartford, Conn. ; first lieu- 
tenant and assistant surgeon, J. B. 
McCook, Hartford, Conn. ; chaplain, 
H. H. Kelsey, Hartford, Conn. 

The regiment at this time comprised 
Ijut ten companies, but by virtue of 
general order No. 61, Headquarters of 
the Army, June i, 1898, providing for 
the extension of regiments to twelve 
companies allowed the mustering of 
Companies L and M, the former of 
which was furnished by Meriden. On 
July 16, 1898, the war department is- 
sued orders for the rendezvous of the 
entire regiment at Camp Haven, New 
I-ondon, and from there was ordered, 
July 18, to Camp Alger, \a.. The 
regiment at this time comprised 1,362 
officers and men witli Ijand, and 
on their way to Camp Alger marched 
through Washington, D. C, where 
tiie\ were reviewed by the Secretary 
of War. The regiment was assigned 
to the Second Brigade, First Division 
and Second Army Corps and on Sep- 
tember 7 left Cam]:) .Mgcr for Camp 
Haven. Conn., arriving two davs later. 
The entire regiment was shortl\- after 
furloughed for thirty days, at the ex- 
])iratioii of \vhich time it was ren- 



dezvoused at Hartford, Conn., for the 
final muster out, which occurred Oc- 
toljcr 31, 1898 

On the memorial tablet, placed in 
the First Regiment armory at Hart- 
ford, in memory of those who died 
while in the service during the Span- 
ish-American war, is the name of the 
only man lost l)y Company L during 
the service, Arthiu" C. Lucchini, who 
died (jctober 20, 1898, while on a fur- 
lough, from fever contracted while in 
camp. 

The roster of Company L was as 
follows : Captain, Charles B. Bowen ; 
first lieutenant, Delbert R. Jones ; sec- 
ond lieutenant, Raymond G. Keeney, 
Somerville, Conn. ; first sergeant, 
Philip T. Vibert ; quartermaster ser- 
geant, Arthur A. Abel ; sergeant, W. 
H. Rees ; sergeant, Howard L. Bar- 
tram ; sergeant, Walter L. Bevins ; 
sergeant, William H. Banner; corpo- 
ral, Clifford A. Hauschild ; corporal, 
Charles E. Wachtelhausen ; corporal. 
Fred H. Relyea ; corporal, Frederick 
C. Benziger, Yalesville ; corporal, 
Thomas P. Timothy, Wallingford : 
corporal, Othniel Tves : nutsician. Jo- 
seph G. -\ichler : musician, l^dwin F. 
P)olton, W'allingford ; artificer, Eugene 
W. Early ; wagoner, Louis E. Couter- 
mash ; privates, Alfred A. Abel, Hart- 
ford, discharged August 11, disability : 
Louis Ammann, George H. Anthony, 
Southington : Axel AL Benson, i.fiuis 
H. P)ickford, Ferdinand L. r.iircliard, 
Maxwell Bofird. Clarence A. I'.uwer. 
^"alesvilk•: Cliarlo A. I'.recklin. ("has. 
S. Br.rdctt. Albert A. Burr. i)romotcd 
to C(^rporal : Walter W. Burr, Philip 



32 



A CENTURY OF ^MEKIDEX. 



T. Carlin, Edward Carter, Anton Con- 
reaux, transferred to band ; Arthur 
Cooper, John J. Cox, Walhngford ; 
Rollo Cobb, South Meriden ; Frank E. 
Dainton, Frank A. Duhcke, Charles 
J. Depree, Frank W. Durkin, Bristol ; 
Alfred Dussault, John W. Fletcher, 
New Haven ; Henry E. Folse, John V. 
Foran, John J. Francis, Wallingford ; 
Thomas Galvin, Willis W. Gardner, 
Louis Goldstein, Fred Gollnick, Mi- 
chael Goodman, Joseph H. Gracey, 
Harry C. Granger, William G. Hiller, 
Harry E. Harvey, Morris Hennessy, 
John W. Hickey, promoted to corpo- 
ral ; Edward Higgins, Edwin T. Ho- 
gan, John Hopwood, James D. Hour- 
igan, William G. Hyde, Michael Jirma, 
Wallingford ; Herman Kaschube, John 
Kay, John J. Kelley, John J. Kennedy, 
Wallingford : John King, Joseph R. 
King, promoted to corporal ; Chas. J. 
Kline, Wm. J. Knoblauch, August O. 
Kline, William D. Lee, Philip F. F. 
Lacourciere, James J. Lenihan, Arthur 



C. Lucchini, died October 20 ; John 
G. McGoldrick, Edward T. McLaugh- 
lin, Patrick J. Mulroney, William E. 
Xoonan, August Numann, Charles J. 
O'Donnell, Charles A. Olson, William 
L. Penfield, promoted to corporal ; 
Frank W. Pickhardt, John F. Plun- 
ket, Charles S. Perkins, Jr., promoted 
to corporal ; \\'alter S. Reama, Eu- 
gene C. Rogers, Walter H. Royce, 
Bristol ; Julius G. Runge, Lorenzo C. 
Russell, Joseph Seneal, George W. 
Shea, promoted to corporal ; Patrick 
J. Shea, Norwich, transferred from 
Company A, Third ; Anthony A. Shee- 
hey, Wallingford ; John J. Shinkey, 
Patrick J. Shortell, Herbert J. Siege), 
Leonard Skinner, promoted to corpo- 
ral ; Michael Smith. Harry Stanley, 
discharged August 6, for disability ; 
Floyd W. Stillman. Thomas E. Tighe, 
\Miitney A. Todd, Yalesville ; Michael 
Walsh, 'Frank M. Wollschlager, Wil- 
liam Wren, Middletown, and William 
G. Younsf. 



MERIDEN S PUBLIC PARKS. 



33 



MERIDEN'S PUBLIC PARKS 



CITY PARK. tlie direct supervision of that l)oar(l. 

The oldest of Aleriden's parks is 

Meriden possesses at the end of the known as City Park and has been re- 
first century of its existence, a park served as a piibHc lireathin,": place 




I.OOKIXG TOWARD WALl.I XCI-ORD FKO.M WKST PEAK. 



sy.stfni of which its residents may well .-ince 1880. The situation of City 
I»c justly ])roud ; for in both area and Pnrk makes it a convenient s])ot for 

an hour's recreation, beiui;' situated 
(|uite near the business center and con- 
tains about fifteen acres. 

It is bounded on the south b\- 
Ilruki r a\enue. on the west l)y h'rank- 
liu street, on the north bv Park ave- 



scenic beauty it is unexcelled by any 
city in Xew England. 

In i8y<j. by an anieudnieut of the 

:ity charter, a park commission was 

reatefl and Meriden's excellent ])ark 

'vstem since that time has been under 



34 



A CENTURY OF MEKIUEX. 



nue, and on the west by Warren 
street, and adjoins Brookside Park. 
For man\- }ears City Park 
was given but little attention by the 
city but since the creation of the park 
commission many improvements have 
been made. 



oaks, red oaks, hickory, hard and soft 
maple, wild cherry and stately elm 
trees, and afit'ord ample shelter from 
the rays of Old Sol, to tired individ- 
uals seeking respite from home and 
business cares. 

The city has generously provided 




L()(JKIXG WEST FROM WE.ST PEAK 



City Park contains some of the this park with swings and there is am- 
stateliest shade trees in or about ])le room on the well kept lawns for 
Aleriden and many of them are children to gambol on the green, 
older than the town itself. Xature This ]:)ark contains a pavilion of gen- 
has richly endowed this park with erous capacity in case of sudden show- 
chestnut trees whicli bend with a ers and other conveniences necessary 
friendly nod to the ]Mn oaks, yellow to a pul>lic park. There is also a pig- 







WF.ST PiiAK, FKO.M liAST PEAK. 




\vi:sT i'i:ak, mk "i'I'.aki. knoi;. i-'kom path. 



36 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




CASTLE CKAIC. TOWER, LOOKING WEST 



MEKIDliN's I'Uni.IC PARKS. 



37 




38 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




MKKIDEX S PUHLIC PARKS. 



39 




40 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




MliRlDEX S I'UULIC PARKS. 



41 



con house which is the home of a 
large Hock of these domestic birds 
both summer and winter. City I'ark 
also contains a water pool always 
tree from stagnant water and set- 
tees are also to.be found beneath 
the trees. 



HUBBARD PARK. 



In the western part of Meriden, antl 
named in honor of its founder, is one 
of the largest, most diversified, inter- 
esting and strikmg parks, public or 
private, within the borders of New 
iMiglantl. Included in its 1,000 acres 
or more are the celebrated Meriden 
Hanging Hills, with their mountain 
peaks (over one thousand feet eleva- 
tion), with their crags, cliffs, etc., and 
abounding in features that suggest the 
wildness of the primeval period, while 
there are to be found all around spots 
of sylvan beaut}-. These hills are the 
highest land on the Atlantic seaboard, 
within fifty miles of the coast, from 
-Maine to Florida. They are higher 
than Mt. Royal Park at Montreal. 
Blue Hills near Boston, East Rock in 
\cw Haven, or Eagle Rock of l<lsse.x 
County Parks, New Jersey. These 
five are the mountain j'tarks of the 
eastern coast. All ha\e rich beanl\ 
and magnificent views of their own. 
I-!ach differs so nmch from the other 
that comparisons are not desired, but 
<»f this it is certain — let a ])erson jour- 
ney ever so far. he will never regret a 
visit to Hubbard Park. The scenery 
is exceedingly wild and i)icturcsque. 
and is pronounced l)y celebrated land- 



scape architects to be the most strik- 
ing reservation of natural scenery for 
the use of a pul)lic ])ark possessed b\ 
any New England city. 

With the exception of about eight 
acres, a gift to the cit\' l)y the Charles 
Parker Co. and that originally 
purchased by the city from the heirs 
of William Johnson for reservoir pur- 
])oses, the land comprising the present 
Hubbard Park has been presented to 
the city of Meriden by Walter Hub- 
bard, president of the Bradley & Hub- 
bard Mfg. Co., and by whom the park 
has always been cared for, developed 
and beautified without expense to the 
city. 

The park is situated west of the 
city, about one and one-half miles, 
and can be reached by electric cars of 
both Meriden and Meriden & South- 
ington lines, wdiich make frequent 
trips, passing the entire south bound- 
ary which extends for more than a 
mile, aft'ording grand views of the 
higher elevations. The founder, per- 
ceiving the great natural advantages 
this land ])ossessed for a public park, 
asked and received permission from 
the city authorities to develop that 
jiortion belonging to the municipal- 
il\ . and the city has set aside and ded- 
icated this land for a ])ublic ])ark 
( with the beautiful reservoir. Lake 
.\Ierimere, l_\ing' ])ictures(|uely l)e- 
tween the cliffs and peaks) to which 
.Mr. Hubbard has added many tracts 
t)f land, thus enabling him to present 
to the public its now priceless pleas- 
ure grounds, with its many fine roads 
and walks, leading to delightful views 



42 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




MERIDEX S PUBLIC PARKS. 



43 



and scenes, and to its sparklini;' 
sprinj^^s, fountains, cascade and lakes. 

When, therefore, the Court of Com- 
mon Council of the City of Meriden 
voted to i^ive Hubbard Park its pres- 
nt name, it was but a just recognition 
(•t Mr. Hubbard's princely generosit\- 
and interest in his fellow townsmen. 

The act which follows was present- 
fd by -Vlderman H. T. King. March 
7, 1898, Amos Ives, then mayor, pre- 
siding : 

"Resolved, That the tract of land 
now owned by the city of Meriden, 
and extending from the Southington 
road to Merimere, or the old rescr- 
\-i>ir. and the property adjacent there- 
' I. which is being improved by W'al- 
ler Hubbard, and upon which he has 
already expended large sums of mon- 
for the benefit of his fellow citi- 
zens, be and the same is hereby des- 
ignated, known and entitled by the 
name Tiubbard Park,' in apprecia- 
tion in a slight degree of Mr. Hul)- 
bard's noble and unselfish work in be- 
half of his fellowmen." 

The same body on the evening of 
January 9, 1899, after the legislature 
had authorized the City of Meriden 
to bring Hubbard Park within its mu- 
nicipal domain, adopted the following 
resolution, introduced by Alderman 
Pirainard : 

■■Resolved, Tlial the tract of land 
hereinafter dcscrilied. belonging to 
the City of Meriden, except so much 
I if the same as is used for reservoir 
purposes and is appurtenant thereto. 
be and the same is hereby dedicated 
and established as a public park, to 



be designated and named 'Hubbard 
J 'ark." ■■ 

The lakes abound with fish which 
are not for for the prey of the angler 
but a delight to the seeker of restful 
recreation and lover of nature. Trout 
are in the trout pool ; pickerel at Mir- 
ror lake, which jump and dart, and 
in another part of the vast park is a 
pool of gold fish. 

The water fowl of Hubbard Park 
comprise dcMiiestic geese and ducks, 
and genuine Canadian wild geese 
also inhabit the lakes of the park. 
The large num1;er of tame pigeons at 
the park are a source of delight. 
There is also a large cage of squir- 
rels, which, like the water fowl and 
fish, are given the greatest care and 
protection. The waterfalls of Hubbard 
Park are marvelous imitations of na- 
ture. A charming drive of abotit eight 
miles is via the celebrated "Cathole" 
Pass, the lUue Hills of Kensington, 
and through the park, by Lake Meri- 
mere, with grand scenery all the wav. 



BROOKSIDE PARK. 



Most appropriately named is Brook- 
side Park, a part of Meriden's park 
system. The land was purchased b\" 
Walter Hubbard, in 1901, and given 
to the city by him for park purjooses. 
Tt extends from Cam]) to I>road 
streets, on both sides of Harbor Brook, 
a distance of nearly three-quarters of 
a mile and now includes a richly 
wooded knoll, given by the Miller 
liros. Cutlery Company. The park 



44 



A CENTURY OF DIERIDEN. 




.MliKlDKN S PUBLIC PARKS. 



45 



(It-rivcs its name from Harbor Brook 
wliich flows through the entire park 
and its swift running water of the 
purest quality, ackls greatly to its at- 
tractiveness. 

Brookside Park was endowed not 
only with its name by Mr. Hubbard, 
hut with all the vast improvements it 
possesses and until recently was main- 
tained out of his private funds which 
he has so freely expended. Retain- 
ing walls have been 1)uilt along the 
banks of the brook; rustic bridges 
have been constructed spanning 
the same : and the land has 
been largely remade. That Brook- 
side and City Parks might be connect- 
ed, several l)uilding lots on Bunker 
aveiu'.e were purchased : and the whok- 



is now covered with a velvety lawn. 
Three pools where gold fish and 
beautiful pond lilies thrive add to the 
scenic beauty of the park. All of 
these ])()()ls possess fountains which 
keep them well tilled with water. 
The i)ark, with its many attrac- 
tions, delights the visitor, and is fre- 
quented by people from all parts of 
Aleriden, particularly by children. 

The entrance to this park, on Camp 
street, is defined by two rustic stone 
pillars of large proportions. A newly 
macadamized drive extends through 
the entire park as well as numerous 
walks and paths. The park is kept 
in perfect condition by a competent 
corps of w^orkmen and gardeners now 
i)aid bv the citv. 



46 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEiV. 



MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS 



CURTIS MEMORIAL LIBRARY 



Dr. Trumbull, in his History of 
Connecticut, states that there were in 
1818, 140 libraries in the state and 
that they had been instituted since the 
Revolution. Wethersfield had one, 
begun as early as 1783, a purely sub- 
scription library, its subscribers be- 
ing shareholders in the corporation ; 
Farmington had one, started as soon 
as 1785, and Waterbury in its Bron- 
son library has books which were once 
in a library in existence there in 1797. 

Meriden. as befitted a very small 
community, had a tiny library as early 
as 1796. 

In the home of John P. Hall, in the 
eastern part of Meriden, is preserved 
an old Bible bound in pigskin, that 
was "Imprinted at London by Bon- 
ham Norton and John Bell, Printers to 
the King's Most Excellent Majestic 
:MDCXXVHL" On the inside of the 
front cover is this inscription : 

PRESENTED TO MERIDEN 
LIBRARY 

BY 

GAD ELY 

OF 

NEW YORK 

N0\' 29 1796 

Miss Grace, a sister to John P. 
Hall, has loaned to the Curtis ]\Ie- 



morial Library the catalogue of this 
first library and it is here reproduced. 

There are 1 53 volumes in this list 
mostl}' relating to divinity and theol- 
ogy ; and the taste of the reading pub- 
lic has changed to such an extent that 
it is doubtful if any one of these vol- 
umes would now be drawn if they 
were on the shelves of the present li- 
brary. The ]Meriden Library was a 
subscription one like that in \Vethers- 
field and on the probate records in 
Wallingford (where Meriden estates 
were then settled ) there are several 
inventories which contain the item 
"Share in the library" amounting to 
about $1.65 each, viz: Deacon Eben- 
ezer Cowles 1801 ; Samuel Whiting 
1803; Daniel Hall 1805; and Ezekiel 
Rice 1809. This library was discon- 
tinued and the books distributed, but 
at what date no one knows. ^ The 
books were doubtless kept in the base- 
ment of the old church that stood 
where the present Center Congrega- 
tional Church is located. 

During the last century there were 
several attempts to start a public !i- 



1 At an adjourned town meeting held Feb'y 
23, 1807, it was voted, "That the Books belong- 
ing to the Town be left with the Town Clerk. 

"Voted, That the Books be loaned out for the 
term of four weeks. 

"Voted, That if the Books are kept over one 
month the forfeiture shall be twenty-five cents 
with an increasing forfeiture of one cent per 
day until returned." 



CATALOGUE 



OF 



BOOKS 

BELONGING TO MERIDEN LIBRARY. 



DIVINITY AND ECCLESIASTICAL 
HISTORY. 
American Preacher, 4 v 8 vo 
Apology for Chriftian Divinity, 1 v 12 mo 
Backus on Regeneration, 1 v 12 mo 
Backus's Sermons, 1 v 12 mo 
Bofton's Fourfold State, 1 v 12 mo 
Blair's Sermons, 3 v 8 vo 
Beauties of Watts, 1 v 12 mo 
Burnham's Pions Memorials, 1 v 8 vo 
Cowper's Tafk, 1 v 12 mo 
Doddridge's Ten Sermons, 1 v 12 mo 

■ — Life, I V 12 mo 

■ ■ Mifcellaneous Works, 5 v 8 vo 

Rife and Progrefs, 1 v 1 2 mo 

Davie's Sermons, 2 v 8 vo 

Dickinfon's Letters 

Edwards's Diflertations, I v 12 mo 

Difcourfes, I v 8 vo 

_Evangelical Piinclples and Pradlice 
Fordyte's Addreiiesto Young Meti 
Fuller's Letters, 1 v 12 mo 

• Gofpel its own Witnefs, 1 v 12 mo 

worthy of all Acceptation 1 v 12 

Flavel's Husbandry Spiritualized, 1 v 8 vo 

Hawies' Church Hiftoiy 

Hunter's Sacred Biography, 3 v 8 vo 

Hcrvey's Meditations 

Jones's Ledures 

Jofephus's Hiftory of the Jews, 3 v 8vo 

Life of Prefident Stiles, 1 v 12 mo 

Lee's Trial of Virtue, 1 v 12 mo 

Lathrop's Mifcellanies 

Sermons 

Lowman on tke Revelations, 1 v 8 vo 

Moral and Religious Repofitory, 4 v 12 mo 

Montague's Letter; 

McEwen on the Types, 1 v 12 mo 

Maffillon and Bourdaloue's Sermons, 1 v 12 mo 

Milton's Paradise Loft and Regained 

Moore's Sacred Drama, 1 v 12 mo 

Female Educatien 

Newton (T) on the Prophecies, 3 v 12 ma 
Ne\yton (J's) Cardiphonia, 2v 12 mo 
Nelfon's Fafts and Feftivals, 1 v 12 mo 
Orton's Sermons 
Porteus' Sermons, 2 v 8 vo 

Leflures, 1 v 8 vo 

Prideaux's Connections, 2 y 8 vo 
Perkins' Sermons, 1 v 8 vo 
Sbe '.ock on Death 

Strong's Sermons, 2 v S vo 



Swan's Difcourfes 
Seabury's Sermons 

— Difcourfes 

Sturrn's Reflexions, 3 v 12 mn 
Sherlock's Difcoi;rfes, v4th 
Watfon's Apolngy for the Bible 
Walker's Sermons, 
Watts on the Mind 
Weft on the Refurrcsflion 
Willifton on ilic'Sabhp.th 
Young's Niglu Thoughts. 



HISTORY, VOYAGES, TRAVELS, 

MISCELLANY, Sec. . 
American Poems 
American Farmer 
Beauties of Hiftory 

Brydon's Tour through Cicily and Malta 
Car\'er's Travels 
Cook's Voyages 

Laft Voya,a;e 

Camilla, 5 v 12 mo 
Cyrus' Travels 
Emeline, 2 v 

Fool of Quality, 5 v 12 mo 
French Revolution 
Gifford's ReHdence in France 
Gordon's American Revolution, 3 v 8 vo 
Goldfmiih's Roman Hiftory, 2 v 8 vo 
Guthrie's Geography 
• Heath's Memoirs 
Humphrey's Works 
Hiftory 'of the French Revolution 

of Glafcovv 

Hawkin's Voyage 
Knox's Effliys, 
Lyttelton's England 2 v 
Lifeof Docior Franklin 

Locke on the Human Uiiderftanding, 3 " 

MiUot's Univerfdl Hiftory, 5v 8 vo 

Mills on Agriculture 

Memoirs of an Heirefs 

Modern Travels and Voyages 

Man of Feeling 

Neal's Hiftory of Nev/-England, 2 v 

Prophri^r.e Hiftory . 

Ramfay's America, 2v 8 vo 

Savory's Egypt, 2 v 

Smltii's Wealth o'f Nations, 3 v 

Spct-laicr, 8vo 12 mo 

Voltaire's Hiftory of Chiiles ICth. 1 v. 

Walhington's Letters. 



COMPLETE CATALOGUE OF FIRST MEUIDEX LIBRARV. 



48 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



brarv. The Meriden Republican in 
its issue of May 26. 1868, said "Some 
20 vears ago the Young Men's Insti- 
tute collected 700 or 800 volumes for 
a library ; but it declined and the 
volumes were scattered. Rev. Mr. 
Thacher, during his pastorate ( 1854- 
1861), made an etTort to start a pub- 
lic library but failed. Rev. Mr. Hay- 
den succeeded a little better and was 
instrumental in obtaining a charter 
and organizing a library association ; 
but he was foiled in attempting to raise 
sufficient cajMtal to erect the neces- 
sary building-. Xow the V. AI. C. A. 
have a building of their own fitted 
with library and free reading room. 
The>- have the remnant of the Young 
Men's Institute, and now they appeal 
for $1,500 to buy books." For years 
this library was the only one of a pub- 
lic nature in town. It was at first 
kept in the small wooden building 
which stood on the present site of the 
Y. M. C. A. and when the present 
brick building was erected in 1876-77 
it was kept in the room where it is 
located to-day. The books were free 
to all for reference, but in order to 
draw a book and take it home it was 
necessar}- to become a member and 
pay annual dues of $2. The books at 
present number over 8,000 but on ac- 
count of restrictions it is far from a 
free public library. 

Tnere have been various spasmodic 
attempts to raise sufficient money to 
start a free public library. On the 
evening of April 7, 1895. a public 
meeting was held in the town hall to 
devise means for forming a public li- 



brary. Ringing speeches were made, 
great enthusiasm was shown by all ; 
and various committees were appoint- 
ed to raise funds and outline a feasi- 
ble plan. But the great financial de- 
pression then existing blighted the 
project and the movement soon died 
a natural death. During the winter 
of 1897-8 the ladies of the Thursday 
Alorning Club gave a series of lec- 
tures which proved so successful that 
at the close of the season the treasury 
of the club was found to have quite 
a sum of money on hand. Some 
bright mind of the club conceived the 
idea that it would be wise to devote 
this sum to a free public library for 
Meriden. Thus was the movement 
started which has proved so success- 
ful. At a meeting of the club a com- 
mittee was appointed consisting of 
men as well as women to agitate and 
work for the project; at the annual 
towm meeting held in October, 1898. 
an appropriation of $1,000 ($500 for 
running expenses and $500 for buying 
books) was voted, after considerable 
opposition, for supporting a free pub- 
lic library. At the same meeting the 
following directors were elected to 
carry on the work: Miss Jennie Page, 
Henry W. Hirschfeld, John L. Dolan, 
for one year ; Albert B. blather, Mrs. 
J. H. Chapin, Walter S. Billard, for 
two ^•ears ; George M. Curtis. Thos. 
L. Reilly, Mrs. C. H. S. Davis, for 
three years. 

Thus was born a public library in 
^leriden. It was decided to begin 
work at once. Two rooms in the T. 
I. Coe house, No. 104 East Main 



MERIDEN IXSTITUTIONS. 



49 



strcfi, were rented and ]\Iiss Liicy B. 
Wadhams, of Torrington, was en- 
gaged as librarian, with Miss Corinne 
A. Deshon as assistant. Meanwhile 
a number of ladies had associated 
themselves as a Library ^^'hist Club, 
the purpose being to meet at differ- 
ent houses, and, by a system of fines 
and fees, raise money to aid in sup- 
porting the library. It is certain that 



constant succession of gifts of money 
and books and the library grew as rap- 
idly as conditions and circumstances 
would permit ; but the rooms were 
small and the work was greatly hin- 
dered thereby. In April Miss Wad- 
hams resigned her position and Miss 
Deshon was elected her successor. 
Mrs. Chapin would not accept the po- 
sition of library director and Mrs. 




CURTIS MEMCJKIAL LIliKAKV 



the aid of these two clubs in su])port- 
ing the library during these days of 
small beginnings was invaluable. The 
library was opened on the evening of 
January 30, 1899, for inspection only, 
and on the next day began the actual 
work of delivering books to the pub- 
lic with probably not more than 1,000 
volumes on the shelves. There was a 



Caro A. Lyon was elected in her place 
and Miss Hannah K. Peck was elected 
as successor to Miss Jennie Page who 
married and removed from ^Nleriden. 
On December 7, 1900, Mrs. George 
R. Curtis announced that she w^ould 
contribute sufficient money to buy a 
site, erect a suitable building for a li- 
brary and thoroughly equip it. provid- 



50 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ing the town would vote to annually 
appropriate $3,000 for running ex- 
penses. At a special town meeting 
held on the evening of March 12, 
1901, it was unanimously voted to ac- 
cept the offer made by Mrs. Curtis. 
Plans presented by W. H. Allen, 
of New Haven, were accepted, but as 
Mr. Allen at this time removed to 
California, Richard Williams, his suc- 
cessor, and who had drawn the 
plans, became the supervising archi- 
tect. The Lawrence property on the 
east corner of East Main and Pleas- 
ant streets was bought and w^ork on 
the site was soon begun. The con- 
tractors were The H. Wales Lines Co., 
of Meriden, mason work ; Smith & 
McQueen, of New Haven, carpenter 
work ; Sheahan & Groark, New Ha- 
ven, heating; Menzies & Menzies, 
New Haven, plumbing ; John F. But- 
ler Co., Meriden, painting ; C. F. 
Wooding Co., Wallingford, electric 
wiring ; The Library Bureau, New^ 
York, furniture ; A. B. & W. T. Wes- 
tervelt. New York, book stacks, and 
The Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co., 
Meriden, gas and electric fixtures. 

On the afternoon of September 28, 
1901, the corner stone was laid with 
appropriate ceremonies and U. S. Sen- 
ator Orville H. Piatt delivered the ad- 
dress. Meantime an appeal had been 
made for funds to buy books and the 
response was liberal, for up to this 
time more than $14,000 has been con- 
tributed for this purpose and many 
gifts of valuable books have been 
made. A bronze plate bearing the 
name of the donor has been placed in 



the stack room whenever a gift of $1,- 
000 or more has been made ; there are 
now twelve of these plates in the 
room. 

List of those for whom alcoves are 
named : John D. Billard, Dorence K. 
Atwater, Clarence P. Bradley, Wal- 
ter H. Bradley, Isaac C. Lewis, 
Frederick E. Curtis, Walter Hub- 
bard, Walter Hubbard, Nathaniel 
L. Bradley, Edward H. White, 
George A. Fay, Walter L. Bevins, 
Russell Hall, Aaron L. Collins. 

The autumn and winter previous 
to removal to the new building 
were busily employed by the librarian 
and her assistants in buying and cata- 
loguing more than 10,000 volumes. 

On the evening of April 20, 1903, 
the new library building was formally 
opened and a large number of Meriden 
citizens inspected the handsome edi- 
fice. The actual transfer of the prop- 
ertv to the Town of Meriden took 
place in the assembly room on the sec- 
ond floor. The town was represented 
by George W. Miller, selectman, and 
the presentaton of the deed w^as made 
by George M. Curtis in behalf of his 
mother, Mrs. George R. Curtis. Gov- 
ernor A. Chamberlain, the architect, 
Richard Williams, and the contract- 
ors, H. Wales Lines and Mr. Mc- 
Queen were present and a number of 
brief speeches were made. At 10 
o'clock the next morning the build- 
ing was opened to the general public 
and the usual work of a library be- 
p-an. There are now on its shelves 
more than 13.000 volumes. The di- 
rectors have already been named. Tlie 



MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS. 



51 




AUGUSTA (MUNSON) CURTIS. 



52 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



officers are A. B. Mather, president; 
Thomas L. Reill}', secretary, and 
George M. Curtis, treasurer. 

Corinne A. Deshon is hbrarian ; 
Ehzabeth L. Clark, first assistant ; 
Emma L. Woodley, second assistant, 
and Edward lUrns, janitor. 

Richard WilHams furnished the fol- 
lowing architectural description of the 
library : 

The design of the building is classi- 
cal, the motive adopted being that of 
the Greek Ionic order as exemplified 
in the Erecthion at Athens ; the rela- 
tive proportion of all members of the 
order to the diameter of the columns is 
the same as in that most beautiful of 
all temples. In working out the de- 
tails the architect availed himself of 
the most authentic works and meas- 
ured drawings obtainable, to reproduce 
with exactness, the mouldings and or- 
naments of the temple, and thus em- 
body in the Curtis Memorial Library, 
a lesson in the most finished example 
of the most refined Order of the 
Five, and thus contribute permanently 
to the advancement of knowledge 
through the expression of the archi- 
tecture of the building ; in harmony 
with the treasures of lore which are 
housed within its walls. 

The exterior of the building is of 
A'ermont white marble, the dome is 
covered with copper, and the interior 
woodwork is quartered oak, fumed 
finish. The entrance is approached 
by ascending several steps into a log- 
gia which is floored with mosaic tile 
with a border of a Greek pattern : the 
walls and ceilinc: are covered with 



white marble slabs, and lighted by hol- 
lophane glass globes supported on 
bronze wall fixtures on either side. 
The vestibule is floored with mosaic, 
designed in the same patterns as in 
the loggia, and wainscoted with quar- 
tered oak. It connects with the de- 
livery room, the assembly hall on the 
second floor, and toilet rooms at the 
side. On the east wall is a bronze me- 
morial tablet bearing this inscription: 

IN MEMORY OF HER HUSBAND 

GEORGE REDFIELD CURTIS 

BORN DECEMBER 25 1825 DIED MAY 20 1893 

AND THEIR DAUGHTER 

AGNES DESHON CURTIS SQUIRE 

BORN APRIL 10 1863 DIED MAY 20 1900 

THIS BUILDING WAS ERECTED 

1901—1902 

BY 

AUGUSTA MUNSON CURTIS 

Opposite this tablet is a bronze alto 
relievo figure called Amor-Caritas, de- 
signed and cast b\' the celebrated 
sculptor, St. Gaudens, and erected by 
the members of the Thursday Morn- 
ing Club in memory of Agnes Deshon 
Curtis Squire, a former member. 

Opposite the entrance to the deliv- 
ery room is the delivery counter and 
the stack room, 31x29 feet, with two 
tiers of book shelves and space for a 
third and containing altogether room 
for 40,000 books. Each alcove be- 
tween book cases has a window at the 
end and the main corridor through the 
center is lighted by a large window 
at the end. and a skylight admits li.^ht 
into the center of the room. This 
room is absolutely fireproof and sepa- 



MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS. 



53 



rated from the main building by re- 
volving steel curtains. There are two 
reading rooms, 18x30 feet, with a fire- 
place in each, set in a mantel of 
red Xumidian marble. The delivery 
room, which occupies the center space 
under the assembly room and the 
dome, is 30 feet by 30 feet. On the 
north wall hangs a beautiful clock pre- 
sented by the Ladies' Library Whist 
Club. The assembly room is 30 feet 
by 30 feet, and covered with a copper 
dome, and has a stage and two ante- 
rooms. The columns and entablature 
of this room are designed in the Greek 
Corinthian order and the proportions 
and details are the same as in the 
Choragic monument of Lysicrates at 
Athens. There is on this floor a com- 
mittee room which opens from the lob- 
by at the top of the stairs. The build- 
ing is heated by direct and indirect 
steam radiation. Altogether the struc- 
ture is built of the best materials and 
workmanship known to the trade. 

The total cost of the site, building 
and fixtures was about $75,000. 



THE CURTIS HO:\IE. 



On Crown street, on an elevation 
that commands a view of beautifully 
diversified country to the south and 
west, is the Curtis home, founded 
by one of Meriden's noblest citizens. 
Lemuel J. Curtis, who heeded well 
the biblical command : "Help ye one 
another." 

The monument that tells, therefore. 
<^f the loving memory of Lemuel J. 



Curtis, w4th the highest praise was 
this home, provided out of the good- 
ness of his heart for worthy aged 
women and children. 

The establishment of the Curtis 
home was a wisely guided philan- 
thropy that has achieved noteworthy 
success in the good Mr. Curtis aimed 
to accomplish. Its location is health- 
ful and pleasant and fortunate are 
those who can avail themselves of the 
shelter there ofifered. 

The first building of this institu- 
tion was dedicated June 28, 1884. It 
was the children's home and stands 
now at the north end of the structures 
that comprise the institution. 

Lemuel J. Curtis was for many 
years senior warden of St. Andrew's 
Episcopal church and one of its 
staunchest supporters. Besides the 
erection of the first building which 
cost $50,000, before his death, he en- 
dowed the home with about $650,000. 

Perhaps the act to incorporate the 
Curtis home of Meriden, passed by 
the General Assembly of the state of 
Connecticut, March 19, 1885. will Ix'st 
tell just the purpose and object Mr. 
Curtis had in mind when he created 
the home: 

"Rcsoh'cd by tJic asscjiibly: 

".Section i. That Rev. A. T. Ran- 
dall. Edwin E. Curtis, Lemuel J. Cur- 
tis. George R. Curtis, Owen B. Ar- 
nold. Levi E. Coe, Benjamin Page, 
Joseph Morse. James P. Piatt, Hiram 
A. Yale, John P. Morse, Samuel 
Dodd. John W. Coe and William W. 
IMoshcr. being those persons at pres- 



54 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




LEMUEL J. CURTIS. 



MERIDKX IXSTITUTIOXS. 



55 




BEDOTIIA PIERPOXT ( BUTTON) CURTIS. 



56 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ent composing the membership of the 
rectory, wardens and vestrymen of 
St. Andrew's parish of Meriden, the 
same being a parish of the Protestant 
Episcopal church, together with such 
persons as from time to time succeed 
them in office, are hereby created and 
constituted a body pohtic and corpo- 
rate under the name of the Curtis 



titute children, with the ultimate pur- 
pose of procuring them permanent 
situations and of fitting them to main- 
tain themselves." 

The late Owen B. Arnold was made 
the first president of the corporation ; 
Rev. A. T. Randall, vice president; 
Robert H. Curtis, secretary, and Wil- 
liam W. Mosher, treasurer. Messrs. 




CURTIS HOME, CHILDREN S BUILDING. 



Home, and by that name shall have 
perpetual succession and may sue and 
be sued, plead and be impleaded in all 
courts whatsoever. 

"The general object and business 
of said incorporation shall be to pro- 
vide a home, employment and in- 
struction for aged and indigent 
women, and for orphan and other des- 



Randall and Mosher still continue to 
hold the same positions. 

The Curtis home is, and was in- 
tended to be, strictly under Episcopal 
management, but inmates who belong 
to other Christian bodies are housed 
there. That the Home should be a 
public institution was not the wish of 
the founder. It was his aim. and is 



MERIDEX INSTITUTIONS. 



57 



t!ie aim of those responsible, for the 
carrying- out of his wishes that it 
should be conducted with the privacy 
of a well ordered home. 

The board of managers that con- 
trolled the home in 1885 was made up 
as follows : 

Mrs. J. T. Pettee, president; ]\liss 
Celia J. Curtis, vice-president; ]\Irs. 



W. Curtis, Mrs. George E. Howe, 
Mrs. James P. Stowe, Mrs. A. T. 
Randall, ^frs. George A. Fay, Mrs. 
Charles N. Winslow, Mrs. J. H. 
Chapin, Mrs. Henry S. White, Mrs. 
G. H. Wilson, Mrs. Joseph Morse, 
Mrs. R. H. Curtis, Mrs. Chas. H. S. 
Davis, Miss E. A. Landfear, Miss H. 
E. Bradley, Miss F. L. Twiss. The 




CURTIS HUMli, OLD LADlllS liUILOING 



L. E. Coe, corresponding secretar\' ; 
Mrs. Annie Palmer, recording secre- 
tary ; Mrs. George R. Curtis, Mrs. H. 
Wales Lines, ]\Irs. J. H. Brecken- 
ridge, Mrs. Hiram A. Yale, Mrs. 
Charles C. Foskett, Mrs. John Ives, 
Mrs. George C. Merriam, Mrs. Hor- 
ace C. Wilcox. Mrs. M. L. Forbes. 
Mrs. Harlow Brockett, Mrs. Alfred 



matron was Mrs. Annie Palmer and 
the physician. Dr. C. H. S. Davis. 

A glance at the above names will 
show the reader to what extent in- 
terest in the Home was aroused 
among the best people in the town 
and how, from the first, the}' lent their 
hearty co-operation and support to 
the institution. 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



During all the years of its exist- 
ence the Curtis home has been blessed 
with excellent management and to 
that fact its success has been largely 
due. 

The managing board divided itself 
into a Visiting committee, a Purchas- 
ing committee and Committee on Ap- 
plications, so that from the first the 
ladies did their part in a business-like, 
progressive way. 

It was not many years after the 
opening of the home that the need of 
more room to carry on the work out- 
lined by the founder became apparent 
and it was decided to build. The hand- 
some light colored brick building that 
cost approximately $100,000, was the 
result, and was formally opened in 
1896. 

There are usually fifty or more old 
ladies and children at the Home. 

The corporation made this the Old 
Ladies' Home and it was equipped 
with every convenience for their com- 
fort and happiness. It stands to the 
south of the Children's Home and in 
plain view of the country for miles 
around. 

Though this structure lacks the 
many cosy features of the first build- 
ing, it is handsome, nevertheless, and 
fulfills all the requirements for which 
it was intended. 

Always alert to the needs of the 
inmates of the Home and well aware 
of the fact that the young people 
who leave the institution, mus;t be 
equipped to face the world, the corpo- 
ration yoted recently to have a man- 
ual training department, and also a 



g}mnasium. To that purpose was 
erected a building costing several 
thousand dollars, finished in 1904. 

The building stands in the south of 
the institution's property, is con- 
structed of brick and has two stories. 
On the average twenty children re- 
ceive instruction here. The buildings 
are of brick with terra-cotta trim- 
mings, heated with steam, furnished 
with all modern improvements, and 
there are accommodations for a large 
number. 

The trustees of 1906 are: Rev. A. 
T. Randall, Benjamin Page, John W. 
Coe, Samuel Dodd, William W. Mosh- 
er, Watson W. Clark, George S. See- 
ley, George M. Curtis, A. B. Mather, 
Clarence H. Fiske, Charles T. Dodd, 
W. J. Robinson and E. B. Moss. 

President of board, Benjamin Page; 
vice-president, A. T. Randall ; treas- 
urer, W. W. Mosher ; secretary, 
George M. Curtis. 

The members of the board of man- 
agers are : 

Mrs. Hiram A. Yale, president ; 
Mrs. Levi E. Coe, vice-president ; 
Mrs. C. H. S. Davis, secretary ; Mrs. 
A. T. Randall, Mrs. George A. Fay. 
Mrs. Alfred W. Curtis, Mrs. George 
R. Curtis, Mrs. George C. Merriam, 
Mrs. Philip C. Rand, Mrs. Charles N. 
Winslow, Mrs. LeGrand Bevins, Mrs. 
Albert Babb, Mrs. John Ives, Mrs. W. 
J. Robinson, Mrs. J. H. Chapin, Mrs. 
E. A. Merriman, Mrs. L P. Butler. 
Miss ^lary Butler, Mrs. M. L. Forbes. 

The superintendency of the Home 
is in the hands of Miss Hannah K. 
Peck, who was appointed in 1895. 



M i:ridi-:x institutions. 



59 



succeeding I\Irs. Mary A. Carter. 
The matron of the Old Ladies' home 
is Mrs. M. F. Weeks. 

Lemuel J. Curtis endowed the in- 
stitution with an amount which will 
he ample to supply its needs in time 
to come and sufficient to pay all ex- 
penses of the home when filled to its 
utmost capacity. 

bedotha Pierpoint Button Curtis, 
tiie beloved wife of Lemuel J. Curtis, 
was a native of North Haven, Conn., 
and married Mr. Curtis in 1835. She 
survived both husband and children. 
The beautiful Home is also an elo- 
(|uent memorial to the goodness of 
Mrs. Curtis, now deceased. 



MERIDEX HOSPITAL. 



Meriden is peculiarly fortunate in 
the possession of a city hospital, not 
excelled by any city in Xew England 
<>( like population. The accompany- 
ing illustration shows the building en- 
larged to its present proportions, the 
work of which was completed at a 
cost of $40,000, and the remodeled in- 
stitution formally reopened June 29, 
MX)5. The h(ts])ital was first ()])cned 
in 1892. 

To the public si)irile(l men ami 
women of Meriden was the credit due 
for the establishment of the hospital, 
which has since been maintained with 
growing usefulness every year. A 
charter was secured from the Connec- 
ticut legislature in 1885, and the 
original incorporators were the fol- 
lowing : E. J. Doolittle, N. L. Bradley, 
John C. Byxbee. Robert H. Curtis, 



Rev. J. H. Chapin, Ceorge H. Wilcox, 
Isaac C Lewis, H. C. Wilcox, George 
R. Curtis, John Sutliff, Charles Par- 
ker, Seth j. Hall, Eli Ives, Levi E. 
Coc, Walter Hubbard, IE Wales 
Lines, William F. Graham and A. 
Chamberlain. 

February 2, 1885, a hospital fund 
committee was appointed as follows: 
X. L. Bradley, S. J. Hall, Walter Hub- 
bard and the late Levi E. Coe, George 
R. Curtis, Rev. J. H. Chapin, Charles 
Parker and H. C. \\'ilcox. A short 
time after a charter had been secured 
from the legislature, the ladies of Mer- 
iden met and appointed committees in 
the several wards as follows : jNIrs. E. 
C. Allen, Mrs. A. E. Austin, Mrs. T. 
F. Breese, Miss Ida Byxbee, Mrs. 
Charles Casper, Mrs. Ada Converse, 
Mrs. R. H. Curtis, ]\Irs. A. Chamber- 
lain, Miss Alice Derby, Mrs. George 
A. Fay, Miss Emma Gay, Miss Louisa 
Hitchcock, Mrs. X^anc\- Levi, Mrs. C. 
F. Linsley, ^Irs. W. H. Lyon, Mrs. 
C. J. Mansfield. ?\Irs. George C. Mer- 
riam, Mrs. Rufus Merriam, Mrs. Ben- 
jamin Page, Mrs. A. Babb, Miss Rice, 
Mrs. Francis Stevenson. Mrs. George 
II. Wilcox and Mrs. C. X"^. W'^inslow. 
'I'he ladies elected the following offi- 
cers : President, jMrs. A. Chamberlain ; 
vice-president. Mrs. Albert Babb; sec- 
retary, ]\lrs. A. 15. Mather; treasurer. 
Miss Alice Derby. 

Among the earliest undertakings of 
the ladies in aid of the hospital fund, 
were the rink party, February 13, 
1885, concert and dramatic entertain- 
ment, at the opera house, April 13 and 
14, minstrel entertainment, at the 



6o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 




MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS. 



6i 




62 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



opera house, October 26 and 2"/, fair, 
at the same place, December 8-12. 
These entertainments netted handsome 
sums as follows : Rink party, $446.52 ; 
concert, $159.82; dramatic entertain- 
ment, $201.20; minstrels, $768.91; 
fair, $2,630.14. 

The decisive step toward giving 
Meriden a hospital was taken Febru- 
ary 23, 1892, when the old Jared R. 
Cook property was purchased from 
Cornelius J. Kooreman who had 
bought it with a view to remodeling 
the dwelling and making it a fine ten- 
ement house. The original value of 
the property was stated, at the time 
of purchase as $15,000. 

Nearly every year since that time 
some big entertainment has been giv- 
en for the benefit of the hospital, al- 
ways successful, especially the annual 
hospital fair of recent years, which has 
become one of the principal social 
functions of the year. To a great ex- 
tent interest has been kept up in the 
hospital by the earnest efforts of the 
Ladies' Hospital committee, of which 
Mrs. A. Chamberlain has been presi- 
dent since its organization. In 1893 
the state of Connecticut granted an ap- 
propriation of $25,000 and a subsidy 
of $3,000 a year. The management 
of the hospital has always been the 
best and the success of the institution 
has exceeded the most sanguine ex- 
pectations of its founders. 

The institution attempts and has the 
facilities for caring for any case which 
may be brought to its doors for admit- 
tance and maintains a training school 
for nurses. The hospital with its new 



wards and private rooms has accom- 
modations for fort}' patients and in 
an emergency can take care of forty- 
five. 

From the matron's report of year 
ending September 30, 1905, the fol- 
lowing extracts are taken : 

"During the year 220 patients have 
been treated. Since the opening of 
the new building about one-third more 
patients have been treated than in any 
other year during the same length of 
time. 

"Nine patients have received the 
benefit of the Free Bed Fund for a pe- 
riod of 33 weeks ; 30 town cases have 
been treated, 22 from Meriden, 4 from 
Wallingford, 4 from Southington ; 
number of patients in hospital Oct. 
1st, 1904, 9; whole number treated 
during year, 220 ; discharged cured, 
144; discharged improved, 26; dis- 
charged not improved, 9 ; number of 
deaths, 29 ; number of deaths within 
24 hours of admission, 2 ; remaining in 
hospital Sept. 30, 1905 ; 12 ; whole 
number of hospital days, 4,722 ; aver- 
age number treated daily, 13 ; average 
number days for each patient, I3S<5 : 
weekly cost of maintenance and treat- 
ment per patient, $11.85." 

The present officers of the hospital 
are as follows : 

President. Xathaniel L. Bradley : 
vice-president, Walter Hubbard; sec- 
retary, Edgar J. Doolitde ; treasurer. 
Frank A. Stevens : auditor, Charles H. 
^^'()()(l ; directors, Nathaniel L. Brad- 
ley John C. Byxbee, Walter Hubbard, 
John L. Billard. Seth J. Hall, Augu^^t 
Schmelzer. Abiram Chamberlain. Kd- 



^9 



■SNOIXnXIlSXI N3aiH3K 




64 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



gar J. Doolittle, Charles L. Rockwell ; 
finance committee, Abiram Chamber- 
lain, Seth J. Hall, John C. Byxbee, 
Frank A. Stevens, Charles L. Rock- 
well ; incorporators, E. J. Doolittle, 

A. Chamberlain, N. L. Bradley, Au- 
g-ust Schmelzer, John C. Byxbee, E. 

B. Manning, Robert H. Curtis, C. W. 
Cahill, George H. Wilcox, John W. 
Coe, Seth J. Hall, John L. Billard, 
Walter Hubbard, Joseph S. Stokes. H. 
Wales Lines, Oliver Swan ; medical 
board. Dr. E. T. Bradstreet, chairman. 
Dr. E. W. Smith, vice-chairman. Dr. 
E. W. Pierce, secretary ; physicians 
and surgeons. Dr. F. P. Griswold, Dr. 
J. A. Cooke, Dr. E. W. Smith, Dr. J. 

D. Eggleston, Dr. H. A. Meeks, Dr. 

E. T. Bradstreet ; diseases of the eye, 
ear, nose and throat. Dr. E. A. Wilson, 
Dr. E. W. Pierce ; matron. Rose G. 
Reed ; pathologist. Dr. A. E. Van 
Tobel. 

HOSPITAL ASSOCIATE COMMITTEE. 

President, Mrs. A. Chamberlain ; 
first vice-president, Mrs. T. F. Breese ; 
second vice-president, Mrs. J. L. Bil- 
lard ; recording secretary, Mrs. N. F. 
Griswold ; corresponding secretary, 
Mrs. C. L. Rockwell ; treasurer, !\Irs. 

C. H. Stockder. 

The hospital staff, aided by an ef- 
ficient superintendent, a capable ma- 
tron and a competent corps of trained 
nurses, has made an enviable record 
for this hospital in the curing of dif- 
ficult cases and performing of delicate 
surgical operations. The hospital has 
had an efficient ambulance service 
since October, 1900. 



CONN. SCHOOL FOR BOYS. 



The Connecticut School for Boys, 
beautifully located on a high elevation 
with large sloping lawns joining the 
buildings with Colony street, is the 
only state institution that Meriden 
possesses. This comprises a tempo- 
rary home for boys wdio are delin- 
quent and wayward and here they are 
taught discipline and good behavior 
as well as manual training, farming 
and several trades, and given a gen- 
eral education, in all of which the 
youths, who are committed there, 
show remarkable results of good 
training and strict discipline in a short 
time. 

The "State Reform School" was 
established by act of the Connecticut 
Legislature in 1851, the first or main 
building shown in the accompanying 
illustration, being finished two years 
later. Since that time several other 
buildings, including a chapel and cot- 
tages, have been erected, until the in- 
stitution has the appearance from a 
distance, of a college or seminary. 
The buildings of the institution, all 
well constructed, and mostly of brick, 
consist of one central building, 300 
feet long, four stories in height, pos- 
sessing a wing 120 feet long; five cot- 
tage buildings ; a church edifice cost- 
ing $15,000; a large boiler and coal 
house, an ice house, bakery, a large 
hay and cow barn, a horse stable and 
carriage shed, cattle sheds, wood 
houses and other smaller buildings. 

In the rear of the institution is a 
farm of 195 acres suitable for raising 



MERIDEN INSTITUTIONS. 



65 



small fruits and garden vegetables, 
and through which a stream of pure 
water flows ; and here there is also am- 
ple pasturage for cows. About 100 
acres of this farm are cultivated by 
the boys who comprise the inmates of 
the institution. The various indus- 
tries of the school give employment 
to over 400 boys. There is a tailor 
shoji where the clothing worn by the 




SllT. C'1I.\K1.!:S M. w]i.i-i.\.\rs. . 

boys is made and repaired ; a printing 
office where all the printing of the 
instiution is done and from which has 
been issued for fifteen years, the 
monthly publication of the school 
called The Dawn. There arc also six 
chair shops, where cane-seating is 
taught ; a shoe shop where shoe-mak- 
ing is taught, and a manual training 
department where dailv instruction is 



given to over 100 boys. The institu- 
tion is carried on with every regard 
for economy ; ant! the laundry, din- 
ing room, bakery, kitchen and sleeping 
halls all require classes of from six to 
ten boys each. 

The boys are supplied with the 
best of ])lain food and every care is 
given to their mental and physical 
welfare. The inmates of the institu- 
tion are boys between the ages of sev- 
en and sixteen years, committed to the 
school by any court of record in the 
state and also those who have their 
board paid at the rate of $3.00 per 
week, quarterly in advance, by their 
parents or guardians. Boys who ob- 
serve the rules of this institution, even 
though they have been sentenced to 
serve a term there, may secure their 
discharge at the expiration of eleven 
months, no matter how serious the of- 
fense may have been for which they 
were conunitted. 

r^rom the fact that not all the boys 
at the Connecticut State School are 
necessarily bad boys, they are divided 
into several grades and for good l)e- 
havior they may win honor marks, 
which means more privileges and more 
freedom. It is seldom that a boy tries 
to escape from this institution. 

There is a force of about fifty offi- 
cers and teacliers eni])loyed at the 
school, which includes some of the 
best educational talent in the state. 
The boys are given at least two hours 
daily for recreation and on Saturday 
afternoon enjoy the freedom of ball 
l)la\ing or to indulge in other games 
that mav suit tlu'ir inclinatiDn. 



66 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



A well trained band, composed of 
State School boys, has for some years 
been in existence. 

Appended is a list of the trustees, 
officers and teachers at the beginning 
of 1906: 

TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL. 

Nathaniel L. Bradley, Meriden. 
George P. Crane, Woodbury. 
John C. Byxbee, Meriden. 
Francis H. Parker, Hartford. 
Joseph Hutchins, Columbia. 
George O. Balch, Ashford. 
John W. Coe, Meriden. 
James N. States, New Haven. 
Irving L. Holt, Meriden. 
Charles B. Frisbie, Cromwell. 
Clark C. Palmer, Griswold. 
Zalmon Goodsell, Bridgeport. 

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 

President — Francis H. Parker. 

Secretary and Treasurer — Irving L. 
Holt. 

Executive Committee — George P. 
Crane, John C. Byxbee, John W. Coe, 
Charles B. Frisbie, Francis H. Parker. 

Committee on Discharges — John C. 
Byxbee, Nathaniel L. Bradley, John 
W. Coe, Irving L. Flolt, George P. 
Crane. 

Committee on Instruction and 
Training — Joseph Hutchins, James N. 
States, Zalmon Goodsell, George O. 
Balch, Clark C. Palmer. 

OFFICERS OF THE SCHOOL. 

Superintendent — Charles M. Wil- 
liams. 

Matron— Mrs. Charles M. Wil- 
liams. 

State Agent — J. H. Parish. 

Chaplain — H. N. Howard. 



Bookkeeper — F. P. Owen. 

Assistant Matron— Mrs F. P. 
Owen. 

Consulting Physician — Harold A. 
Meeks, M. D. 

Clerk— Miss Marie L. Duis. 

Supervisor Manual Training De- 
partment — F. S. Hitchcock. 

Assistant Manual Training Depart- 
ment — H. R. Stone. 

Supervisor Printing Department — 
F. E. Tucker. 

Carpenter — H. F. Wilbur. 

Supervisor South Division and 
Band Master — T. H. Maguire. 

Supervisor Dining Room — Mrs. T. 
H. Maguire. 

Farmer — H. W. Kibbe. 

Supervisor Sleeping Hall — Mrs. H. 
W. Kibbe. 

Gardener — Hugo Reama. 

Supervisor Chair Shop — C. P. Con- 
nolly. 

Supervisor Sewing Room — Mrs. C. 
M. Brandenberger. 

Hospital Nurse — Miss Julia 

O'Brien. 

Supervisor Shoe Shop — Bernard 
Swenson. 

Supervisor Boys' Kitchen — Miss 
Harriet Furbish. 

Supervisors Laundry and Ironing 
Room— Mrs. Alida B. Clarke, Mrs. 
Kate McCauley. 

Assistant Housekeeper — Mrs. J. S. 
Farnsworth. 

Supervisor Bakery — B. Kreuz- 
berger. 

Engineer — W. D. Bennett. 

Assistant to Engineer — Edward B. 
Hall. 



68 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Supervisor North Division — Paul 
C. Booth. 

Teachers in Congregate Depart- 
ment — Harold C. Robertson, James S. 
Farnsvvorth. 

Cottage A. 

Supervisor — W. W. Lunt. 

Matron— Mrs. W. W. Lunt. 

Teacher — Miss Clarise Stowell. 
Cottage B. 

Supervisor — E. S. Berry. 

Matron — Mrs. E. S. Berry. 

Teacher — Miss Amelia C. Aleckes. 
Cottage C. 

Supervisor — Nelson J. Wells. 

[Matron — Miss Mary I. Rand. 

Teacher — ]\Irs. John H. Parish. 
Cottage D. 

Supervisor — C. C. Sawyer. 

Matron — Mrs. C. C. Sawyer. 

Teacher — Mrs. Lilla F. Davis 
Cottage E. 

Supervisor — R. C. Leonard. 

Matron — Mrs. R. C. Leonard. 

Teacher — Miss Ruth M. Hanks. 

Night Watchman — Issacher Cur- 
rier. 

Teamster — Dennis Keohane. 

COok Superintendent's Kitchen — 
Miss Hannah Crowley. 

Cook Officers' Kitchen — ]\Irs. ^lary 
Shandaroski. 



MERIDEN YOUNG MEN'S 
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. 



The Meriden Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association dates from the win- 
ter of 1865-6 and was incorporated 
June ij, 1866. The incorporators 



were Julius Pratt, Dennis C. Wilcox, 
Eli Butler, Hiram Foster, Charles 
Parker, Alden Clark. E. B. Everitt, 
William A. Bacon, Eli I. Merriman, 
Charles L. Kingsley, Erastus Hub- 
bard, Edward H. Loomis, James H. 
Breckenridge, Alfred E. Camp and 
Levi Yale, Jr. The present site was 
purchased together with a small wood- 
en building by means of a subscription 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

GENERAL SECRETARY E. K. ALLEN. 

of about $7,000. By its charter the 
corporation was authorized "to estab- 
lish, keep and maintain a library and 
reading room, and to promote such 
other literary and benevolent objects 
as it may think proper." In 1876 with 
a subscription of a little more than 
$20,000, it commenced the erection 
of its present building; the corner 



MERIDIiX INSTITUTIONS. 



69 



stone of which was laid October 19, 
and July 31, 1877, the building, at a 
cost of $28,000, was finished, furnished 
and dedicated. The last of the debt 
was paid February. 1886. It was the 



the building, so great became the ^ic- 
mand for a modern gymnasium, that 
in 1897 the entertainment hall on tlie 
top floor was remodeled, the pillars 
removed and truss work substituted 




^^Wi '$MamLiiMi 



YOUNG MI:N S CHKISITAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING. 

irst building erected exclusively for to support the roof. These changes 

I. M. C. A. purposes in New Eng- have given the association the largest 

ind and the property is now valuer! and best equipped gymnasium in the 

t $50,000. city. In 1889 the association secured 

After twenty years' occupancy of an amendment to its charter and under 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



the new organization the work has 
steadily developed in efficiency. 

Its membership during the past year 
averaged 330, and with the addition 
of about 175 life members, totals more 
than 500 members. 

The following men have served the 
association as presidents since the in- 
corporation : 

J. H. Breckenridge, from July '66 
to September '68 ; E. W. Hatch, from 
September '68 to September '69 ; F. 
H. Williams, from September '69 to 
September "70 ; F. G. Otis, from Sep- 
tember '70 to '75 ; W. E. Benham, 
from September '^2 to May '90 ; J. 
L. Rutherford from May '90 to May 
'93 ; W. L. Squire, from May '93 to 
May '96; W. H. Catlin, frqiii June 
'96 to May '98 ; M. B. Schenck, from 
June '98 to May 1900; W. H. Squire, 
from May 1900 to May '03 ; W. L. 



Bevins from May '03 to February '05 ; 
C. A. Learned, from February '05 to 
date. 

The officers of the association at 
this writing, are : President, Charles 
A. Learned ; vice-president, Arthur 
E. Hall ; second vice-president, Wal- 
ter S. Billard ; recording secretary, F. 
L. Burleigh ; treasurer, W. M. Ques- 
ted ; librarian, B. R. Gardner. Fol- 
lowing are the directors ; George S. 
Seeley, F. A. Camp, Arthur E. Miller, 
L L Gardner, R. J. Merriam, Hubert 
Little, Rev. R. J. Beach, W. A. Hall, 
George S. Pratt The trustees are: 
George M. Lucas, 1908 ; James H. 
White, 1908 ; J. L. Billard, 1907 ; 
George M. Curtis, 1907 ; J. L. Ruth- 
erford, 1906 ; W. H. Squire, 1906. 
The general secretary is E. K. Allen ; 
the physical director, J. Edward Rey- 
nolds. 



POLICE AXD FIRE DEPARTiMENTS. 



71 



POLICE AXD FIRE DEPARTMENTS 



I\)LICE DEPART ML-: XT 



The Police Department of the city 
Ml Meriden was created in Septem- 
ber. i868' the Common Council, with 
Mavor Charles Parker at the head. 




CHIEF c. n. l!OWl-:.\. 

votinj^ to replace the constahvlary with 
a permanent and regularly paid force 
to meet the growing demand for better 
police protection ; in the same month 
the police committee, consisting of 
Hezekiah H. Miller, William J. Ives. 
Walter Hubbard, Jared Lewis and J. 



J\. Look. ])ractically effected the or- 
ganization of the department, and in 
Xovember the force began duty with 
the following members : W'illiam Hag- 
adon. chief; and George \"an X^os- 
. trand, Roger J\I. Ford and Samuel H. 
Wilcox, patrolmen. 

The department at first had no par- 
ticular headquarters ; the lock-up was 
in the basement of the Town hall and 
was a large plank box affair, located 
at the west end of the building, the 
entrance being at the cast end. 

The chief did duty from 6 a. m. 
to 6 p. m. and the patrolmen from 6 
p. m. to 6 a. m. At the beginning the 
men wore badges but had no uniforms- 
and were distinguished by liats with 
Haring brims, upturned at the side, 
ile.'-e. the first of Meriden's "finest,"' 
carried a club, revolver and twisters 
of catgut and wood. A little later 
uniforms were donned, the trousers of 
which had white stripes down the 
seams. The chief was paid $2.75 per 
day and the men $2.50 and they were 
elected yearly by the city L"ouncil. 

William N. Beach was the next 
chief: and soon after his election the 
de])artment was transferred to a city 
building on the site on Pratt street 
now occupied as the Turner hall, 
where the fire department also had 
(juarters. Here there were cells and 
the chief had an office. Under Chief 



72 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Albert L. Otis, who succeeded Beach, 
and FrankHn G. Bolles, his successor, 
there were but few changes. 

With the election of Roger M. Ford 
to the head of the department in 1883, 
radical innovations and improvements 



police surveillance, but the same lock- 
up was retained as before. 

Ford had seven men and they in- 
cluded Captain Van Nostrand, later 
chief. Patrolmen Herman Duis and 
Charles Kimball, still regular patrol- 




MERIDEN TOWN HALL, DESTROYED DV FIRE FEBRUARY, I904. 



were begun. The headquarters was 
transferred to a room in the Rogers 
block at the corner of East Main and 
South Colony streets, a central loca- 
tion and one that allowed of better 



men, and Simon S. Hills, F. G. Bolles 
and Emanuel Withey. 

About four years later the depart- 
ment was installed in safe and com- 
fortable quarters in the remodeled 



POLICE AND FIRli UEl'ART.M KNTS. 



72> 



Town hall where were a main office, 
:hief's office, patrolmen's room, squad 
room and police committee room. 
The lock-up then was well equipped 
and divided into sections for men and 
women prisoners. 

In 1895, the force consisted of a 
chief, captain, lieutenant, sergeant and 
twelve patrolmen and also a corps of 
fifty special policemen. 

At the previous session of the Leg- 
islature the jurisdiction of the j)olice 
was extended to the limits of the town, 
and the Police court was made the 
only tribunal for the lioaring and dis- 
position of criminal cases within the 
town's boundaries, abolishing the cum- 
bersome and unsatisfactory system of 
grand jurors formerly in vogue. 

In i8»;2 the (jamewell police signal 
and teleplione system was installed 
and a patrol wagon was placed in ser- 
vice during Chief Ford's regime. 
Ouring Mayor Ives' administration 
tlie present municipal commissions 
were established and much of the 
power of the Police committee and the 
Council became then vested in the 
iJoard of Police Commissioners. 
Things went along smoothly in the 
'.rtnient, with few noteworthy iii- 
nts, until February, 1904, wlun 
'' ' Town hall was destroyed by fire 
jjind it was necessary to hastily seek 
piarters elsewhere. A store in the 
'yxbee block on Colony street was 
ented by the city, cells being con- 
tructed in the basement, pending the 
ompletion of the new Town hall. 
April 30, 1898, Captain Van Nos- 
and was promoted to succeed Chief 



Ford. Under him the department 
was soon brought t(j a high standard 
of efficiency. He resigned February 
1, i(;of), and was succeeded March I 
1)\- Charles P.. Ilowen and at which 
time also James j. Landrigan was ap- 
l)oinled caj^tain. 

h\ 1903 the Legislature gave the 
four officers of the force the right to 
appeal to the Superior court if dis- 
missed or reduced in rank. In 1905 
the Legislature granted an amendment 
to the city charter, at the instance of 
Mayor George S. Seeley and com- 
missioners August Masclinieyer, C. A. 
King, C. L. Upham and Robert W. 
Carter, whereby a police retired re- 
serve list was established. The Coun- 
cil had defeated a movement for 
a pension fund. In August, Patrol- 
man Simon S. Hills, who has been 
on the force since 1882, was placed on 
the list, and later at his own reciuest, 
Chief \ an Xostrand was also ])laced 
on the reserve list. 

The department is considered one 
of the best in the state. Its mainte- 
nance costs the city $20,000 a year and 
it is conducted on an economical yet 
wise basis. In addition to four offi- 
cers, twelve patrolmen and forty su- 
pernumeraries, there is a superinten- 
dent of the jiolice signal system, a 
matron of the police station and a jan- 
itor. Funds are provided by the city 
for a physician for the prisoners and 
hospital service for the police. The 
signal system costs $600 a year and 
the patrol wagon but $125. 

The department is provided with 
up-to-date equipment of which one of 




MEUIDEN POLICE FORCE, MARCH I, I906. 



James M. Tolles Chas. D. Lewis 

Lieut. John J. McGovern Capt. J. J. Landrigan 
James F. Grady Jas H.Burke 

Simon S. Hills Joseph B. Dcran 



Chas. P. Kimball 
Chief C. B. Bowen 
Jeremiah J. McCarthy 
Herman F. Schuerer 



Herman Duis 
Sergt. Wm. D. TU.ayer 
Edwin A. Puffer 
Howard H. Bartram 



POLICE AND FIRK I)i:i'.\RTM KXTS. 



75- 



the latest and most important acldi- llradley & Hubbard company's prop- 

tions is all the necessary apparatus for erty and the cistern on what would 

photographing prisoners accused of a now be \\\-t Main street are as well 
felonv. 



The yearly arrests average about 
600 and fines and costs nets a revenue 
to the city of about $5,000. 

The personnel of the force is as 
follows : Chief of police, Charles B. 
Dow en ; captain, James J. Landrigan ; 
lieutenant, John J. McGovern ; ser- 
geant. William D. Thayer; patrol- 
men. Herman Duis, Charles P. Kim- 
ball, James M. Tolles, Edwin A. Puf- 
fer, Charles D. Lewis, James H. 
r.urke, James F. Grady, Herman T. 
Schuerer. Joseph B. Doran, Jeremiah 
J. McCarthy, Howard H. Bartram, 
Joseph X. Lajoie and Biagio Guer- 
rieri, the last two of whom were ap- 
pointed ^larch 19, 1906; reserve of- 
ficers, Simon S. Plills and Geo. A'an 
Xostrand. 



MKRIDEN FIRE DEPARTAIEXT. 



The Meriden Fire Department had 
a very small beginning wdiicli dates 
back to the Cataract Engine Company, 
Xo. I. West Meriden, formed in 1851 
and numbering 100 men. The first 
engine of that company is now- proud- 
ly exhibited by the Meriden Veteran 
Firemen's Association in i)arades and 
on other occasions. The company 
had quarters in a building on the site 
:ifterwards occupied by the opera 
house block. Water was first ob- 
tained from Harbor brook and cis- 
terns conveniently placed ; the old 
mumping pole on what is now the 



remembered 1)_\- a few old timers as 
the cry of "Break her down, boys." 
Robert Oughton, later chief en.;ineer 
of the fire de])artment. was the first 
foreman of the old Cataracts. Later 
S. F. Linslev was first assistant fore- 




Plioto by Akers & Pigeon. 

JOHN' c. r.vxr.KE. 

man : R. Moss Breckenridge. secre- 
tar\ and treasurer. Some of the oth- 
er members were: W. 1'.. Hcnham.. 
William W Clark, E. R. Merriam. E. 
D. Castelow. A. E. Camp. II. W. .\n- 
drews. Mark M. Linsley, James Bea- 
dle, C. H. Wanier, George Gay, J. 
I'. Parker, C. J. Hull, J. B. Steven's. 
II. r.otsfnrd. Bela Carter, Wallace- 
I'.idl. C. 1). I.oveland.. Tniman Stiles,. 



7^ 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



John Vorra, W. J. Kirtland, Wilson 
Carpenter, D. B. Comstock, Levi 
Moses, Gordon Bailey, William Good- 
will, Norris B. Bull, Milo Goodrich, 
G. W. Lyon, and later on O. H. Piatt. 
Some six years after the forming 
of the Cataract Engine Company, T. 
J. Coe and other organized the Bucket 
Brigade which had a short existence. 



Charter Oak Engine Company, Xo. 
I, and the company had quarters in 
the first engine house in Meriden, lo- 
cated on State street. 

John C. Byxbee was also instru- 
mental in giving Meriden its second 
company — Washington Engine com- 
pany, No. 2. By subscription another 
and improved engine was bought and 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 
CHARTER OAK HOSE HOUSE, ALSO HOME OF VETERAN FIREMEN's ASSOCIATION. 



The machine used by this brigade was 
built after the style of the present 
"trucks," and buckets hung from long 
iron rods. 

It was after the famous Corner fire 
of 1863 that John C. Byxbee, after- 
wards the first chief engineer of the 
department, with others, started the 



at the time the Pratt street station 
was dedicated, in 1867. was put to 
test with flattering results. 

The old engines still do good work 
but Meriden has made progress in fire 
matters and there is now no further 
use for them. 

The Charter Oak Hose Company, 



POLICE AND FIRE DKl'AKT.M EX TS. 



77 



Xo. I. began its useful existence in 
1863, as a companion to the Charter 
Oak Engine Company, George O. 
Higby being the first foreman. The 
company's two-story brick house on 
Butler street was the first of tlie 
buildings erected by the city : and this 
company holds an important place at 
the i)resent time in the fire fighting 



tain of the company ; John D. Rob- 
erts, lieutenant ; W. E. Tourgee, 
clerk, and the hosemen are : Curtis 
Rockwell, W. D. Francis. William H. 
Rees, H. B. Penfield, B. I. Thompson 
and the substitutes, All)ert Kaschu- 
bey and Oliver S. Warner. 

At the outset, the Byxbcc Hose 
Comi)any, No. 2, was known as the 




Phot-> hy R. S. Godfrey. 

llEAIHiUAKTEKS OF BVXBEE HOSE CO. AND DOOI.riTL 



IIOOK \- I.ADDEK CO. 



service of Meridcn. Its ccjuipment 

comprises a hose wagon and a pair 

pf fine horses skilfully handled and 

l\e}l cared for by Driver George N. 

phepherd, who grew up with the com- 

any and was appointed in Chief 

ohn Tracy's administration. The 

ther permanent man is Wallace R. 

ucas. William X. Goodrich is cap- 



Washington Hose Compan} and in 
1865, was associated with the old 
Washington Engine Company. In 
1870 the members joined the dei)art- 
ment under the present name and the 
company has proved a very valuable 
addition to the fire fighting force. 
I-Vank Mcl'artland was the first reg- 
ularly api)ointed foreman and then 



78 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



•came William Seery with John Luby 
.as his assistant. In 1885 the hand 
"jumper" was exchanged for a new 
hose wagon and horse and E. J. Cor- 
rigan, the present driver, was ap- 
pointed the driver. Mr. Corrigan 
was the first of the permanent men 
:and possesses a proud record. 

The company is now hoirsed in the 



driver ; John J. Coogan, Michael J. 
Liddy, James Ford, Frank Waldron, 
P. F. Corcoran, John M. Reynolds, 
hosemen, and Robert J. Donahue and 
William H. Watts, substitutes. 

The Parker Engine Company, No. 
3, old, reliable guardians of the up- 
town district, was organized in a 
building on School street in 1869. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



PARKER ENGINE CO. 



commodious fire building on Pratt 
street and has an up-to-date hose 
wagon with a pair of the best horses 
in the service. The beginning of 
1906 finds the company personnel as 
follows: John F. Donovan, captain; 
James J. Donovan, lieutenant; Chris- 
topher Seery, clerk ; E. |. Corrigan, 



Originally this was a hose house lo- 
cated on Center street opposite St. 
Rose's church and in 1877 quarters 
on East Main street were dedicated ; 
but shortly after the steamer was 
bought the present fine building was 
erected on Broad street and the com- 
pany's name was changed from tlie 



POLICE AND FIR1-: 1 ) i: 1 '. \ RT M KXTS. 



79 



Parker Hose Co. to the [jresent title. lier.tLiiaiit ; X. C. Smith. cleri< ; W'il- 
Finding that the ])res.si're of the ham C Lucas, engineer ; (George C. 



citv water was low on the hill, the 
Common Council voted t(3 buy a 
steamer and one was procured in Julw 
1884. Although not sufficientl}- sur- 
rounded with modern equipment at 
tliat time to prove its usefulness, the 
steamer has since become a valuable 



Coan, stoker; Charles A. Merriam. 
h.o^e dri\-er : John H. Santars, steam- 
er driver: John Spencer. Charles A. 
Berry. C. H. Th(jmas. John Stickel, 
J. j. Thomas. W. II. UenKjut, hose- 
men : Charles L. Selka, John J. .Mar- 
([uardt. sul)stitutes. 




I'Liot) by R. S. G)dfi-ev. 

WILCOX IKJSI-: CO. 



adjunct of the service and this steam- 
er is now drawn by three powerful 
horses. 

When the Parker Hose Companv 
was organized George Lee was elect- 
ed foreman. The members of the 
Parker Engine Company iwc : Wil- 
liam R. liailey. captain; M. J. Cullen. 



The 1"'. J. Doolittle Truck Com])any, 
at present a ver\- important adjunct of 
the {L>])ariment. was organized in 
1868 and William I laggerty was the 
first foreman. The "Hnoks" had 
(|r.arters in the uld j^olice building on 
Pratt street but afterwards moved op- 
j)osite to share the present large and 



8o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



handsome fire house with the Byxbees. 
The company was first known as 
the Ever Ready Hook and Ladder 
Company, but the name was changed 
when the present quarters were tak- 
en, in honor of ex-Mayor E. J. Doo- 
little. The first foreman of the "Ever 
Readys" was WilHam Haggerty. Lat- 
er came C. H. Warner, WilHam Mar- 



er July i, 1887.^ Patrick McGrath 
came next and he is the present driv- 
er of the three horses that haul the 
new Seagrave Trussed Hook and 
Ladder truck. The members of the 
company are : John E. Moffatt, cap- 
tain ; Charles M. Blackwell, lieuten- 
ant ; Walter C. Case, clerk and tiller- 
man ; Patrick McGrath, driver; 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



VOLUNTEER HOSE CO. 



shall, George M. Barnes, Lew Allen, 
L B. Hyatt and James O. Brainard. 
Among the old "Ever Readys" still 
in the "Hooks" are: Charles M. Black- 
well, W. C. Case and A. S. Butler. 

When the old hand truck w'as suc- 
ceeded by a modern one Julius A. 
Lego was appointed permanent driv- 



Charlcs E. Tyler, spare driver ; W il- 
iiam Roselius, Jr., A. S. Butler, Sam- 
uel Hobson, Thomas J. Roark, John 
Hobson, Emil Rebstock, John L. Cole- 
man, John T. Ryan, laddermen ; Frank 
M. Wollschlager, Thomas F. O'Con- 
nor, substitutes. 

The Wilcox Hose Company, No. 4- 



POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. 



is one of the younger companies but 
long ago made up for its youth by 
faithful and conscientious attention 
to fire fighting. It was started in 
1 8/ 1 as a volunteer company and in- 
stalled by the city in the handsome 
brick house on Colony street in 1878 
as a permanent and regular company. 
John Inglish was the first foreman 
and his assistants were John Fitzpat- 
rick and Oliver ^McCarthy. Later 
John Fitzpatrick became foreman and 
afterwards John Rahale\' and later W. 
E. Byrne. 

The Wilcox Company now has a 
substantial hose wagon and a pair of 
fine horses. The make-up of the com- 
I)any is as follows : Richard Shaw\ 
captain ; Dennis j. Horgan. lieutenant : 
T. L. Hagerty. clerk; John Rahley. 
driver ; Timothy L. Haggerty. spare 
driver ; T. F. Waldron, William L. 
Fredericks, Thomas H. Haggerty, 
}ames Kenworthy, Daniel Alexander, 
C. J. Heineman, hosemen ; W'illiam J. 
Dowling, Michael Walsh, substitutes. 

The last organized fire company is 
the \'eteran X'oluntecr Hose Com- 
pany. Xo. 5. located in comfortable 
but cosy quarters on Camp street. 
This company came to be organized 
through the removal of the "Wilcoxes" 
from Camp street in 1878 to their 
present home. This left a thickly- 
l)opulated district practically without 
fire protection, so prominent citizens 
got together and the \'eteran \'olun- 
teer Hose Company was the result. 
.\mong the charter members were : P. 
E. Hull, E. E. West, L. C. Brown. J. 
H. Williams. C. A. Miller. D. T. Lvon. 
6 



Robert ( Jughton, W. T. Church, H. L. 
Sharkey, C. J. Heineman, R. Lee Is- 
bell, T. \l. Smith. Robert Oughton 
was the first foreman and D. T. Lyon 
succeeded him in 1884. 

The volunteers have pulled their old 
reliable hand hose wagon to many fires 
in recent years, and they have done 
good work, but the fine equipment of 
the regular companies has made their 
services less and less urgent and the 
members now give more attention to 
the social gatherings for which they 
are justly renowned. 

The officers and members of the 
company are as follows : David T. 
Lyon, captain ; Henry G. Strickland, 
first lieutenant ; James Hirst, second 
lieutenant; J. ]\Iessner, clerk; L. H. 
Sutterlin, treasurer ; William Benzi- 
ger, G. J. Griswold, H. L. Starkey, G. 
Gchrman, E. J. Oefinger, D. Flans- 
burgh, J. J. Cassid}', \Mlliam Oefinger, 
John Meiklem, William Benziger, Jr., 
Charles Milner, Harry Hirst, P. H. 
Timms, Jacob Oefinger, Gustave Ris- 
er, hosemen. 

The Meriden \'eteran Firemen's As- 
sociation, W'hich has been in existence 
only a short time, numbers among its 
members many of Meriden's promi- 
nent citizens. It gives frequent social 
times that are very well received by 
all the ]:)Cople. John C. Byxbee was 
the first president : E. E. W^est. the 
second, and John D. Roberts is now 
president. The late Senator O. H. 
Piatt was a member and wlun he died 
in 1905 the association took appro- 
])riate action and many members at- 
tended the fimeral. 



82 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



The Meriden fire alarm and tele- 
graph system dates back to 1869 when 
Charles Warner was chief engineer. 
Under Chief John C. Byxbee the 
ward system of sounding an alarm 
in case of fire was adopted. In 1881 
the fire alarm telegraph was intro- 
duced and the alarm was sounded 
from St. Andrew's church bell for a 
time, then the present tower bell was 
erected on Pratt street. In 1889 the 
fire alarm boxes were changed and 
systematized much as at the present 
time. There are now tower bells 
in all the houses and the amount 
of wire used in the fire alarm 
telegraph is seventeen and one-half 
miles. From the last annual report of 
Superintendent William C. Lucas, it 
is found that there are also forty-five 
signal boxes and one mile of under- 
ground wire. The fire alarm tele- 
graph system of jMeriden is valued at 
about $15,000. 

The volunteer fire department was 
started in 1867, when Meriden was in- 
corporated a city, and John C. Byxbee 
was made the chief engineer. His as- 
sistants were Christopher Rebstock 
aad Michael Carlin. The following 
year J. W. Hiney was made chief and 
he was assisted by Charles Warner 
and Arthur J. Hughes. Warner, with 
A. J. Hughes and A. W. Harvey, as 
assistants, followed Hiney and that 
same year, 1869, the water works was 
finished, and the old hand engines 
were abandoned. Arthur Hughes 
succeeded Chief Warner and then 
came Robert Oughton. He was the 
last head of the volunteers. 



The present paid fire department 
was started in 1873 and John C. Byx- 
bee was made first engineer. He was 
also chairman of the water board and 
for both positions received $500 a year. 
After two years he declined to serve 
longer and Edward Roarke was elect- 
ed. Following Chief Roarke came 
Linus Moses, John F. Butler, Isaac B. 
Hyatt, Owen Horan, John Tracy and 
Frank L. Cowing. Chief Hyatt served 
many terms, coming between Chief 
Engineers Horan and Tracy and 
Tracy and Cowing, but after many 
years of efficient service he died April 
28, 1906. 

Jerome Bailey, assistant chief engi- 
neer for years and rightfully consid- 
ered a valuable man in the department, 
then became acting chief. David 
Bloomfield has been the efficient fire 
marshal for years. 

The Meriden department is one of 
the finest in Connecticut. It consists 
of ninety-one men, sixteen horses and 
there are about 9,000 feet of hose. The 
apparatus is as follows: One hook and 
ladder truck, one Silsby steam fire en- 
gine, four hose wagons, one chief's 
wagon, one hand jumper, two three- 
horse exercise wagons ; in reserve, one 
two-horse hose wagon and one two- 
wheeled hose jumper. 

The property of the department is 
valued at nearly $100,000, and the de- 
partment is maintained at an expense 
of about $28,000 a year. 

The largest fire the department hail 
to fight in recent years was the burn- 
ing of the old Town hall in February, 
1904, and the force did nobly in pre- 



POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. 



83 



venting the total destruction of the 
building. 

Meriden's latest great fire was that 
of the Meriden Opera House in 1906. 



.AlERIDEN VETERAN FIRE- 
MEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



This organization, as its name im- 
plies, is composed of men who have 
made records as fire fighters in Mer- 
iden. Although the services of some 
date back to 185 1, the association 
was organized under its present 
name, June 13, 1902, since which 
time its meetings have been held at 
the Charter Oak Hose house, where it 
was formally organized. John C. 
Byxbee was elected the first president ; 
Edward E. West, vice-president ; John 
D. Roberts, secretary ; and George N. 
Morse, treasurer. 

About a month later the old 
"hand pump" shown in the accom- 
panying illustration was presented 
to the association by the Charles 
Parker Company. The engine has 
an interesting history, being over 
fifty years old and is a relic of by- 
■ gone days justly cherished by the 
j members of the association, and it 
( has been the center of attraction 
: at the dift'ercnt firemen's parades 
in this and other cities for man}' 
years past. This machine recalls 
interesting reminiscences to the old- 
er citizens of the town, for as rec- 
orded by R. Moss Brecken ridge, one 
of the first officers of the old Cata- 
ract Fire Engine Coiui)any, when 
the machine was in its best davs 



practically ever}' male resident of 
the town, whether rich or poor, 
loaned a helping hand in case of 
local conflagration. 

The constitution of the \"eteran 
Firemen's Association was drawn 
up by George O. Higby, L. C. 
Brown and Thomas Kearns. This 
was adopted at a meeting held April 
16, 1903. The late E. E. West, at 
one time mayor of Meriden, was 
chosen the second president of the 
association May 4, 1903 ; John D. 
Roberts then being made vice-presi- 
dent ; George N. Morse, secretary, 
and George N. Shepherd, treasurer. 
On September 2, 1904, the associa- 
tion, largely augmented by the ad- 
dition of several new members 
including many prominent citizens 
of the town who were made honor- 
ary members, took a most credit- 
able part in the firemen's muster 
held in Southington, the uniform of 
the association at that time com- 
l)rising caps, red shirts, and badges, 
the old "hand tub" being gorgeously 
decorated with ribbons. 

On January 7, 1904, the associa- 
tion held its first ball which was 
one of the social events of the town. 
At a meeting of the association held 
Sei)tember 15, 1904, John D. Rob- 
erts was elected jiresident ; A. .V. 
May. vice-president: A. B. Butler, 
secretary: and George N. Shepherd, 
treasurer. May 11. i^o^. John D. 
Roberts was elected president : Rich- 
ard B. Kearney became its vice-presi- 
''jut: Albert A. May. secretary, and 
Ceoroe N. Slie])herd. treasurer. In 



84 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



1905 the association voted to apply for 
membership in the Connecticut Val- 
ley League, and for several months 
prior to the Centennial celebration of 
Meriden, this association became ac- 
tive in the formation of plans to bring 
to Meriden during the celebration the 
\'eteran Firemen's Associations of 



other Connecticut cities, during which 
the old "hand tub" was again the cen- 
ter of attraction, and drawn through 
the streets with just pride on the 
part of the men of the town who 
have earned their title as veterans, 
and with it membership in this organ- 
ization. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

OLD CATARACT ENGINE AND MEMBERS OF VETERAN FIREMEN's ASSOCIATION. 



SOCIAL CLUBS. 



85 



SOCIAL CLUBS 



THE HOME CLUB. com])osed of men representative of the 

best interests of the state. 

The Pionie Chib of ^leriden. the The Home Chil) was formed in 

leadins: social organization of the city, 1880, when, after the disl)andmcnt of 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



HOME CLUB HOUSE. 



occupies a handsome chilj honse at the 
corner of Colony and Foster streets, 
which was built for its use in 1902. 
Its active membership is limited to 
250 and includes the leading business 
and professional men in the city while 
'its non-resident membership list is 



the old Aleriden Club, which occu- 
pied rooms in Palace blnck. the need 
of such an organization became ai)par- 
ent. h'arly in that \ear a meeting of 
those interested was held at the Mer- 
iden House. A temporary organiza- 
tion was effected and arrangements 



86 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



made for securing rooms on the third 
floor of Wilcox block, then being built. 
When the block was completed that 
fall, the club was formed with E. J. 
Doolittle as its first president and at 
the January session of the Legislature 
it was incorporated as "The Home 
Club of Meriden" with E. J. Doolittle, 
Horace C. Wilcox, Isaac C. Lewis, 



which rooms on the second floor had 
been planned for its use. 

Before 1900 those quarters were 
inadequate and unfitted to the growth 
and development of the club, and a 
number of efforts were made by spe- 
cial committees to secure a club house 
but without success until January, 
1902, when a special committee was 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



PARLORS, HOME CLUB. 



Levi E. Coe, E. B. Cowles, W. H. 
Lyon, E. C. Savage, George H. Wil- 
cox and John W. Coe as incorporat- 
ors. This act of incorporation was 
accepted by the club on May 7, 1881. 
The club continued to occupy those 
rooms until January i, 1885, when it 
moved to the new Bvxbee block in 



appointed to report to the club plans 
for enlarged quarters. This commit- 
tee consisting of Abiram Chamber- 
lain, E. J. Doolittle. C. F. Linsley, Dr. 
E. T. Bradstreet, James H. White, 
Charles T. Dodd, C. F. Monroe, Dr. 
E. W. Pierce and F. E. Sands, after 
careful consideration of plans and 



SOCIAL CLUBS. 



87 



sites, recommended to the club the 
fomiation of a holding company to 
purchase a site and to erect thereon 
a club house. The lot at the corner 
of Colony and Foster streets was se- 
lected by vote of the club and a spe- 
cial committee of seven, consisting of 
C. F. Monroe, F. E. Sands, I. L. Holt, 
A. B. Squire. Dr. F. L. Murdock, Louis 



let the contract to H. L. Morehouse 
for the erection of the club house. It 
was completed, furnished and for- 
mally opened, January i, 1903. 

The club house is a very commod- 
ious and conveniently arranged build- 
ing of colonial design with broad ve- 
randas, and large and light rooms, at- 
tractively furnished. On the north 




Photo by li. S. Godfrey. 

UPPER HALL AND BILLL\RD ROOMS, HOME CLUB. 



Fisk and James H. White, was ap- 
pointed to further the plan and obtain 
subscriptions to the capital stock. 
They were so successful that soon af- 
ter the Home Club Realty Corpora- 
tion was formed, with a capital of 
$25,000. The corporation at once 
purchased the site, adopted plans and 



side of the first floor is the reading 
room, and on the south side very 
handsome parlors. Back of the par- 
lors is the dining room and a cafe, and 
back of the reading room, a card room 
and coat room. < )n the second floor, 
besides a large, light card room ()])en- 
ing on the upper veranda, is the big 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



billiard room at the north end with 
committee and card rooms at the 
south end. On the third floor is a 
large ball room with storage room ad- 
jacent. In the basement are private 
dining rooms, the kitchen and neces- 
sary storage room. The building is 
equipped throughout with telephones, 
call hells, exhaust fans and all mod- 



About the club centers the social ac- 
tivit}' of the city, as each year theic 
is given a series of balls, cotillions, 
club dinners, card parties, ladies' af- 
ternoons and musicales. For such 
events the club is particularly well 
equipped with its three floors of com- 
modious rooms, including the ball 
room on the top floor. Its social 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

HALL AND RE.\DING ROOM, HOME CLUB. 



ern conveniences vv^hich go to make 
club life attractive to the business or 
professional man. 

The club is governed by an execu- 
tive committee of nine members, in- 
cluding the president, secretary and 
treasurer, from which are appointed 
all standing committees. 



prestige is therefore high and the nu- 
merous events largely attended and 
greatly enjoyed. 

The officers of the club January i, 
1906, were: Dr. F. L. Murdock, pres- 
ident ; Arthur D. IMeeks, first vice- 
president ; C. E. Stockder. second vice- 
president ; Louis Fisk, secretary, and 



SOCIAL CLUBS. 



89 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 



W. H. A. MAVXARD. 



go 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



W. J. Pronty, treasurer ; who with C. 
W. King, F. H. Billard, R. W. Car- 
ter and I. Burton Miller constituted 
the executive committee. 



MERIDEX WHEEL CLUB. 



W. H. A. MAYXARD. 



Walter H. A. Maynard. manager of 
the Home Club since January i, 1903, 
was born in Natick, Mass, March 26, 
1857, and is known by the members of 
the club as "Pop." He learned the doc- 
trines of an epicure under Daniel H. 
Maynard, his uncle, who for a quarter 
century conducted the famous Samoset 
House at Plymouth, Mass. 

Since coming to Meriden Mr. May- 
nard has enjoyed a high reputation, 
first established here at the Winthrop 
Hotel. When his services were se- 
cured by the Home Club, the members 
became satisfied that there was none 
better to manage their house. His 
paraphernalia comprises every facility. 
No social function is too large and 
none too small to secure his service 
as a caterer, provided the call comes 
from the right direction ; nor in recent 
years has any occasion been considereci 
a complete success unless he has fur- 
nished the viands. 

He is a member of Meridian Lodge, 
yy, A. F. & A. M. ; Keystone Chapter, 
R. A. M. ; Hamilton Council, R. & S. 
M., and enjoys a wide acquaintance 
and deserved popularity among the 
leading citizens of this town and else- 
where. His leisure moments are spent 
at the "Bungalow," which he built on 
Notch Road at Lake Merimere in 
1903. 



The oldest cycling organization in 
Connecticut is the Meriden Wheel club 
and it was started December 18, 1880, 
when there were less than a dozen bi- 
cycle riders in Meriden. For two 
years members met in Dentist T. S. 
Rust's rooms, but in 1882 permanent 
quarters were secured in Palace block 
and have been continually occupied 
since. 

Among the early members were Dr. 
T. S. Rust, W. H. Squire, J. E. Brain- 
ard, L. A. Miller, Max E. Miller, Wil- \ 
liam Collins, Horace Miller, Frank A. 
Stevens, Reuben J- Rice, Wells Mc- 
Masters, Joseph Hyde. E. J. Pooley, | 
Harry A. Stevens, Albert L. Stetson, ; 
John W. Lane and C. Win. King. '• 

Cycling those days was a far dif- ' 
ferent proposition than the present 
dav. The ordinary, or high wheel, as 
known by many, was the only make in 
existence and later day devotees of 
the low safety never experienced the 
exhilarating fun of coasting down a 
steep hill with feet thrown high over 
the handle bars and seated in a narrow 
saddle fifty-six inches from the 
ground. It was seldom a "high wheel- 
er" went through the season without 
one or more croppers and these are 
often recalled when the veterans get 
together and talk over old times. 

Twenty years ago the roads through- 
out Connecticut were in abominable 
condition. Sandy soil and rocks 
abounded in every direction. The ag- 
itation of the rapidly increasing ranks 
of cyclists for good roads quickly bore 



SOCIAL CLUBS. 



91 



fruit and Connecticut to-day has hun- 
dreds o{ miles of macadamized state 
highways. 

The Meriden Wheel Club was a 
strong factor in the good roads move- 
ment. J. E. Brainard, then president, 
and -Attorney H. T. King, also a mem- 
ber, appeared before the Legislature 
several times and their hard work did 



was a great ])0()m for bicycling at that 
time. John .s. Lane & Son furnished 
free tlie Ira]) rock used. Liberal con- 
tributions were received and the path, 
was finally constructed under the di- 
rection of President J. E. llrainard, 
who later made one of the best street 
superintendents Meriden ever had. 
It was under the aus])iccs of the 




JM.olo by R. S. Godfrey. 



p.\RLoi<, .mi:ridi:.\ wiikel clur. 



much towards the success of the pro- 
ject of improving the roads. 

It was two Wheel Club members, 
W. H. Squire and F. C. Borst, the lat- 
ter at the time being a reporter fcr 
The Journal, who originated and 
pushed through the cycle path project 
from Meriden to North Haven, wh'ch 



Meriden Wheel Club that three big 
national circuit race meets were given 
in this city in i895-"96-'97. All the 
famous riders participated and some 
idea of the magnitude of the under- 
taking can be realized when the club 
went to an expense of over $1,000 for 
each meet. Thev were verv success- 



92 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



fill, however, and all told the club 
netted about $400 by the races. 

While the bicycle craze has departed 
in the last few years the Wheel Club 
still retains its membership of nearly 
100 and many socials are enjoyed at 
the club. Last year the twenty-fifth 
anniversary of the club was celebrated 
with a banquet at the Winthrop hotel. 



Graham ; treasurer, E. J. Pooley ; cap- 
tain, F. A. Morse ; executive commit- 
tee, H. F. Neuman, E. B. Matteson, 
T. E. McKenzie, A. U. Unger. 



THE COLONIAL CLUB. 



This leading social club with a 
full membership of 350, non-meni- 




Photo })>• R. S. Godfrey. 

BILLIARD AND CARD ROOM, MERIDEN WHEEL CLUB. 



No liquor is allowed in the Wheel 
Club and it is an organization of which 
the citizens of Meriden are proud. 

The present officers are : 

President, Carlton H. Winslow ; 
vice-president, Horace W. Stowe ; 
financial secretary, William H. Hirsch- 
feld ; recording secretary, William E. 



bership of fifty and a waiting list of 
thirty, occupying commodious and 
handsome quarters covering the en- 
tire top floor of the Wilcox Block, 
was formally organized March 19, 
1901. The meeting was attended 
by the members of the Royal 
Arcanum and when the charter 



SOCIAL CLUDS. 



93 



membership list was opened forty- 
eight signatures were then and there 
secured. This was the final result 
of a {previous suggestion made at 
Pilgrims' Harbor Council, by its 
\ ice-regent. Joseph A. Roberge. His 
])lan of forming a social club in 
Meriden composed of members of 
the Royal Arcanum for the purpose 
of extenrling the social features of 



(;. Birdsey and N. D. Clark of Pil- 
grims' Plarbor Council and J. H. 
P)Owker, W illis J. Prouty, Horace S. 
Savage, G. H. Yeamans and L. H. 
Ives of Alfred H. Hall Council. 

The committee reported adversely 
on the i^roject. believing that the 
Arcanum should not be asked to 
assume any financial responsibility 
in the premises ; but the members 




1, -;«ce>^ 



WILCOX BLOCK. HOMK OF THE COLONIAL CLUB. 

the order nut with immediate fa\'or were of the mind tliat the club 
by the members most interested in should be formed independent of the 
the upbuilding of the organization, corncils. Personal solicitation re- 
The committee of ten appointed to suited in securing 138 names and 
ascertain if the project was a feasi- many more ])romises should the 
ble one for the iwo local councils to ch b lecon e a reality. Thus en- 
assume, was composed of the follow- couraged an in(ki>endent c<:)mmittee 
ing: Col. C. L. Cpham, chairman; set about making ])lans for the orga- 
!•:. J. Doolittle. J. A. Roberge, L. nizati.m and considering locations 



i 



94 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 




PARLOR, COLONIAL CLUB. 




ASSEMBLY HALL, COLONIAL CLUB. 



SOCIAL Cr.UBS. 



95 




CARD ROOMS, COLONIAL CLUB. 




BILLIARD ROOM, COLONIAL CLUB. 



96 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



for rooms, the top floor of the Wil- 
cox Block being selected by this 
committee as most desirable. 

At the meeting held at City Mis- 
sion Hall, at which the organization 
was perfected, the following officers 
were chosen : C. L. Upham, president ; 
J. H. Bowker, vice-president ; H. S. 
Savage, secretary and C. P. Rice, 
treasurer. 



Roberge, Thomas L. Reilly, C. J. 
Hinsdale, J. H. Bowker, ^peo. F. 
Rogers and A. W. Hitchcock. 

It was voted at a later date to 
restrict the membership to 200, and 
the full complement of members 
was secured before the rooms were 
opened. That the fair given by the 
club was a success both socially and 
financiallv is now a matter of his- 




SOCIAL ROOM, COLONIAL CLUB. 



A committee consisting of H. A. 
Curtiss, C. J. Danaher and G. H. 
Yeamans was appointed to draft the 
constitution and by-laws. There 
was also another appointed to 
arrange and carry out a fair the 
proceeds of which were to be used 
for furnishing the club. That com- 
mittee was composed of J. A. 



tory and that subsequent functions 
of the club have likewise reflected 
credit upon its members and the 
community as well, cannot be gain- 
said. That the Arcanum Club start- 
ed on its journey forward without 
any of its members being blind- 
folded seems to be conclusively 
proven by the remarkable success 



SOCIAL CLUBS. 



97 



achie\cd from the very beginning. 
(^n Xov. 1, 1904, the chib became 
an ojicn one and others lieside mem- 
bers of the Royal Arcannm were made 
ehgible to membersliip. bVom this 
date the chib experienced a remarkable 
growth, increasing from 125 members 
to 350, its present limit, and largely 
owing to the untiring and earnest ef- 
forts of Geo. F. Rogers. 

FJy vote of its members in Jan- 
nary H)o(), the name of the club was 
changed to that of the Colonial 
Llub, which it now bears. In the 
spring of 1906 the (juarters of the 
club were enlarged and the building 
was altered and refurnished at an 
expense of $3,000, giving the club 
the whole of the top floor of the 
building. These changes also gave 
the club the opportunity to better 
accommodate the members and to fit 
up the largest billiard and pool room 
of any club in the state. The rooms 
of the Colonial Club are luxurious 
in appointment and furnish every 
possible comfort of club life as indi- 
cated by the accompanving illus- 
trations. The large assembly room is 
used for the meetings of the orga- 
nization as well as the social events, 
and in this also the Meriden councils 
of the Royal .\rcanum, the Elks and 
the Heptasophs hold their regular 
meetings. 

The club possesses its own stew- 
lard who has four assistants in keep- 
ing the club rooms in ap])le pie 
order, and also catering for the regu- 
lar Saturday evening lunches, given 



in the banipiet room by the club to 
its members. The Colonial Club 
possesses an orchestra of ten pieces 
composed exclusively of members, 
and this orchestra dispenses delight- 
ful music there every Saturday eve- 
ning. 

The ofificers of 190^) are George E. 
Bicknell, president : W. H. Squire, 
first vice-president ; George Ohl, 
second vice-president ; C. C. Powers, 
secretary and L. T. Fuller, treas- 
urer. The house committee are 
George F. Rogers, chairman (by 
virtue of this oi^ce also business 
manager of the club), J. H. Bowker, 
E. G. Johnson and H. W. Storrs. 
The executive committee at this writ- 
ing consists of the olBcers of the club 
and Geo. F. Rogers, J. H. Rowker, E. 
G. Johnson, E. L. ^Montgomery, Harry 
J. Williams and H. W. Storrs. 



YOUXG MEN'S T. A. 
SOCIETY. 



B. 



This society whose mendu-rship 
of 560 distinguishes it as the largest 
total abstinence organization in the 
state, was organized .\ov. 21. 1880, in 
room 16, Palace I'.lock. with four- 
teen members. ha\ing tlie following 
ol)jects in view: Tlie iiroiiiolion of 
total abstinenci.-. morality and l)e- 
nevolence. To tliese objects the 
society has strictly adlicrrd and to 
tliis fact the success of the organiza- 
tion is .-ittributed. It is maintained 
entiriK b\ the following sources of 




PARLOR, YOUNG MEN S T. A. B. SOCIETY. 

















• - ^ .-' 






^p, 










Jl 


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$ ' 








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Photos by R. S. Godfrey. 

LIBRARY, YOUNG MENS T. A. B. SOCIETY. 







CARD ROO.M, VUUXG .ME.\ S T. A. ]',. SOClliTV. 







Photos by R. S. Godfrey. 

SMOKIXC. ROOM, VOUXC. Mi:x"s T. A. I'.. SOCIKTV. 




POOL ROOM, YOUNG MEN S T. A. B. SOCIETY, 




Photos by R. S, Codfn y. 

CARD ROOM, YOUNG MEn's T. A. B. SOCIETY. 



SOCIAL CLUBS. 



lOI 



revenue: Monthly dues, which are 
5(1 cents, and 1)y ]>uhlic events of 
which two are gixen annually; an 
excursion, usuall\' to Xew York and 
Coney Island, on which they have 
carried as many as 1.800 people on 
one occasion ; and an entertainment 
and dance that has heen given in the 
town hall on each Thanksgiving- 
night. Its memhership is composed 
exclusively of Catholics between the 
ages of i8 and 35 years. The so- 
ciety was incorporated on March 22. 
i8«)3. The officers are elected semi- 
annually. The benevolent feature of 
the organization is a sick benefit of 
S3. 00 per week and at death the sum 
of Si 00 is paid. There is also an 
extra benefit branch attached to the 
society, that is known as the "Extra 
Benefit Branch" of wdiich the mem- 
bers may avail themselves by pay- 
ing a small consideration each 
month. The society has one of the 
finest sets of club rooms in the city, 
having seven large rooms situated 
on the third floor of Palace Block, 
consisting of an elaborately furnished 
parlor, a library, meeting room, 
smf>king room, pool and card rooms 
and a room for the officers, and (^n 
these is exercised great care in fit- 
ting for the comfort and enjoyment 
of the members. A number of pri- 
vate social events are given each 
year. Of these the most notable is 
their anniversary, celebrated with a 
ball and banquet usually on the first 
Friday of January. On different 
occasions they have given public en- 



tertainments, the entire proceeds go- 
ing to public or charitable institu- 
tions ; and they have cared for and 
])racticall\- maintained for a number 
of \ears the free ice w^ater fountain 
in front of l\alace Block. Besides 
llu'ir rooms, the societ}^ has a valua- 
ble piece of land on West Main 
street, with a frontage of iio feet 
and a depth of 125 feet and has also 
a comfortal)le balance in the bank. 



AMARANTH CLUB. 



An organization which has for 
some years figured prominently in 
Meriden social life is the Ama- 
ranth Club, incorporated in 1895, 
occupying commodious and hand- 
somely furnished quarters in the 
Cahill Block. This social club has 
now a resident membership of 125 
and possesses fifteen non-resident 
members. Its objects are the ])ro- 
motion of sociability and friendshi]) : 
and the organization is distinctively 
cosmopolitan, good fellowship and re- 
si)ectabilit}- being the necessary rer[ui- 
sites for membership. 

The formation of this popular 
social club dates back to January 
19. 1893. The first quarters com- 
prised the three rooms previously 
occupied by the Young Men's Ger- 
man-American Club, in the Wilcox 
l)lock, the furnishings and rental of 
the rooms being the same year pur- 
chased entire. The first officers 
were: President, .\. W. Tracy; 
vice-president, John .\. Hurley; 



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Photos by R. S. Godfrey. 



READING ROOM, AMARANTH CLUB. 



SOCIAL CLUliS. 



103 



secretary, T. E. Reynolds and treas- of its members. Its inaui^nral balls 

urer. James J. LandriQan. I'roni have been events long looked for- 

the character of its memlxM-ship the ward lo and remembered. The clnb 

clnb has always been a j^rowini;- has in xarions other \va\s won dis- 

and a ])rosperous one. and within tinetion and snccess. lis summer 

two years it became a])|)arent that outini^s liaxe l)een in\ariably well 

larj^er quarters were needed. Upon attended and the only occasion 

the ctnnpletion of the C'ahill lilock when the local o])era house, now 

in l8i;s. the rooms in the Wilcox destroxed b\- tire, was ever filled to 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

BILLIARD AM) CARD l^OOM, AMAKANIll (I.UI! 



block together with the furnishings its full sealing ca])acitv. during a 

of the club were disposed of, and at regular ihealrical ])erformance, was 

the same time the present rooms in when the Amaranth club brought 

the Cahill block were fitted up and a pleasurable ihealrical attraction 

furnished entirely new at a cost of to .Meriden and bought the privi- 

about $2,500. This club enjoys an leges of the iluatre outright. .Many 

enviable reputation for hospitality, citizens of .Meridm prominent in 

harmony and the good fellowshi]-) business and ])ublic life, including 



104 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



several mayors, have been enrolled 
in the membership of the club. 

The presidents of the club from 
the beginning have been as follows : 
Dr. A. W. Tracy, Thos. L. Reilly, 
now mayor of Meriden ; John A. 
Hurley, James J. Walsh and George 
H. O'Malley, the last named being 
the present incumbent. The other 
officers of the club are vice-presi- 
dent, James J. Niland; financial 
secretary, James J. Walsh; record- 
ing secretary, F. A. Lajoie; and 
treasurer, James J. Landrigan. The 
board of governors comprises the 
following: Dr. A. W. Tracy, chair- 
man; M. F. Fitzgerald, H. T. 
Downs, C. W. Cahill, Kenneth Hil- 
lar'd, M. F. Morrissey, Wm. Glea- 
son, Fred. Eginton, Dennis Hor- 
gaii, E. T. Mooney, C. E. Flynn, 
W. E. Kavanaugh. 

The house committee is N. J. St. 
Cyr, T. J. Hagerty, Dr. M. F. Sulli- 
van, W' H. Russell, A. E. Cope, 
Thos. L. Reilly and Howard Island. 
The auditors are as follows. W. H. 
Russell, L. P. Fagan and F. A. La- 
joie. 



EAST SIDE SOCIAL CLUB. 

As is indicated by its name, this 
social club is located in the eastern 
part of Meriden and its building is 
situated at the corner of East Main 
and Murray streets. This club owes 
its existence to the untiring efforts 
of the following young men of the 
town : Simon J. Cahill Jeremiah A. 



Lynch, John ^Y. Cahill, Daniel 
Lynch, Patrick J. Cahill, John L. 
Coleman, John H. Cook, Charles 
Murray, Alfred J. Cook and Jere- 
miah Rohan. It was nearly a score 
of years ago that these young men 
realized the desirability of drawing 
the young men together in that sec- 
tion of the town for the promotion 
of social intercourse, intellectual 
and literary improvement and recre- 
ation. For the further purpose of 
making good citizens of themselves 
a meeting was called under the 
branches of a historic elm tree 
which then beautified that locality. 
The result was the appointment of 
a committee to consider the matter 
and report at the next meeting to 
be held at the same place the first 
of the following October, 1888. This 
committee reported favorably and as 
a result the club was given birth and 
ten young men became its first mem- 
bers. The first officers were: presi- 
dent, John H. Cook; vice president. 
John L. Coleman; financial and re- 
cording secretary, Jeremiah A. 
Lynch; treasurer, Patrick J. Cahill. 
the last named being the present 
incumbent, having been annually 
re-elected ever since. The com- 
mittee appointed to look up suitable 
quarters secured a lease of hnd 
from Waldo C. Twiss and upon it 
a club building was erected, the 
entire work of construction bein,? 
done by the members, and two 
weeks after th? organization of the 
club the rooms were ready for occu- 



SOCIAL CLUBS. 



105 



pancy and these were situated about 
100 yards east of the present club 
house. Two years later when the 
membership had increased to twen- 
ty the club met its first misfortune, 
for at that time a disastrous fire 
totally destroyed their quarters. In 
consequence of this the club's pro- 
srress was staved for a time but later 



more up-to-date club house was a 
necessity. A building committee 
was appointed to procure land and 
submit plans for the erection of the 
same. The present site was chosen 
by the members ui)on the recom- 
mendation of that committee and 
the erection of the present spacious 
club house which became readv for 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



EAST SIDE SOCIAL CLUB. 



Ind within six weeks after it had occupancy in the fall of i(S96. was 

iieen decided upon, club house No. immediately bequn. December the 

, larger than the former, became same }ear a ])ublic reception was 

eady for occupancy. After six held in the rooms and the cliil) was 

ears' continued prosperity and formally inspected by a large 

leasant associations of its members gathering including ])arents of the 

le club grew in membership until luembers and many ])roiiiineiit men 

1 1 was evident that a larger anil of the citw at which time tlie mem- 



I 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



bers were highly compHmented for 
their creditable achievements and 
since that time the club has contin- 
ued to grow in membership. I'm 
1899 the club was incorporated un- 
der the laws of the state, receiving 
a charter from the legislature which 
entitles it to hold property to 
the value of $20,000. The member- 
ship now numbers sixty and this in- 
cludes several of Meriden's success- 
ful business and professional men. 
It enjoys an enviable reputation for 
hospitality and this has been one of 
the most important factors in the pros- 
perity and popularity of the organi- 
zation. 

Since its formation the following 
have served in the office of. presi- 



dent. John H. Cook, Simon J. Cahill, 
Alfred J. Cook, John Gehring, Jr., 
Richard Rohan, John W. Cahill, 
David T. Keegan, Matt. F. Hanley, 
George A: Cook, Thomas J. O'Brien, 
Emmett E. Flanagan and J. Richard 
Geary. The present officers are ]. 
Richard Geary, president ; Michael 
E. Carroll, vice-president ; John F. 
Semrau. recording secretary; Frank 
J. Conklin, financial secretary; Pat- 
rick J. Cahill, treasurer ; Geo. A. 
Cook, business manager ; Oswald D. 
Pepin, librarian; John F. Barry, 
warden ; Frank A. Semrau, prop- 
erty manager ; executive committee, 
]\Iichael B. Carroll, Simon J. Cahill, 
Emmett E. Flanagan, Thomas F. 
OT.rien and ]\Iatt. F. Hanley. 



BANKS, BOARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE. 



107 



BANKS, BOARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE 



MERIDEN SAVINGS BANK. 



In 1851 when the Aleriden Savings 
Bank was incorporated Meriden was 
fast becoming" a manufacturing cen- 
ter, small as it appears to us in 1906, 
but the wisdom, push and energy of 
those earl\- business men was begin- 
ning to be felt and ^leriden was tak- 
ing on strength for the future. The 
wise ones saw the need of some insti- 
tution for savings where the mechanic 
could deposit small amounts for safe 
keeping and also get money to build 
themselves homes ; for it was a pe- 
culiar feature of Meriden at that 
time, as it has been since, that a ma- 
jority of the working men lived in 
their own homes, and at that early 
period nearly all were native born. 
To meet the needs of the little grow- 
ing village the business men held a 
meeting earl}- in 1851 to consider 
plans and the outcome w'as the ap- 
pointment of a committee to draw up 
resolutions incorporating The Meri- 
den Savings Bank. These were pre- 
sented at the May session of the Gen- 
eral Assembly and the application 
granted by them, the certificate of in- 
corporation being signed by John P. 
C. Mather, Secretary of State, July 
12. A. D., 185 1. 

The trustees w^ere as follows : 



Enos H. Curtis, Edwin E. Curtis,. 
Hiram Yale, Ashbel Griswold, Charles 
Parker, H. W. Saltonstall, Julius 
Pratt, Alfred P. Curtiss, Isaac C. 
Lewis, Noah Pomeroy, James A. Fra- 
ry, Benjamin H. Catlin, Levi Yale,. 
Bertrand Yale, A. C. Wetmore, Joel 
H. Guy, David N. Ropes, Howell 
^lerriman, Elah Camp, Ward Coe, 
Linus Birdsey, Walter Booth and Cur- 
tis L. North. 

The first meeting of the trustees 
was held at the Aleriden Bank build- 
ing on Broad street, then called North 
Market street, July 16, 185 1, and the 
following ofificers were elected : 

President — luios H. Curtis. 

\ ice-president — Benjamin H. Cat- 
lin. 

Directors — Julius Pratt, Charles 
Parker, Levi \'ale. Joel H. Guy, Ed- 
win E. Curtis, Curtis L. North, Da- 
vid N. Ropes, Howell Merriman and 
Henry W. Saltonstall. 

Joel H. Guy was the first secretary 
and treasurer. 

The same year three vice-presidents 
were added to the list of officers, mak- 
ing four, as at present. The three 
added were Walter Booth, Elah Camp 
and Ashbel Griswold. The treasurer 
was authorized to appoint a clerk 
without extra expense ; and he ap- 
pointed Samuel B. Morgan. The 



io8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



first attorney was Dexter R. Wright. 
The office of the bank was for 
about three years at the residence of 
the treasurer on West Main street, 
present number 34, but for the accom- 
modation of the "up-town" people he 




JOEL H. GUY. 

was authorized to receive deposits at 
the Meriden Bank on Tuesdays of 
each week from two to four o'clock 
p. m. 

The directors met once a week at 
the treasurer's residence for the first 
two years ; but the time was soon 
changed to once a month. The first 
year the treasurer received fifty dol- 
lars for his services. 

March i, 1854, it was voted "to 
authorize the president and secretary 
to purchase a safe for the bank at an 



expense not exceeding one hundred 
dollars" and in April the same year it 
was voted to purchase ten or more 
shares of the stock of the Meriden 
Bank at one hundred and seven dol- 
lars per share, and in December of the 
same year it was voted to buy two 
shares at par. 

Levi E. Coe was elected secretary 
and treasurer July, 1854, to succeed 
Joel H. Guy and the office of the bank 
was moved to the fine brick block 
called the Coe building, just then 
erected north of the Center church. 




EDWIN E. CURTIS. 

This building was torn dow^n in 1894 
and the street widened at that point. 

Considering the condition of the 
country just before the war the fol- 
lowing vote of the directors taken 



BANKS, BOARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE. 



109 



Icbniary 4, 1861, is significant: 

\"otc(l. To loan the balance now in 
the treasury as tlie appraising com- 
mittee shall think will best subserve 
the interests of the business commun- 
itv and the bank 



£^\ 









S. H. W. YALE. 

That the directors were patriotic is 
shown by the vote September, 1861, 
instructing the treasurer to buy treas- 
ury notes, U. S. sixes, at 97J8 and 
7-30 notes at par. 

As business increased there was 
need of larger, more convenient and 
secure quarters of more central loca- 
tion, and the office was moved to the 
town clerk's office in the town hall in 
1864, where the town vault could be 
itilizcd. 

July, 1866, A. H. Curtis succeeded 



Levi E. Coe as treasurer, the latter 
being appointed a director. The late 
secretary and treasurer. S. 11. W. 
Yale, became clerk the same year, bus- 
iness increasing so that the treasurer 
needed an assistant. 

In 1868 is found an advertisement 
in the Meriden Republican stating 
that the deposits were then $500,000, 
and office hours 9 to 12 and 2 to 4. 

The bank occupied the town clerk's 
office from 1864 to 1871 when it pur- 
chased the P. J. Clark ])roperty, cor- 




Plioto by Akers & Pigeon. 

W. H. CATLIN. 

ner of East Main and Veteran streets, 
for $16,000. The old buildings which 
for years previous had been used for 
the manufacture of tinware, were at 
once made into stores and tenements. 



no 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



The Meriden Republican then began 
•occupying the one on the corner and 
the bank the one west, having fitted 
up one side for an office, putting in a 
vault, etc. This modest frame build- 
ing was used until 1882 when the 
present building was erected. 

July 23, 1877, the faithful and well 
beloved treasurer, A. H. Curtis, died 
suddenly while talking with a friend 
in the bank. S. H. W. Yale then suc- 
ceeded to the position of treasurer 
.and W. H. Catlin entered as clerk. 

The Meriden Savings Bank has had 
a healthy, continuous growth from the 
start and has met with but few losses, 
the only one of any moment was when 
the Wallingford tornado destroyed a 
number of houses on which it had 
mortgages. 

In 1882 the frame building it had 
occupied since 1871 was moved to 
Veteran street, that asylum for old 
Ijuildings, and the present brick block 
w^as built. The same year Edwin E. 
Curtis, who had been president since 
1862, resigned and Levi E. Coe was 
■elected president, he serving until his 
■death November 2, 1903. 

The present officers and trustees are 
as follows : 

President — John L. Billard. 

Vice-presidents — A. Chamberlain, 
Walter Hubbard, E. J. Doolittle and 
H. Wales Lines. 

Directors — Benjamin Page, Homer 
A. Curtiss, Engene A. Hall, August 
Maschmeyer, George B. Murdock, Ar- 
thur S. Lane, Charles A. King, George 
M. Curtis and George E. Savage. 



The board of directors consists of 
president, four vice-presidents, nine 
directors and secretary and treasurer. 

Trustees — Linus Birdsey, Walter 
Hubbard, A. Chamberlain, John L. 
Billard, Edward Miller, H. Wales 
Lines, W. H. Catlin, Benjamin Page, 
E. J. Doolittle, John Morse, Maurice 
O'Brien, H. H. Miller, Homer A. Cur- 
tiss, Charles C. Clock, Eugene A. 
Hall, Arthur S. Lane, George B. Mur- 
dock, Charles A. King, August 
Maschmeyer, George E. Savage, 
George M. Curtis, Herman Hess, C. 
A. Learned,- M. B. Schenck, C. W. 
Cahill, James P. Piatt, Lewis A. Mil- 
ler, William C. Comstock, Frank A. 
Stevens and Frank D. Smith. 

Secretary and treasurer — W. H. 
Catlin. 

Bookkeeper, John G. Nagel ; clerk, 
Bvron R. Gardner. 



AIERIDEX NATIONAL BAXK. 



This institution has an honored his- 
tory, for it has served its purpose and 
served it well, for nearly three-quar- 
ters of the century which Meriden cel- 
ebrates in 1906 as an incorporated 
town. Organized, as all banks were 
in those days, as a state bank, the 
charter was approved in June, 1833, 
and business was begun with a capi- 
tal of $100,000, in a room in the dwell- 
ing house, on Broad street, of Wil- 
liam Yale, but now owned by William 
B. Ives. The followng year a new 
brick building was erected on Broad 
street, which for many years after was 
the home of the old Meriden hank 



BANKS, BOARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE. 



Ill 



and wliich is shown in the smaller of 
the accompanying illustrations. The 
first hoard of directors consisted of 
Silas Mix. Samuel Yale. Elisha A. 
Cowles. Stephen Taylor, Ashabel Gris- 
wold. James S. Brooks, Noah Pome- 
roy, John D. Reynolds and Walter 
Booth. Ashabel Griswold was the first 
president, and Francis King, cashier. 
In 1836 the bank's capital was in- 
creased to $150,000 in order to keej) 
pace with the business done and which 
was a success from the very start. 
General Walter Booth then became 




OLD MERIUEX liAXK BUILDING. 

president and Harry Hayden was 
chosen cashier to fill the vacancy 
caused by the death of Francis King 
in 1837. After twelve years' faithful 
service as president, General Booth 
finally declined further re-election and 
Xoah Pfjiueroy became the heacl, who 
in turn was followed by Joel H. Gu\- 
and Joel I. Butler, all of whom were 
famous in the history of the town. 
When Mr. liutler died. ( ). B. Arnold. 
the fonuer cash.ier, became the presi- 
dent and he served until his re- 



gretted decease August 30, 1900. He 
was succeeded as i)resident • by Levi 
E. Coe and after his death by the 
present incumbent, George M. Clark, 
the former cashier, but who served 
many years previously as teller. In 
1905 Mr. Clark was succeeded as 
cashier by W. M. Quested, formerly 
teller, who has since served as 
cashier. The capital stock of the 
bank in 1850 was increased to $250.- 
000 and again, four years later, when 
it was made $300,000, but' in 190 1 was 
reduced to $200,000. \Miile the busi- 
ness of the institution has alwa_\s been 
conducted with success, as its comfor- 
table surplus fund and regularly de- 
clared dividends indicate, this success 
has been the result of conservative 
management which has marked as well 
the history of all other ]\Ieriden finan- 
cial institutions during the last half 
century or more. The Meriden B>ank 
became nationalized in 1865 and again 
in 1905 its charter as such was re- 
newed for twenty years b}' the govern- 
n-.ent at \\'ashing"ton. 

The present handsome quarters have 
been occupied since February 22. 1885, 
and after th.e l)ank had erected the 
large brick structure shown in the ac- 
panying illustration and was first oc- 
cupied on that date. The ]:)resent quar- 
ters not onlv com])rise modern, com- 
modious, convenient banking rooms, 
but contain safety deposit boxes which 
are rented. 

The officers and directors of the 
bank at this writing are: George M. 
Clark, president ; Herman Hess, vice- 
president : W. M. Quested, cashier: 



112 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




BANKS, BOARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE. 



113 



directors, Jolm Ives, jdlni I., llillard, 
George 11. Wilcox. Setli J. Hall, 
(ieorge M. Clark, Herman Hess. Wil- 
bur F. Parker, George E. Savage and 
r.enjaniin Page. 



HOME NATION AL BAXK. 



The Home National Bank, located 
at the corner of Colony and Church 
streets, is one of the most successful 
institutions of its kind. It has a long 
and honorable history, has connected 
with it leading financial and business 
men of the city and was chartered by 
the legislature as a state bank in 1854. 
The cause which led to its formation 
was principall}- a desire for a bank in 
the new center of business. The bus- 
iness men about the corner cordial]}' 
supported the movement, favoring a 
new bank for "home benefit," as they 
init it. and E. G. Howe, F. H. Oakley, 
John C. Smith, Joseph Taylor and S. 
W. Kellogg, appointed to receive sub- 
scriptions, found no difficull}' in plac- 
ing the Sioo.ooo of capital stock. 
August 8, 1855, the directors met and 
formally organized by electing S. W. 
Baldwin president and A. C. Wetmore 
secretary. The directors were Julius 
Pratt. S. W". r.aldwin. Fli liutler. 
Henry C. 1 hitler, James S. Brooks. 
Howell Merriman, A. C. Wetmore, 
James .-X. Frary and l-\inur Busli. II. 
C. Yoimg became the first cashier and 
.served until .^e])tember 7. 1857. Dur- 
ing his time the business was carried 
on in the rooms of the ^'oung Men's 
Institute in Collins' block, but later re- 
moved to the woodrii liuil(hng owiu'd 

8 



1)\ i lcnr\ C. Butler, which stood on 
the site of the |)resent. bank. In 1858, 
the property was bought for $3,750. 
Soon after, they sold a portion of it 
for $3,000, so that their now valuable 
property cost them but $750. In 
1863 the present commodious banking 
house was built, the old building be- 
ing removed to West Main street. 

In the meantime various changes in 
officers and capital stock had occurred 
and the bank had seen a period of 
great prosperity. May i, 1856. Eli 
Butler had been elected to the presi- 
dency to succeed Mr. Baldwin, w'ho 
resigned, and Samuel Dodd came from 
the City Bank in Hartford, where he 
had been teller, to assume the ofiice of 
cashier. The following year. Jan- 
uary 6. 1857. the capital was increased 
by $50,000, and two months later by 
$2,000 more, owing to the fact that 
the subscriptions to the increase had 
exceeded by that sum the amount re- 
(|uired. In September, 1859, the rapid 
growth of the bank demanded another 
increase and the ca])ital was accord- 
ingly raised to the sum of $300,000. 

( )n December 24. 18' 14. it was voted 
to nationalize the bank and increase 
the capital to S400.000 and January 16, 
iS'15. they were authorized to begin 
business as a .National bank. The 
bank's history has been one of ]iros])er- 
it\. excellent business judgnuiit on the 
l)art of its ot^cials and a rapid increase 
in dejiosits. In 1867, Mr. Dodd re- 
signed as cashier and .\. ( hamberlain, 
then teller of thi' New I'.ritain National 
Bank, and now pre^ideln nf this bank, 
was called to assunu' the office left \-a- 



114 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 




BANKS, BOARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE. 



115 



mt. I'"ebriiary 10, 1875. the capita' 
t the bank was increased to $600,000. 
.ily I, 1897, this was reduced to 
joo.ooo. Upon the death of Eh But- 
r. in 1 88 1, Mr. Chamberlain was 
ected to the presidency and J. S. 
orton, Jr., for fifteen years employed 
I the bank, eleven years as teller, be- 
ime cashier. At the same time, C. 





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LJ 



J. S. NORTON, TR. 



. Perkins, who had been in the em- 
oy of the bank eleven years, was 
ected teller. 

The bank has now a ca])ital stock 
$400,003 and a surplus of $175.- 
)0. The directors and officers are 
>mposed of well-known men who 
ive given it a careful and couserva- 
i"e manai^^emeut. 

Directors: .\. Chamberlain. Walter 



Hubbard, Samuel Dodd, lulward Mil- 
ler, E. J. Doolittle, George M. Cur- 
tis, James H. White, I. L. Holt and 
Benjamin W. Collins. 

The officers and clerks are: A. 
Chamberlain, president ; E. J. Doolit- 
tle. vice-president ; J. S. Norton, Jr., 
cashier: Charles H. Wood, teller; 
Louis Eisk, bookkee])er; Alfred M. 
Williams and Elarold W. Scott, clerks. 



EIRST NATKJXAL BAXK. 



It was in 1863, when the growth of 
the town seemed to warrant it. that 
the iMrst National I'.ank of Meriden 
was organized. 

The bank's first ]dace of business 
was in a small frame building located 
near the present brown stone building 
erected in 1872. 

The late Joel H. Cuy, one of the 
most reliable and able financiers of the 
city, was elected its first president. 
The first cashier was Wolcott A. Hull, 
who was succeeded, in iS7(X by 
Charles L. Rockwell. The lale John 
D. liillard succeeded to the ])residenc_\- 
upon the death of Mr. (iu\ in 1881. 
At Mr. Billard's dealli in m^oj Mr. 
Rockwell, who had been cashier of the 
auk since 1870, was elected president, 
which office he now holds: anrl Eloyd 
L'urtis. formerly teller, was elected 
cashier, in which cai)acity he has since 
served. The present capital of the 
bank is Sjoo.ooo and its surplus is 
$300,000. The bank has long since 
taken its place among the leading 
bankinu institutions of the state. The 



ii6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING. 



BANKS, BOARD OF TRADE AN'D POST OFFICE. 



117 



present ilirectors are as follows : 
Charles [•". Linsley, L". L5. Rogers, W. 
H. Lyon, John Tait. John W. Coe, N. 
L. Bradley. Charles L. R.x^kwell, W. 
S. Billard and C. W. Cahill. 

Floyil Curtis, cashier of the First 
Xational IJank, was born in Meriden 
December 2^, 1854. He is a son of 
tile late Harrison W. Curtis and at- 
tended public and private schools. At 
the age of sixteen he entered the em- 




• li. by Akers 6: Pigeou. 

FLO^■D CURTIS. 

il"\ incut Ml the l-'irst National Hank. 
iraduall\ he earned promotion and 
11 October 2(S, 1882. lie was elected 
eller of the bank : and Jid\ i. 1884. he 
vas also elected treasurer of the City 
Savings Bank. I'.nlh of these offices 
le filled until h"el)ruar\ 1 i. k^oj, when 



his election as cashier of the First Xa- 
tional Bank made it necessary for him 
to resign them. .\lr. Curtis has, there- 
fore, been not only continuously en- 
gaged in banking affairs from the com- 
mencement of his business life, but has 
been associated witli the First Xa- 
tional Bank over thirt}-six years. 
\\ itli lii.N added duties for seveial 
years as the former secretary and 
treasurer of the Savings Bank, he has 
become one of the most familiar fig- 
ures in local ])anking circles. He is 
also the present treasurer of the city 
of Aleriden. an office of honor and 
trust he lias lield since 1899. and is 
one of the trustees of the City Savings 
I'.ank. 

Mr. Curtis is treasurer of the finance 
couimittee organized for the cele- 
bration of the one hundredth anniver- 
sary of the ^own of Meriden. He is 
also a member of ]\leriden Golf and 
Home clubs and prominent in social 
life. He is affiliated with Center 
Lodge, 97. A. 1'. & .\. -M.: Keystone 
Chapter, 27. R. A. .M., and St. Flmo 
C"ouimander\-. 9. K. T. He is also a 
member of Pilgrims' Harbor Council, 
543. Royal Arcanmn. 

He was married in 1871) to Clar.i H. 
I'lU'niss. and to that imion there is now 
living one daughter. Bessie 1'.. who in 
i<;02 married Harry C". Lane, of 
Westlield. Mass. 



CITY SAVINGS BANK. 



The City Savings Bank was organ- 
ized in 1874. the incorporators being 
J"(,l 11. Guy. Charles L. I'pham. John 



ii8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



C. Byxbee, Jared R. Cook, John D. 
Billard, John Tait, H. L. Schleiter, 
George W. Smith, William H. Miller, 
A. C. Wetmore, Ratclift'e Hicks, J. S. 
Wightman, Randolph Linsley, Wil- 
liam Lewis, E. B. Everitt and Gilbert 
Rogers. 

The first president was Joel H. Guy, 
who for many years held an honored 
position in the history of banking af- 
fairs in ]\Ieriden. Upon the death of 
Mr. Guy, in 1881, John D. Billard, one 
of the most trustworthy and conserva- 
tive business men of the city and 
greatly beloved by all who knew him, 
was elected to the presidency. Upon 
his death, in 1902, Charles L. Rock- 
well, W'ho had been the treasurer of the 
bank, was elected president, which of- 
fice he now holds. Floyd Curtis was 
elected secretary and treasurer in 
1884 but resigned in 1902 to accept 
the cashiership of the First National 
Bank. To fill the vacancy George M. 
Lucas was elected secretary and treas- 
urer and these offices he now holds. 

At the present writing the number 
of depositors is 5,000 and the deposits 
of the bank aggregate $3,500,000. 

The trustees of the bank are as fol- 
lows : H. L. Schleiter, C. L. Rock- 
well, Seth J. Hall, Charles F. Linsley, 
Floyd Curtis, George M. Lucas, Rat- 
cliffe Hicks, W. S. Billard, Clarence 
P. Bradley, Dexter W. Parker, N. L. 
Bradley, Edward Miller, Jr., John C. 
Byxbee, William H. Lyon, C. F. Rock- 
well, Charles L. L'pham, John W. Coe, 
John Tait, Gilbert Rogers, C. B. Rog- 
ers, J. H. Wliite, George H. Wilcox, 
\\\ [. Robinson and Charles T. Dodd. 



MERIDEN TRUST & SAFE DE- 
POSIT CO. 



This company, whose usefulness to 
the town of ]\Ieriden and vicinity is 
all its name implies, was organized un- 
der a special charter granted by the 
legislature of the state of Connecticut 
in 1889. The original incorporators 
were Walter Hubbard, Isaac C. Lewis, 
John L. Billard, Charles F. Linsley 
and Charles L. Rockwell. The first 
board of directors w^as composed of 
the following : Walter Hubbard. 
Charles F. Linsley, Nathaniel L. iJrad- 
ley, Isaac C. Lewis, Charles Parker, 
John D. Billard, George R. Curtis, 
John L. Billard and Charles L. Rock- 
well. Isaac C. Lewis was the first 
president, and upon his death in 1893, 
Walter Hubbard was elected to fill the 
vacancy, which office he now holds. 
Charles L. Rockwell has been the 
treasurer since the organization of the 
company, and Harry H. Smith is the 
present secretary of the company. 

The company, by its charter, is au- 
thorized to act as executor, adminis- 
trator, guardian, trustee or receiver of 
estates and is also authorized to acce])t 
and execute any and all trusts that 
may be conunitted to its care by per- 
sons or corporations or by the direc- 
tion of any court of probate or other 
legally constituted authority in this 
state or elsewhere. From the wide 
scope of its operations, the Meriden 
Trust & Safe Deposit Company is fill- 
ing a long felt want in this community 
and is indispensable as a place of 
safet\- for the deposit of securities and 



BANKS, BOARD OF TRADI-: AND POST OFFICE. 



119 



vahiaMcs of all kinds. TIk' vaults of 
the cuni])any arc of the most approved 
])attern. constructed of the best and 
safest material and are absolutelx safe 
ajjainst fire or burglary. 'Hie direct- 
ors oi the compan\- are Walter 11 ul)- 
banl, Charles L. Rockwell. ( ieortje M. 
Curtis. John T.. r.illard. Charles V. 
I in>.lc\ and X. L. liradlew 



.\li:Kll)i:X BO.ARD OF TR.\i)J':. 

ieriden is possessed of an ener- 
i^ttic board of trade, com])osed of 
\vorth\- citizens and men whose in- 
thience has been exerted with -;ood 
results toward the betterment oi 
the town. The following men of 
.Meriden comprised the first officers 
and directors: Charles L. Cpham, 
l)resi(lent : H. Wales Lines and Sam- 
uel Dodd. vice-presidents ; Eli C. Bird- 
sey. secretary ; I. L. Holt, treasurer ; 
directors. Francis Atwater, N. L. 
I^radley. John L. Billard. Eli C. Bird- 
sey. John W. Coe. C. W. Cahill. 
Homer .V. Curtiss. Samuel Dodd, \i. 
J. Doolittlc, George L. Ellsbree, H. 
Wales Lines. William H. Lyon. John 
S. Lane. Edward Miller. Charles L. 
Rockwell. John .\. Hurley. .Vu.i^ust 
Schmelzer, M. B. Schenck, George II. 
Wilcox and Charles L. I'pham. 

The organization of the lioard of 
Trade, which occurred in July. i<S97, 
was met with much enthusiasm on the 
])art of the business men of the town. 
and not long after the first meeting, 
which was held in the Town hall. De- 
cember 18. 1S93. the I'.oard of Trade 
numbered 325 members. During the 



first tew \ ears ot its existence manv 
expected that Meriden would imme- 
diately be possessed of munerous new 
factories, and the rapid buihling uj) 
oi the town, and the first i^resident 
was loyally su])portcd with that aim in 
view. The first creditable eft'ort was 
the assistance rendered the people of 
Southington in devising ways and 
means for building the electric tram- 
way, now running between Meriden, 
Southington and Lake Compounce, 
which has brought th(msands of dol- 
lars annually to Meriden merchants. 
The committee ap])ointed by the Board 
of Trade, to bring about this happy 
result consisted of Francis Atwater, 
then a director of the Board of Trade, 
but later made president, who. with 
John A. Hurley, another director, pro- 
moted the company which, since its 
organization, has been conducted with 
success. 

While there have been times in 
the histor\' of the local Board of Trade 
when its membcrshi]) has been re- 
duced, there have always been a few 
active workers within its ranks ; and 
at the present time its meniberslii]) is 
100. The propositions listened to by 
the Hoard of Trade from concerns 
who would, it they could. locate in 
Meriden. but many of whom were not 
desirable, have been almost number- 
less. 

Tn conducting their investigations 
tin- members of the P)oard of Trade, 
have s])i'nt freely of their time and 
money without regard for personal 
gain. In it/^o^ the board accomplisheil 
its crowninu achievement, securing the 



BANKS, IJIJARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE. 



121 



thriving industry now carried on by 
the Meriden Fire Arms Co., by raising 
among the citizens about $io,030 in a 
single day. The Board of Trade has 
been of value to Aleriden, not only in 
trving to induce desirable industries to 
locate here, but in keeping unde- 
sirable industries away ; it has im- 
proved the freight service, caused all 
express trains to be stopped here and 
accomplished other achievements, all 
of which have been of benefit to the 
business man and the resident. 

Francis Atwater was chosen presi- 
dent in 1898 and served until January 
I. 1905. since which time, the officers 
of the Board of Trade have been as 
follows : President, Charles H. Tre- 
dennick ; vice-presidents, Eugene A. 
Hall and Frank D. Smith ; secretary, 
F. A. Stevens ; treasurer, I. L. Holt ; 
directors, Eli C. Birdsey, H. Wales 
Lines. Francis Atwater, E. J. Doolittle, 
M. B. Schenck, George H. Wilcox, F. 
A. Stevens, D. L. Bishop, W. P. Bris- 
tol. Eugene A. Hall, A. J. Fletcher, A. 
Schmelzer. Col. C. L. Upham. Henry 
E. Bushnell. George S. Seeley. Frank 
D. Smith, C. H. Tredennick, Herman 
Hess, Flenry C. Bibeau and Leroy C. 
Pardee. 



MERIDEX POST OFFICE. 



When in 1806 Aleriden was set 
apart from the town of W'allingford 
Amos White was named by President 
Jefferson as the first postmaster. The 
post office was located in a one-story 
building, owned by Partrick Lewis, sit- 



uated on the southeast corner of Broad 
and East Alain streets, on the property 
now owned by Eli C. Birdsey. Mr. 
White served for several years. He 
was succeeded by Partrick Lewis, who 
served until 1828. In this year Pres- 
ident Jackson appointed Levi Yale 
postmaster, who transferred the office 
from its previous location of twenty- 
two years, to the building now known 
as Xo. 641 Broad street. l\Ir. Yale 
served through part of the two admin- 
istrations of Jackson and through all 
of \'an Buren's, or about twelve years 
in all. 

Richard X. Dowd was appointed 
postmaster by President William 
Henry Harrison in 1841, but he died 
after being in office about six months. 
President Tyler, during the same year, 
appointed Walter Booth postmaster, 
who held the office for three years and 
six months. Ira X'^. Yale, cousin of 
the late B. L. Yale, was appointed 
postmaster by President Polk in 1845. 
but died after holding office about 
three years. Almeron Miles, father of 
the late Wallace A. Allies, was ap- 
pointed postmaster by President Polk 
in 1848 to succeed Air. Yale. Air. 
Allies resigned the office after the elec- 
tion, but before the inauguration of 
President Taylor, having served less 
than a year. Hiram Hall, half Ijrother 
of Walter B. Hall, was next appointed 
]:)ostmaster by President Taylor. He 
served for two years, covering about 
foin- months under Polk and about 
twcnl\- months under Taylor. 

L'p to this lime the post office had 
remained in the Levi Yale buildin"'. 



BAXKS, BOARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE. 



123 



I'lulcr ]Mr. Hall it was transferred to 
a little frame building" built special!}- 
for the post office. This building- 
stood then just north of the Bassett 
block ^)n Broad street and now stands 
on land of B. L. Yale estate on Wall 
street east of the Catholic cen-ietery. 

Following Air. Hall, Asahel H. Cur- 
tis was a|)pointed postmaster, and 
served through Fillmore's term or 
about three years. The election of 
President Pierce brought about the 
ai)iiointn-ient as postmaster in 1853 of 
Hiram Hall for the second time. Mr. 
Hall died after serving" about one year. 
Mr. Hall had his office in a wooden 
building" adjoining the John Ives res- 
idence on Broad street. This building" 
was afterwards nioved to \'iew street 
and later was demolished. Upon the 
deatli of Mr. Hall. President Pierce 
ap])()inted Bertrand L. Yale postmas- 
ter, who served for seven years, three 
under Pierce and four under Buchan- 
an. Mr. Yale held his office in the 
old Levi Ya\e building already s])oken 
of. Wlu-n Abraham Lincoln was 
president. Asahel H. Curtis was for a 
second tiiue a])pointed postniaster. He 
served imtil Mr. Lincoln's death, but 
resigned his office under President 
Johnson. Mr. Curtis' office was lo- 
cated in the old Franklin Hall build- 
ing, on the now vacant corner north 
of the Congregational church. Broad 
street. 

In 1865 Linus Pirdsey was a])- 
pointed postniaster by President Jolm- 
son to succeed Mr. Curtis. Mr. P.ird- 
scy. who served for three years, trans- 
ferred the post office to the brick build- 



ing that formerl}- stood on the site of 
the tirst post office at the soittheast 
corner of Main and Inroad streets. 
Lon R. Hall w^s appointed postmaster 
by President Grant in 1869. Mr. Hall 
transferred the post office back to the 
building from which Mr. Birdsey had 
taken it, and then, after a few years, 
took it across the street to John Ives' 
store in the brick block now known as 
Xo. 489 Broad street. Mr. Hall 
served seven years, and then resigned, 
when he was succeeded by his brother, 
William F. Hall, who was appointed 
by President Ha}es. Air. Hall moved 
the post office to the building known 
as 320 East Alain street, where Station 
A is now located. On September i, 
1880, the Aleriden post office, the then 
official designation of the up-town of- 
fice, was abolished and made a branch 
of the down-town post office, which 
up to that date officially was known as 
the West Aleriden post office. In the 
changed capacity of clerk of Alain 
street branch. W. F. Hall, under Post- 
niaster Fl I). Hall, of the down-town 
office, from that time officially desig- 
nated the Aleriden office, continued to 
serve the branch office imtil iSSrx 
Linus ijirdsey in the same year, under 
ai)])()intment from Postmaster \\\ H. 
Miller, again assumed charge of the 
up-town office, this lime as clerk of 
the station, and served until 1890. 
Massena l-\ Hallou was appointed as 
clerk of the station .March 1. 18(^4. 
■'ind serve(l until his death, when on 
April I. 1804. lie was followed ])y his 
daughter. Mrs. A. A. P>. Twiss. who 
in tiu"n. on Xoxember i. 1804. was fol- 



124 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



lowed by .Miss Ida L. 2\Iiller, the pres- 
ent incumbent. 

It was about 1844, that the business 
men and residents in that portion of 
the town then known as West Meriden 
agitated the matter of having a post 
office of their own. The result was 
the establishment, during 1845, o^" the 
West Meriden post office. Joel H. 
Guy was named by President Polk 
as the first postmaster, and the first 
post office stood just east of the Guy 
residence on the south side of West 
JMain street. 

The election of Zachary Taylor 
brought about a change in 1849, when 
Noah A. Linsley was appointed post- 
master. Mr. Linsley had his office in 
the wooden building now owned by 
Frederick J. Wheeler, on the north 
side of the street, known as 21 West 
Main street. 

In 1853, soon after the inauguration 
of President Pierce, Joel H. Guy again 
received a postmaster's commission. 
The office was taken back again to the 
south side of West Main street. Mr. 
Guy continued in office this time about 
five years, when he gave way to his 
son-in-law, Samuel B. Morgan. Mr. 
Morgan transferred the office to quar- 
ters which stood on the present site of 
the First National Bank building. 

Soon after President Lincoln's inau- 
guration in 1861, George W. Rogers 
was appointed postmaster. The office 
was immediately moved to the brick 
structure which stood on the east side 
of Colony street, corner of Main 
street. This building was destroyed 
by fire during Mr. Rogers' term, and 



the office was taken to the room in the 
Butler building", 13 Colony street, now 
occupied by W. W. Mosher. 

On August 8, 1865, President John- 
son appointed Wallis Bull postmaster, 
and with this appointment there began 
a quarrel between the friends of Wallis 
Bull and the adherents of George W. 
Rogers, which hotly interested more 
than half the population of the town. 

On August 31, 1866, thirteen 
months after Mr. Bull took office, his 
enemies succeeded in bringing about 
his removal and in having Air. Rogers 
restored to office. Mr. Rogers trans- 
ferred the office in August, 1867, to 
the north room in the old Byxbee 
block, known as 37 Colony street, now 
occupied by W. H. Squire. Thirteen 
months after Mr. Rogers had taken 
office, namely on September 23, 1867, 
his enemies triumphed with President 
Johnson and Samuel B. Morgan was 
for the second time made postmaster. 
]\lr. Morgan served this time for twen- 
ty months, when on ]May 17. 1869, the 
friends of Wallis Bull prevailed with 
the administration and secured for him 
his second commission as postmaster. 

Mr. Bull served the second time for 
eight years lacking two months, when 
on February 24, 1877, he was removed 
by President Grant, and Erwin D. Hall 
appointed. In 1878 Mr. Hall trans- 
ferred the office to the formerly well- 
known Hill building which stood tem- 
porarily on the plot of ground now 
known as Winthrop Square. The Hill 
building now stands on the premises 
known as 289 Center street. In the 
spring of 1880 the post office was 



BANKS, BOARD OF TRADE AND POST OFFICE. 



125 



moved to the Wilcox block at 24 Col- 
ony street. 

Under political pressure "Sir. Hall 
resigned his office February i, 1886, 
and was succeeded by William H. Mil- 
ler, who served until February i. 1890, 
when lie was followed by Henry Dry- 
hurst, who received his commission 
from President Harrison. 

On August I, 1894, John J. Ander- 
son became postmaster, by appoint- 
ment of President Cleveland, and 
served until August t, 1898. He was 
succeeded by Henry Dryhurst, who re- 
ceiveil his second api)ointment from 
President AIcKinley, and his third 
from President Roosevelt. 

The Meriden office entered the first 
class July i. 1890. On May 20, 1899, 
the post office removed to its present 
<|uarters at 2=, and zj Colony street. 



The letter carrier service was estab- 
lished in Meriden September i, 1880. 
The first four men constituting the 
force were William H. Minchin, Al- 
bert L. Bartlett, Charles Allemeyer 
and Chauncey G. Johnson. The num- 
ber of carriers now employed (June i, 
1906) is twenty and of clerks eighteen. 

Besides Station A, there are six sub- 
stations. The annual receipts this 
year were $75,000. 

In 1902 the congress appropriated 
$100,000 for a federal building for the 
^leriden post office. The site at the 
corner of Colony and Brooks streets 
was purchased at a cost of $20,500. 
All bids for the new building were re- 
jected because excessive ; and a bill 
for an additional appropriation for the 
building is now pending in the con- 
cress. 



126 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



NEWSPAPERS 



THE 



JOURNAL PUBLISH! XG 
COMPANY. 



No clearer knowledge can be briefly 
g'leaned of a city than by a glance at 
its newspapers. If they be prosper- 
ous, pushing and enterprising, they 
but indicate the spirit of the commun- 
ity in which they are produced and its 
progressiveness is marked in their 
pages. It is true that they may cre- 
ate and lead in those things which 
make for the best progress of a mu- 
nicipality, but to become successful in 
progression, there must l^e an appre- 
ciation shown in a willingness on the 
part of the public to encourage such 
leadership with sufficient patronage to 
make its continuance possible. 

It is this condition existing" in Mer- 
iden which has made of The jMeriden 
Daily Journal one of the leading pa- 
pers not only in the state, but in New 
England, and permitted its owners, 
The Journal Publishing Company, to 
-build up one of the largest publishing 
and printing houses in the New Eng- 
land states. 

Early in 1886 it became apparent 
that there was an opening for a new 
evening daily newspaper in Meriden 
and as a result The Journal Publish- 
ing Company was incorporated on 
April 2 of that year, for the purpose 
of publishing The Meriden Dailv 



Journal and to carry on a general 
printing and publishing business. In 
those days when mechanical equip- 
ment was limited, onl_\- hundreds of 
dollars were required in the production 
of a newspaper where now thousands 
must be invested, and therefore the 
new company started business with 
but $8,000 capital. 

It was shortly after this, however, 
that the great advance in methods due 
to demands for the quicker and better 
l)roduction of newspapers began, and 
costly machinery, and the growth of 
the business, required greater invest- 
ments until the capital was increased 
to $60,000 and then to $67,000. This 
capital and the surplus in the business 
of The Journal Publishing Company 
to-day represents an investment of 
nearly $200,000. Its business has cor- 
respondingly enlarged with its in- 
creased investment and facilities, a 
very great share of its patronage com- 
ing from outside Meriden. 

\Mien the company was formed in 
1886. four men held all the stock and 
became its officers. These same men. 
elected at the first meeting, are still 
its directors and officers and are all 
actively engaged in the conduct of its 
afl^airs. They are Francis Atwater, 
president ; Lewis Allen, vice-presi- 
dent ; Thomas L. Reilly, secretary, and 
Frank E. Sands, treasurer. 



NEWSPAPERS. 



12: 



When the conipaiiN' began business 
quarters were secured on the second 
floor of Russell's (now the Meriden 
Grain & Feed Company's) block, on 
South Colony street, and from there 
The Meriden Daily Journal made its 
first appearance on the afternoon of 
April 17, 1886, as a four-page paper, 
with seven columns to the page. The 



patronized and highly prosperous i)a- 
])er and is still growing. It has been 
changed and enlarged frequently, as 
the demand upon its advertising or 
news columns required more space. 

The first change came in Decem- 
l)er. 1886, when it was enlarged bv 
adding a colunm in width. The fol- 
lowing Ai)ril the i^ressure on its col- 




BUSINESS OFFICE, TOUKXAL PUI'.LISHIXG CO. 



success of the new daily was assured 
from the very start, and from that day 
it has continued to grow and advance, 
until now it goes not only intcj near- 
ly every home in .Meriden, Inil has 
reached out into the adjoining towns 



unms rc(|uired more room, and still 
another column was added. It con- 
tinued in this form until the year fol- 
lowing, when, on Max 7. iSSS, it tirst 
ap])eared as an eight-page pa])er. six 
columns to the i)age, and cut. folded 



and implanted itself firmly in those and pasted. 
I fields. It is a widelv read, largely In the meantime, the ])rinting bus- 



I2J 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



iness had kept pace with the growth of 
th€ newspaper, and during February, 
1888, a book bindery was added, the 
third floor of Russell's block being 
taken for the purpose. The quarters 
were totally inadequate to the demands 
of the business by this time, and in 
October the large three-story build- 
ing, owned bv Morse & Cook, at the 



partment, on Alarch 7, 1889, they 
bought the business of Charles E. Bi- 
beau and Richard A. Owen, who had 
conducted a prosperous printing estab- 
lishment under the firm name of 
Owen & Bibeau, and Mr. Owen be- 
came foreman of The Journal's book 
and job printing department while Mr. 
Bibeau took charge of the press room. 




DIRECTORS ROOM, JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO. 



junction of Perkins and South Col- 
ony street was leased, and a change 
made to that building after extensive 
alterations had been made. Here was 
found room for the much needed ad- 
ditional machinery. To add to the 
ability of the company to turn out 
the book work in its mechanical de- 



During this time the entire method 
in the production of newspapers and 
books was undergoing a great change. 
The invention of fast web presses re- 
quiring sterotype plates, linotype ma- 
chines that displaced hand composi- 
tors, and other machinery for the more 
rapid making of newspapers to fill 



NEWSPAPERS. 



129 



constantly increasing demands and 
quick growth, were coming in, and 
when again in a short time the facili- 
ties were found totally inadequate, a 
contract was made with the Goss 
FVinting Press Company to design and 
build for The Journal a web perfect- 
ing press, with a capacity of 12,000 
complete eight-page papers per hour. 



of erecting the present four-story fire- 
proof Journal building was begun. It 
was attended with great difificulties, as 
all the departments had to be kept at 
work in the old building while the new 
one was constructed around it and the 
old one afterward torn out piecemeal. 
The new building was built entirely 
of brick, iron and concrete. The out- 




NEWS COMPOSING ROOM, TOURXAI, l-U lU-ISll I N( ; ((). 



The Journal was first printed on it 
November 29, 1889. 

In October, 1890, the store at z'j 
East Main street, was leased and fitted 
up as business offices and connected 
with The Journal building in the rear. 



cr walls are of brick and the ])eams 
and girders of iron, wliile the floors 
are of concrete over corrugated iron 
arches. The partitions are all of 
pressed iron, the onl\- wood being the 
window frames and roof girders, the 



In i8()o the property was bought of latter carrying a steel roof. It is de- 
Morse & Cook and in 1892, the work signed to be as nearly fireproof as it 
9 



130 



A CENTURY OF MP:RIDEN, 



is possible to make such a building. 
During the time of the building and 
preceding it. The Journal Publishing 
Company had absorbed and added to 
its i:»lant the business of other concerns 
in allied trades, the most important 
being in 1891, when the large electro- 
typing plant of D. S. Griswold was 
purchased and moved into the build- 
inof. 



since been built and installed for The 
Journal a big double deck straight line 
Goss Perfecting Press capable of pro- 
ducing 25,000 papers per hour. 

From four pages The Journal has 
grown to twelve pages with from si.x- 
teen to twenty pages on Saturdays and 
special occasions. It enjoys a splen- 
did patronage, practically every lead- 
inc' advertiser in the countrv beinfr 




BOOK AND TOB COMPOSING ROOM. 



At no time since its formation has 
the compan}' ceased to progress and 
grow and the energy of its officers 
and the splendid force of assistants is 
shown to-day in the position The 
Journal occupies in and outside the 
community and the large patronage 
the other departments enjoy. 

The press that was ample in 1889 
soon became too small and there has 



represented in its columns in addition 
to every important local advertiser. 
It is recognized as one of the hand- 
somest and most complete newspapers 
produced anywiiere with the result 
that its circulation has showed a 
steady increase each year. 

The Journal's big establishment is 
divided into distinct departments, each 
under a separate head. Richard A. 



NEWSPAPERS. 



131 




PRESS ROO^r, JOURNAL PURLISHING CO. 




BOOK CINDERV, TOUR.XAL PUBLISHING CO. 



132 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Owen is superintendent with direct 
charge of the job and book depart- 
ments: W. H. Marshall has charge of 
the press room, E. H. Hitchcock of the 
electrotyping, J. J. Walsh of the news 
composing, E. C. Parry of the lino- 
type machines and Henry Minkwitz, 
of the sterotyping room. 

Messrs. Allen and Reillv of the 



i\llen and Lewis Reilly, city reporters, 
M. F. Clark. Publishers' Press opera- 
tor ; Miss Annie M. Whalen, proof 
reader, and W. R. Gilbert, M. S. Mc- 
Kiernan and Mrs. Elizabeth Lyon, su- 
burban reporters. 

The business office staff besides ]\Ir. 
At water, publisher, and Mr. Sands, 
business manager, consists of Jesse 




ELECTROTYPING DEPARTMENT, JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO. 



company devote their time to the edi- 
torial end of the paper, and Alessrs. 
Atwater and Sands to the business de- 
partment. 

The editorial force besides Mr. Al- 
len, editor-in-chief, and Mr. Reilly. 
associate editor, is composed of the 
following: E. B. Whitney, city editor: 
D. T. Lamb, telegraph editor : Walter 



Sands, advertising department ; J. 
Frank Morris, advertising agent ; 
John F. Fenders, circulation manager. 
Miss Margaret Hopkins, bookkeeper; 
Miss Sophia Huber, clerk and assist- 
ant bookkeeper, and Arthur Keenan, 
clerk. 

All told. The Journal employs about 
sixty hands, manv of whom have been 



NEVVSPAPKRS. 



133 



with the company for }ears and 
whose services are, naturally, highly 
valued. 

The products of The Journal press 
include many notable books, not the 
least of which is this volume, "A Cen- 
turv of Meriden.'" 



MERIDEN MORNING RECORD. 



The Record, Meriden's onl}' morn- 
ing newspaper, enjoys the distinction 
of being the oldest newspaper in the 
city, the Republican, whicli it absorbed 
in 1899, having been established in 
i860. A few years prior to the ab- 
sorption of the Republican by the Rec- 
ord, William A. Kelsey acquired the 
controlling interest in the Republican 
Publishing Company, and the merger 
was the result of his business acumen 
and far-sightedness. \\'ith the Even- 
ing Republican out of the tield, Meri- 
den was left with two strong, well 
established newspapers ; the Record in 
the morning, the journal in the even- 
ing. 

Prior to the time Mr. Kclscy ideiui- 
fied himself with the Re])uljHcan PuIj- 
Hshing Comjxmy, it had conducted a 
general job printing and book-binding 
business. 'Sir. Kelsey soon decided to 
abandon these branches to enable the 
directors of the business to devote 
their entire energies to the Morning 
Record. With the obstacles to its 
progress removed, the Record went 
ahead steadily day by day. and is now 
recognized as one of the foremost. 
most influential and substantial 



morning newspapers in Connecticut. 
Early in 1905 The Republican Pub- 
lishing Company, which is the corpo- 
rate name of the Morning Record, 
purchased the valuable site on the 
corner of Crown and Perkins streets, 
and began the erection thereon of the 
substantial building which is now the 
home of the Morning Record. A 
mammoth, two-deck press was or- 




WII.I.IA.M A. KKLSKV. 

dered from the Potter Printing Press 
Company, of Plainfield, N. J., and in- 
stalled a few months later, after the 
completion of the l)uilding in Septem- 
ber, 1905. A large amount of other 
new machinery was purchased, mak- 
ing the Record ]ilanl unsurpassed in 
its ability to produce a first-class, mod- 
ern newspaper. 



134 



A CEXTURV OF MERIDEN. 




NEWSPAPERS. 



135 



The Record is a niemlxT of that 
L^reat, world-wide news-^atheriiii;' or- 
j,^anization. The Associated Press, thus 
j:jivins^ its readers all the news of the 
world at the earliest possible moment. 
it irives untisuallv careful attenti(Mi to 




i;i)WI.\ E. SMITH. 

the j^atherin^- of local news. ])ersonal 
items, etc.. and is a complete news- 
paper in every sense. 

I he Record lias alwa\ s lieen essen- 
tially a family paper and has a very 
lar^e circulation in the homes of Mer- 
iden and all of the surroundiuf^ towns. 
The Record's advertisino;' patronajj^e is 
very lar^e ; it includes all of the prin- 
cipal business houses of .Meriden. and 
the ^reat majorit\' of the leadint^- £^en- 
eral advertisers of the countrv. 



larj^e success for the Record are un- 
rtag-ging energy, fair treatment to all 
in business matters and in its news 
colunms, enterprise in anticipating the 
wants of its readers, not only in news 
matters, but in originating feattires 
that appeal to the people generally. 

Associated with William A. Kelsey 
in the conduct of the Record are Ed- 
win E. Smith, at the head of the bus- 
iness and finances, and Thomas H. 
W'arnock of the editorial and news de- 
])artments. Both of these men, like 
Mr. Kelsev, are natives of Meriden 




'I'lrOMAS 11. W.\R.\0(,K. 

and lo\aI advocates of every cavise 
that stands for the city's advancement. 
The large financial interests of these 
three gentlemen in the Record, assures 



Among the factors that have won its loyalty solel\ to the welfare of 



136 A CENTURY OF MERIUEN. 

Meriden and their fellow-citizens at all publisher ; T. H. Warnock, editor, 

times. The directors are : W. A. Kelsey, E. 

The Company's paid-in capital is E. Smith, T. H. Warnock, N. L. Brad- 

$75,000.00. W. A. Kelsey is presi- ley, J. L. Billard. W. H. Lyon and W. 

dent ; E. E. Smith, vice-president and W. Mosher. 



CHURCHES. 



137 



CHURCHES. 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCH. 



This time honored church organiza- 
tion which, previous to 1806, was by 
law the predominating power in the 
affairs of the town, as is told at length 
in the first section of this volume by 
(icorge M. Curtis, still occupies a 
leading position in the spiritual and 
social life of Meriden. The present 
edifice, a remarkably attractive and im- 
posing stone structure, was dedicated 
April 2. 1879, but some few meetings 
were held therein previous to its dedi- 
cation. The corner stone was laid 
June 8. 1876, and the cost of the 
building was about $175,000. 

The completion of the church after 
having been in process of construc- 
tion for over two years was a source 
of much joy to its members, and 
from that time to the present the 
society has experienced a steady 
growth in membership and influence. 
The first sermon in the ]:)rescnt church 
was preached by Rev. Thomas A. 
Miles, who afterwards supplied the 
pulpit of the church from A])ril, 1879 
to .Xpril, 1 88 1. Other divines who 
afterwards filled the pulpit but were 
not installed as pastors were Rev. Llew- 
ellyn Pratt who served a year and 
ten months, and until December. 1883 ; 
Rev. Charles H. Everest, who re- 



mained for nine months from October 
I, 1884 to July I, 1885; and Rev. 
Charles H. Williams who presided 
over the church for three years from 
1886-89. Rev. Asher Anderson, Jan- 
uar\- 31. 1890. was then installed as 
regular pastor and served in that 
capacity until November 30, 1901. 
Rev. Albert J. Lord the present pastor 
after having filled the pulpit from 
December 4, 1902, was installed Jan- 
uary 27, 1903. During its history the 
church has had two assistant pastors. 
The first was John -W. Logan, now 
Y. AI. C. A. secretary at H\'de 
Park, Mass., and Rev. F. W. Hazen, 
the present assistant pastor. 

The First Congregational Church 
is not onl_\' a most attractive and sub- 
stantial house of worshi]) but it com- 
])rises one of most modern equipment. 
The latest acquisition, and operated 
through the organ l)v electricitv, is 
a costly set of chimes, the only set of 
its kind in the city, presented to 
the church by the White families 
in memory of the late Edward H. 
and Howard White. These chimes, 
twenty in numl)er, first gave forth 
their tuneful melodies on Easter 
Sunday of the present year, and 
the church became equipped with 
them unbeknown to its members. The 
growth of the church in membership 
within the past decade, during which 



138 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



time a large number have also gone to Rev. F. W. Hazen, the assistant pas- 
other cities, and many other members tor, is the present superintendent. The 
removed by death, is shown by the trustees of the corporation are George 
following figures: the total enrolled H. Wilcox. Arthur E. Hall and Rob- 




FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 



Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



membership in 1896 was 688, and the ert W. Carter : clerk, Albert H. Wil- 

total enrolled membership to date cox, and the treasurer, Byron R. Gard- 

is about 900. The Sunday school ner. The church deacons are W. H. 

comprises 530 members, and of this Catlin, Arthur S. Lane, H. D. Beebe, 



CHURCHES. 



139 



A. I'l. Savage, C. H. I'inks, Erastus 
Hnbbard and Homer A. Curtiss. 

The First Congregational church 
vvieUls a might}- influence both at home 
and abroad, and many thriving socie- 
ties have been formed within the edi- 
fice, all of which are in a flourishing 
condition. Including those organized 
iluring the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Lord 
the church is possessed of the follow- 
ing i)rominent societies : Young Peo- 
ple's Society of Christian Endeavor ; 
Junior Christian Endeavor ; The For- 
eign Missionary Auxiliary, Mrs. F. E. 
Hinman. i)resident; Ladies" Benevo- 
lent Society, Mrs. Emily H. Johnson, 
cliairman, and the following directors : 
Mrs. Charles F. Linsley, Mrs. Wilbur 
!•". Davis, Mrs. Geo. E. Savage, Mrs. 
.\rthur S. Lane, ]\Irs. Chas. L. Lyon, 
Mrs. W. H. Squire, Airs. John Q. 
Thayer and Mrs. George H. Wilcox ; 
( iuardian Society, !\Irs. FL \\'. Seip, 
president : the Dorcas Society of young 
women. Miss Agnes Augur, president ; 
(iranite League of young men, eighty 
members, .Allen Vale, president : the 
Cheerful (iivers, composed of girls, 
Annie Ives, leader ; Order of Knights 
of King .Arthur, Stanley White as 
Merlin ; and Boys" Cadets, thirty meni- 
bers, Wm. B. Blanchard of Co. L, C. 
.\. C. drill master. 

Rev. .Albert Jones Lord was born 
at I-:ilsw()rth, Me., October i, 1868. 
and was educated at the high school 
of his native town, and was graduated 
at I'owdoin College, where he pursued 
his academic course, in i8(;4. He 
studied for the ministry at the Theo- 
logical Seminary at Andover, Alass., 



from which he was graduated in 1897. 
During his theological course he tille<l 
several pulpits, and notably that of the 
Berkeley Temple, Boston, where he 
was for a time assistant pastor, and 
also at the Highland Congregational 
church, Roxbury, Mass. He was or- 
dainetl a clergyman Oct. 19, 1897, and 
the following July was installed pastor 
of the Congregational church at Hart- 




Ki:V. A. J. L(JKD. 

ford, \ t., where he remained until he 
received a call from the First Con- 
gregational church of Meriden. Since 
coming to this city the church has 
greatly ])rospered bnancially. spirit- 
ually and socially. 

.Mr. Lord was marrieil in l-.llsworth. 
Me., Dec. 29, 1897. to Maude I^velyn 
Phillilis. and one child. Phillips 
Ila\nes Lord, has blessed that union. 



140 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX, 



THE CENTER COXGREGA- 
TIONAL CHURCH. 



The Center Congregational church, 
situated at the corner of Broad and 
East Main streets, in the heart of the 
up-town district, is the oldest church 
edifice in the city, having been erected 
in 1830. Its architecture is typical of 
the Puritan period of church building, 
being indeed a visible embodiment of 
the simplicity, dignity and stability 
which marked the character and life 
of the times out of which it sprang. 
It stands in the midst of the rush and 
complexity of our modern life, pro- 
claiming silently the plainer virtues 
and austerer life of the forefathers ; 
and binding into one the past of small 
beginnings and the flourishing present 
of our city. A New England classic 
it is, of unmixed type, its simple, 
noble lines eminently satisfying the 
sense of proportion and churchliness. 
The auditorium is finished in white, 
its chaste surfaces combining effec- 
tively with the furnishings of green 
and gold. 

Especially admired is the tower 
with its graceful symmetry, enhanc- 
ed by a scheme of light Doric and 
Ionic pillars and classic decorations. 
The clock in the tower is a well- 
known landmark.. 

The Center Congregational church 
has been so called since the year 
1848. In that year a division in the 
original Congregational church took 
place largely in consequence of the 
center of population changing to the 



westward : about three-quarters of 
the church removing, while the rec- 
ords show about one hundred and 
twenty to have remained, including 
all the deacons of the church. The 
property was divided. Those who 
removed carried with them the rec- 
ords of the original church organiza- 
tion, and adopted the name "First 
Congregational Church." Those 
who remained to worship in the old 
building adopted by the advice of the 
council the title "Center Congrega- 
tional Church." 

There was left to the old site by 
this division a band of noble men and 
women to keep alive the altar fires 
which their fathers had builded. 
Some of them were men of weight, 
the stamp of whose character was 
already on the growing town. Call- 
ed henceforth by a new ecclesiasti- 
cal name, they nevertheless knew no 
other church than the one wliose 
u'-eeting house they then occupied ; 
no other church traditions than those 
which for a hundred and twenty 
years had been taking root in the 
soil of their aft"ections ; no other 
memories than those centering 
around the pastorates of a long line 
of godly ministers, wlio, beginning 
with Theophilus Hall, had shep- 
herded the one and undivided Con- 
gregational flock. Center Church 
today is the possessor of this ancient 
site of worship, and joint heir of 
these traditions and memories. On 
the membership roll of the church 
to-dav are not a few names running 



CHURCHES. 



141 



back to the coming of Congregation- 
alism to Meriden. To the extent, 
therefore, that the age of a church 
is determined by the duration of its 
organic life more than by its nomen- 
clature, the present Center Church 
rejoices in a spiritual ancestry as old 
as Congregationalism is old in Meri- 
den. 



1892-1896; Rev. J. H. Grant, 1896 to 
the present time. 

Two of the former pastors of the 
church are living, Rev. J. J. Woolley, 
pastor of the Park Place Congrega- 
tional church, Pawtucket, R. I., and 
Rev. Edward Hungerford, residing in 
Burlington, A^ermont, and still in ac- 
tive pastoral service. During the 




CEXTliR COX(".Kl-:(;.\TI().\.\l. (, ULKCll. 



The pastors of the church since 
the year 1848 have been, with the 
terms of service of each : Rev. Asa- 
hel A. Stevens, 1848-1854; Rev. 
Lewis E. Lockwood, 1857-1858; 
Rev. O. H. White, 1858-1862; Rev. 
J. J. Woolley, 1 862- 1 87 1 ; Rev. Edw. 
Hungerford, 1872-1879: Rev. A. H. 
Hall. 1880-1891 ; Rev. J. C. Wilson, 



])astorate of Mr. Hungerford, the 
house of worship was extended 
twenty feet to the west, excavation 
made for a new lecture room and 
jiarlors, the present organ was pur- 
chased and the church interior recon- 
structed. Again during the pastor- 
ate of Rev. J. C. Wilson. 1892-6, 
the premises were greatly improved 



142 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



by the removal of an unsightly brick 
building occupying the corner, and 
the church interior was remodeled 
and beautified. 

The membership of the church at 
this writing is something over four 
hundred. Few features of the in- 
stitutional church have been taken 
•on, both location and constituency 
favoring rather the type of the 




REV. J. J. WOOLLEY. 

•conservative family church. "Home- 
like" expresses its chief appeal to its 
members, who are known as a united 
.and loyal people. Through a variety 
of organizations which embody the 
modern aim and method of spiritual 
service the church seeks to make itself 
the servant of the community in the 
things of the Kingdom of God. 



The organizations at present, in 
addition to the Sunday school, are 
as follows : The Woman's Foreign 
Alissionary Society, auxiliary to the 
New Haven Branch of the AVoman's 
Hoard of Foreign ^Missions ; The 
Ladies' Aid Society, for philan- 
thropic and social purposes ; The 
Ladies' Auxiliary, having the same 
object as the preceding: The Men's 
Club, for "the better acquaintance 
of the men of the parish, and the 
promotion of the welfare of the 
church ;" The Young People's Society 
of Christian Endeavor ; The Libert\- 
Club (young ladies), for missionary 
and charitable work ; The Sunbeam 
Society (young children), for mission- 
ary study and work ; The Junior 
Church Workers (boys), for Christian 
culture and usefulness in the church : 
The Cradle Roll ( the youngest chil- 
dren), for missionary and social good. 

The present officers of the church 
in addition to the pastor are : dea- 
cons, L. B. Yale. O. C. Hupfer, A\'. 
B. Rice, P. C. Crombie; clerk, O. ^\■. 
Gaines ; treasurer, A\'. F. Smith : 
superintendent of the Sunday 
School, J. H. Yale ; superintendent 
of primary department, Mrs. Fannie 
A. Augur.. It deserves a place in 
this record that ]\Irs. Augur has 
served the church in this ca])acity 
more than forty years. The church 
made recognition not long ago of 
this remarkable service with a recep- 
tion and presentation. 

The property of the church is un- 
der the control and care of a corpor- 
ation, the "Center Ecclesiastical 



CHURCHES. 



143 



S(»eK-l\.'" 'llie ])resent society's 
committee, who.-e functions arc 
those of trustees, consists of F. 1'. 
( iriswold. chairman; |. II. Yale and 
l>. I.. Pjisho]). Besides the church 
difice valued at $30,000. the society 
(.>\vns a parsonage, and invested 
funds of the value of six thousand 
dollars. The ])arsonage, a roomy, 
comfortable home, situated at a 
sightly point on Broad street, was 
liuilt in the sixties largely through 
the efforts of Deacon Walter Booth. 
who gave the land and superin- 
tended the huilding. 

Re\-. John H. Grant, the present 
pastor, completes this year the tenth 
of his term of service. 



The pastor of the Center Congrega- 
tional church. Rev. John H. Grant. 
was born in Goldsboro, X. C, Febru- 
ary 10. 1870. His father. Major IL 
L. ("irant. served with distinction 
through the Civil war as a member of 
the Si.xth Connecticut A'olunteer Reg- 
iment and at the conclusion of the war 
settletl in the south. Mr. (Irant's 
lUDther is a native of Tlinni])si)n. 

onn. (joldsboro has been the famil\ 
home since 1868. 

Tlie subject of this sketch is the eld- 
est of five children. He attended llu' 
public schools of his native town ; [he 
Putnam (Conn.) High School, and for 
a single year Wake Forest College, X. 
C. completing his ])reparation for col- 
lege. Four years, 1888-1892, were 
•spent at .\mherst College, Mass., 
where Mr. Grant availed himself es- 
pecially of the departments of litera- 



ture and pr.blic s])eaking, and was 
identified with \-ariors college organ- 
izations, musical, dramatic and social. 
He is the possessor of the I 'hi lieta 
l\a])i)a Ke\'. and is a member of the 
l*si L'psilon fr;it(.rnity. lie was grad- 
uated with tlie degree of A. B., class 
of i8(;_'. 

The following four xears were 
given to i)rei)aration for the ministrw 




Ki:\'. joii N 11. (',l^\^•■|■. 

tin- tir.'-t two years at tlie i)i\inily 
school of the I'nivcrsity of Chicago. 
the la>t two at ^'ale Dixinity school, 
Xew Haven, troiu which he was grad- 
ualc-d iu iN(jO. with tlie drgree ot l'>. 1 ). 
The toIli)\\iii;^ summer was passed in 
tra\el in Furoi)e. 

W ith the exception of two summers 
in Rutlaml. \ ermont. as pastor's as- 
sistant, the Meriden i>astorate of Mr. 



144 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Grant is the only one which he has. 
held. He was ordained to the minis- 
try at the same time that he was in- 
stalled as pastor, October 6, 1896. 

He held the office of president of 
the local Ministers' Association, and 
secretary of the Meriden Guild of the 
Religious Education Association. 

Mr. Grant married in 1901 Marga- 
ret K., eldest daughter of the late Rev. 
Alfred H. Hall, a predecessor in the 
pulpit of Center church. One son has 
been born to this union, Alfred Hall 
Grant. The family make their home 
in the parsonage, 630 Broad street. 



THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 



This society was organized Oct. 
7, 1786, when Baptists were few in 
numbers and looked then upon by the 
"Standing Order," the Congrega- 
tionalists, as somewhat beneath the 
social plane. On November 3, the 
same year, Ephraim Hough was 
chosen deacon, Isaac HaU as leading 
brother, and Joel Ives as church 
clerk. They were later treated more 
kindly by the ^lethodists, who 
assisted them materially in the 
building of their second meeting 
house. 

Among the men of the town who 
became in a measure supporters of 
the Baptist Church, but not mem- 
bers of either the church or the so- 
ciety should be mentioned the 
following: Noah Pomeroy, L. Wil- 
cox, W. Martin, Chas. Parker, I. C. 
Lewis, John Parker, J. W. Russell, 
Edmund Parker. Worcester Ives, 



W. Beckett. John Blake, S. Glad- 
win and L. Ives. For many years 
before any meeting house was 
built within the confines of the pres- 
ent township of Meriden, Baptists 
attended divine worship, as far back 
^s 1739, at the meeting house in 
Wallingford. The present society 
was formed after it had been decid- 
ed to divide that church. The Mer- 
iden constituency then formed a 
new covenant which was signed by 
the following twelve members of 
this society : brethren Isaac Hall, 
Chas. Ives, Ephraim Hough, Zena 
Brockett, Asaph Mitchell, Charles 
Ives, Jr., Samuel Mix, and sisters 
Leah Peck, Sarah Ives, Mary Hull, 
Jerusha Matoon, and Esther Ma- 
toon, Isaac Hall being the first 
clerk. For several years thereafter 
meetings were held in pri\-ate dwell- 
ings, schoolhouses and other places, 
usually in the southeastern part of 
the present Meriden. 

In 1801 a dwelling house w^as pur- 
chased near the present dividing 
line of Meriden and A\^allingford to 
accommodate Baptists living in both 
towns, but in 181 5 the IMeriden Bap- 
tists erected a second meeting 
house, which stood just south of the 
present parsonage, and on the site 
which now^ comprises the south corner 
of Charles street. This building 
was named by the members of the 
"Standing Order" the Salt Box, 
from its unpretentious appearance 
and scanty furnishings. The pews 
of the church first consisted of 
logs hewn on one side onlv, and 



CHURCHES. 



145 




10 



CKori' (IF I'ASTOKS OF TlIK FIRST I!.\1-T1ST ( 111K< II 



146 



A CENTURY OF MP:RIDEX. 



each family brought its own foot 
stove which was shared during 
the lengthy services by each mem- 
ber of the family. During the 
noon hour the tires in these foot 
warmers were replenished at neigh- 
boring houses. Such were the 
deprivations of these worshippers 
that at the end of the first winter, 
ten men pledged themselves to make 
the church more comfortable, and 
all of them did a portion of the 
work wdth their own hands, there 
being little if any money used in 
the first improvements. Among 
these ten were: James Baldwin, who 
sawed all the lumber to build the 
pews ; Joseph Twiss, who furnished 
oxen to draw the same to Mr. Bald- 
win's mill ; and Squire William 
Yale, who was a moimtain of 
strength to the church and who was 
said to have possessed at the time, 
the only "sale" carpeted house in 
Meriden. Squire Yale was looked 
upon with a great deal of respect 
by his neighbors for he entertained 
the ministers at his house. In 1820 
a committee comprising Joseph 
Twiss, Othniel Ives, Daniel Hall, 
and Seth D. Plumb, the last named 
of whom was appointed sexton 
without pay "to keep the key of the 
meeting house, and see that it was 
swept and kept in good order" and 
wdio is said to have borne that 
honor most gracefully, were 
appointed a committee to procure 
preaching for one year and also to 
keep a book of the society in which 
should be recorded "all the doino-s 



of building the meeting house," and 
which book was to contain also the 
subscriptions of their own members 
and those of the INIethodists in be- 
half of the same. Ebenezer Hall, 
\Vm. Yale, Daniel Baldwin and 
Othniel Ives were appointed chor- 
isters. The second church when 
not in use by the Baptists was 
free for the use of the Methodists, 
wdio were also made welcome at all 
times. On September 4, 1820, it 
w^as agreed to instruct the society's 
committee to receive the share of 
the money previously voted by the 
state for the "encouragement of 
religion and literature." In 1823 
it being decided that "the meeting 
house must be kept in good repair, 
looking neat and clean, and be well 
insured," Samuel Baldwin, Samuel 
Yale and Samuel Ives Hart were 
appointed a committee, "to oversee 
and manage the business," but it 
was not until Xovember the next 
year that this work was accom- 
plished when Eli C. Birdsey, S. 
Baldwin, Titrs Ives and William 
and Jonathan Yale secured the 
money to carry out the instructions 
of the society. 

In 1830 the society removed the 
church building to a lot directly 
across the street adjoining the grave- 
yard, at which time the underpin- 
ning was raised and a basement story 
put in. This became a later place ot 
worship of the self sacrificing and 
struggling Baptists, and was accom- 
plished through free will offering's 
of friends within and without the 



CHURCHES. 



147 



society boundaries. This building" in 
later years came to be used for educa- 
tional purposes, and was known as 
"The Academy on the Hill," and for 
many years was the only high school 
building in the town. In 1846. it 
being evident that a still larger church 



their meeting house, which was 
soon to be vacated, the Congrega- 
tionalists having decided to build a 
larger church. 

The Congregationalists, however, 
would not sell, and as a result the 
Baptists resolved "that in the opinion 




FIRST I'.APTIST CHURCH. 

edifice was needed, a committee com- of this meeting ii is expedient to 
prising Joel ]\Iiller. Alanson llird- lake immediate measures to secure a 
sey, N. F. Goodrich. Ira Twiss. and more ample house of worship." Sam- 
Ezra Rutty were appointed to con- uel \'ale. taking in the situation, (|uiet- 
fer with the First Congregational 1\ ])urcliase(l the then vacant lot 
Society with a view of purchasing adjoining the Congregational edifice 



148 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



of Mr. Saltonstall. after which, it 
having been so voted, this land was 
purchased by the society. Without 
further delay. ( ). Crocker. X. F. 
Goodrich and Charles E'lanchard were 
appointed a committee "to secure a 
design and specifications for a new 
house of worship." The work of 
1)uilding the new church met with a 
remonstrance from the neighboring 
church who caused an injunction 
to be ])laced on the progress of the 



house of worship erected. The first 
pastor of the church was the Rev. 
Samuel Miller, who filled the pulpit 
for man_\- years, being both ordained 
and installed in 1806, filling the pulpit 
for twenty-three years thereafter. 
After his death in 1829 an extensive 
revival resulted in adding many scores 
to the church. I'rom the beginning of 
the society the name of Aliller has 
been a predominating one, and as a 
loyal member of the present society 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

OLIVE BRANCH CHAPEL. 



work, the reason given for the 
same when the cpiestion was decided 
in court was as follows: "Xo objec- 
tion to the Bapti-sts as Christian peo- 
ple, as good neighbors and worths- 
citizens. "' but Rev. Mr. Miller had a 
peculiarly sharp, ringing voice, that 
the Congregationalists claimed would 
disturb their society in worship. As 
may be readily su])posed the injunc- 
tion was removed and the present 



has happil\- i)ut it, "the Millers of the 
constructive rather than the destruc- 
tive sort, have ever hovered about the 
church," and the members of the Mil- 
ler famil}- through several generations 
up to the present time have been most 
loyal supporters of the society and its 
commendable work. 

After the death of Samuel ^Miller the 
following served for brief terms as 
pastors : Rev. Russell Jennings, Rev. 



CHURCHES. 



149 



Xatlianiel Harvey, Rev. George B. At- 
wcll and Rev. Leland Howard. In 
183S. Re\-. Harvey Miller, son of 
Rev. Samuel .Miller, l^ecame their 
pastor and during- his pastoral term 
the church ])rospered greatl}' and in 
184O-47 the ])resent edifice was 
(.rt'Cted. 

In fulfilment of his dying request, 
Kev. D. Henry Miller, D. D., was se- 
cured as ])ast(^r and he served five 
years, muil he enlisted in the War 
of the Rel)ellion. Since that time the 
following have been pastors : Rev. A. 
F. .Mason, Rev. H. A. Cordo. D. D., 
Rev. Almonde Barrelle, Rev. B. O. 
Tnie, D. D., Rev. J. A'. Garton, Rev. 
W. (i. Fennell. and Rev. Robert A. 
Ashworth. the present pastor, who 
came in response to the call from the 
church, in 1(899. The growth of the so- 
ciety has been steady although at var- 
ious times members ha\e been dis- 
missed to help organize the follow- 
ing churches: Main Street Baptist, 
Swedish and German Baptist. Much 
has also been done by the so-called 
up-town r>a])tist chiu-ch. to aid the 
('live r>ranch Mission and the Park 
.•\venue mission which have been es- 
tablished b\ it. .\ot onh. therefore, 
has the h'irst Baptist church contrib- 
uted generously to the membership of 
the .societies of its offs])rings. but its 
remaining members have given unsel- 
fishly of their means to enable the 
younger churches of their denomina- 
tion to place themselxes on substan- 
tial footings. 

The value of the church pro])ert\-, 
including the parsonage, now occui)ied 



by the [)resent pastor, is $20,000. This 
valuation also includes the Olive 
liranch chapel stn:clr,re in the extreme 
easterly portion of Meriden, and which 
was established something over thirty 
years ago, in which Deacon Russell 
Perkins was for many years a lead- 
ing spirit. According to the statistics 
of the Xew Haven Baptist Associa- 
tion, of which this and all other IJaj)- 
tist churches in Meriden are mem- 
bers, the I'^irst liaptist church has a 
total enrolled mend)ership of 597. 
( )f this there is a resident member- 
ship of 164 men and 349 women. 
The total enrolled mend)ership of 
the three l)ible schools, including 
the ( )Iive Ih'anch mission school, 
and that which has been maintained 
during the j)ast eight \ears at Park 
Aveinie, is 554. The average attend- 
ance at the several Sunday schools 
'•'^ 33S- Dtiring the year of 1905 the 
church \\as entirely freed from debt 
and the church property was also 
repaired. 

Rev. Robert Archil)ald Ashworth. 
|)ast()r of the b'irst I'.aptist t'hurch, 
was born at (jlasgow. Scotland, julx 
26, 1871. His father. Rev. j. W. Ash- 
worlli. also a minister of the l'>a])tist 
denomination, after having held pas- 
torates in Scotland and later in Eng- 
land, emigrated to this country and 
was installed as ])astor of the lUiptist 
Church of Malone, X. ^^ He after- 
wards held pastorates in X'ew 'N'ork 
C"it\. I'ulnani. ("onn., and Ticonder- 
oga, .v. \'.. where he died. 

PI is son graduated at the High 
school of Malone. X. ^'. lie later 



150 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



took the regular academic course at 
Columbia University of New York 
Citv, which was followed by an addi- 
tional year under appointment as Uni- 
versity Fellow in English Language 
and Literature, at the conclusion of 
which he received the degree of A. M. 
He fitted for the pulpit at Lhiion The- 
ological Seminary, New York City, 
from which he graduated in 1896. 




REV. R. A. ASHW^ORTH. 

Rev. Mr. Ashworth had two pastor- 
ates previous to coming to Meriden, 
viz. the Pjaptist church at Minerva, 
N. Y., where he remained for two 
years, and the First Baptist Church 
at Bridgeton, N. J., where he remained 
for two years before accepting the call 
of the First Baptist Church of this 
city where he was installed in 1900. 



Mr. Ashworth is one of the trustees 
of the Connecticut Baptist Conven- 
tion and of the Connecticut Literary 
Institution at Suffield. He is also 
president of the Meriden Guild of 
the Religious Education Association 
of America. 

He is married to Mabelle, daugh- 
ter of F. C. Edgerton of Meriden 
and they have one daughter, Katha- 
rine. 



AL\L\ STREET BAPTIST 
CHURCH. 



( )wing to the growth of the pop- 
ulation of the vicinity on June 4, 1861, 
there was formed an organization, un- 
der the name of the West Meriden 
1 baptist church, consisting of thirty- 
seven members who had received their 
dismissal from the First Baptist 
church. 

( )n the site now ocupied by the Mer- 
iden National Bank, they erected a 
chapel at the cost of $1,400, which 
was dedicated on May 15, of the same 
year. The first business meeting was 
held previous to the organization at 
the rooms of Charles Page. 

The present edifice, which was dedi 
cated July 12, 1868, was built during 
1867-68. The parsonage was addecl 
to the property shortly after the com- 
pletion of the church. In 1881, by 
vote of the members, the name was 
changed to the Main Street Baptist 
Church, and in May, 1886, was incor- 
porated under the laws of the state. 

Although it was a small number that 
organized the church, since that time 



CHURCHES. 



151 



there have ])rohably been more than tist Society, organized the Swedish 

1,000 names added to the membership Baptist Church. 

roll. Tn 1890 this church ,2:ave letters Tlie Alain Street Baptist edifice is 




GKOL'P OF PASTOKS OF THF MAIX STRKFT I'.AI'TIST CHURCH. 



of dismissal to fifty-four members, of brick and is located in the center 
who with others from the First Bap- of the city. Since its erection many 



152 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



improvements have been made exter- 
nally as well as internally. During 
the present pastorate the basement was 
remodeled into beautiful social rooms 
at a very large cost. 

The church has had ten pastors, and 
they have presided over an ever grow- 
ing and harmonious cong-reoation in 



named the church has especially pros- 
pered spirituall}- and a large portion 
of a long standing debt has been paid. 
L'nder the charge of the i)resent 
j)astor. they have one of the largest 
and best attended Junior C. E. socie- 
ties of any church in the city. This 
society has doubled its membership 




MAIN STREET U.M'TIST CHURCH. 



the following order: Rev. E. Al. Jer- 
ome, Rev. H. G. Alason, Rev. O. T. 
Walker, Rev. A. M. Worcester, Rev. 
C. E. Cordo, Rev. J. G. Noble, Rev. 
I. R. Wheelock, Rev. E. W. Husted, 
Rev. C. J. Greenwood and Rev. Ar- 
thur Emerson Harris, the present pas- 
tor. During the pastorate of the last 



within a year. There is a large ljil)lt.- 
school and also several other so- 
cieties in connection with this church, 
all of which are growing steadily i" 
numbers, and great interest is shown 
in the work. 

The value of the church property, 
including the parsonage, is ?44,8oo. 



CIIURCHKS. 



153 



l)ut tilis will be enhanced in a degTce 
hv marked iuiprox-enients to the inter- 
ior of the church that are to be made 
during the summer months of H)0(). 
The interior will then be handsomely 
redecorated, electric li^htin^' will take 
the place of gas : there will also be 
made important changes in the j^ulpit 
platform and baptistry and a new or- 
gan will probably sui)plant the old. 
The main body of the church will also 
be carpetctl anew. 

The resident membership comprises 
100 men and 153 women, and the total 
enrolled membershi]) is 7,y^. according 
to the statistics presented at the eight- 
ieth meeting of the Xew Haven Bap- 
tist As.sociation held in 1905. The to- 
tal enrolled membership of the Stm- 
day .school is 225 and the average at- 
tendance about 135. 

The following are the officers for 

Deacons, I*. A. S])encer, Ci. A. (ilad- 
win, ( larry C. Hloomfield and Horace 
W. l\ingsle\- : trustees, first. I. I. ( iard- 
ner, second. K. H. Lane, and third. E. 
R. Lewis; treasurer, j. T. Kav : col- 
lector. H. H. Lester: auditors, 11. W. 
Kingsley, i'Vank K. Kay and 1\. E. 
Mills: benevoleni band. Deacon (ilad- 
uin : ushers. C". .\l. ( ilantz. b". L. 
'I'heime, Ed. Joel. Le Roy ( iardner. .\. 
_|. Rowley. I'aul (iehring. Howard 
T :n\r and Irving Wood. 



Kev. .\rthur Emerson Harris. ])as- 
tor of the Main street Baptist church. 
was born May 3. 1870. at .Montreal. 
Can., of English partntagc. At tin 
aire of five his famiK removed to l-',n>j- 



land. residing at Brighton, where Mr. 
Harris received his early education in 
one of the munerous "Church"' 
schools of that country. ])rivate schools 
supported partly by the established 
Church of I'Jigland, and partl\ 1)\ the 
fees paid l)y ])arents who were un- 
willing to send their children to the 
board schools, which answt'r some- 
what to American i)ublic free schools. 




PliDto by Akers .t Pigeon. 

Kl-:\'. .\. !•;. II.XKUIS. 

but were \er\ inft'rior. This accounts 
lor a religious traimng from the ver\' 
first such as was not to be had in the 
common school education. Circum- 
stances recalled his parents to Canada 
in iSSj and the taniiK rcturni'd to 
.Montreal, where .Mr. Harris, then 
twelve \ears ot age. entered business 



154 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



life in the office of a celebrated patent 
solicitor. At the age of fifteen, he 
went alone to Toronto, to seek his life 
work and fortune unaided, and suc- 
ceeded in securing a training in busi- 
ness management and acquiring a 
knowledge of telegraphy, being placed 
subsequently in charge of what was 
then a new venture in Canada, a large 
district messenger and branch tele- 
graph office, with the oversight of 
some fifty boys. 

Mr. Harris aspired to business life 
of a different order, however, and in 
1883 accepted an important position 
with a prominent New York banking 
institution, where, after a series of 
promotions he had a successful busi- 
ness career, and was offered the posi- 
tion of manager of a branch bank- 
ing house in Reading, Penn., and af- 
terwards in Philadelphia. It was 
while in this latter city that Mr. Har- 
ris finally responded to the call, that 
he had felt justified hitherto in stead- 
ily resisting, to enter the gospel min- 
istry of his own denomination, the 
Baptist church. Accordingly in 1895 
he entered Crozer Theological Semi- 
nary at Chester, Penn., and after pur- 
suing the regular course of three 
years, received his diploma, June, 
1898, and was ordained shortly fol- 
lowing at the Fifth Baptist church of 
Philadelphia. He was afterward mar- 
ried in that church October 29, 1902, 
to Anna Loomis Meredith, of Phila- 
delphia, who has made him an excel- 
lent helpmate in his life work. 

The first pastorate Mr. Harris 
filled was during his senior vear at 



seminary when he took charge of the 
Liberty Park Baptist chapel, a mis- 
sion of the Baptist churches of Cam- 
den, N. J., and which has since become 
the Brean Baptist church of Camden. 
In 1898, he was called, upon his grad- 
uation from Crozer, to the pastorate 
of the Tabernacle Baptist church, 
Newark, N. J., which church he served 
for a little over five years, resigning 
that charge in 1903 to accept the pas- 
torate of the Main street Baptist 
church of this city, assuming his new 
duties with the last Sunday in June 
of the same year. Since his coming 
there have been noticeable additions 
both to the property and membership 
and he holds the love and es- 
teem of a loyal and harmonious flock. 
Mr. Harris is a man of great energy 
and force and since he became its 
pastor the church has been greatly 
blessed spiritually. 



GER^IAN BAPTIST CHURCH. 



The German Baptists of Meriden 
as indicated by the membership of 
their church, number at this wTiting 
about 100. Previous to 1874 when 
the society was formally organized, 
these good people in order to attend 
church where their language was 
spoken, went to a place of worship 
in New Haven. Andrew Stockburger, 
a staunch Baptist and a preacher 
but not a clergyman, and his wife, 
Christina, to a certain extent a 
missionary in Meriden, are justly 
called the organizers of the Ger- 



CHURCHES. 



155 



mail Baptist church here. Fc^r some 
\ ears meetings and Sunday school 
were lield at their house on Gale 
avenue, at first but once a month, and 
gradually more frequently. Later 
meetings were held in the old school- 
house that stood on Broad street at 
the north side of the old burying 
ground. Meetings were also held 
bv the German Baptists at the old 



desirable Iniilding lots at the cor- 
ner of Liberty and Twiss streets. 
This land was purchased by the 
First Baptist church society from 
Waldo C. Twiss at a very reason- 
able figure, and Edward Miller was 
one of the largest contributors in 
the purchase of the land, which was 
leased by that society to the German 
Baptists for a period of ninetv-nine 




Pliotci by R. S. Godfrey. 

GF-:R.M.\X liAPTIST CliUKCH .\.\1) r.\KSO.\.\GE. 



ti>\\H hall and before the erection 
of their present edifice, in the east 
wing (jf the Main Street Ba})tist 
church. It was in 1874, a short 
time after a regular pastor in the 
person of Rev. Henry Moelman had 
been engaged and who was installed 
May 30. 1873, that they became 
possessed of two large and highly 



_\ears. The acquisition of this land 
and the popularity of the first regu- 
lar pastor enthused and encouraged 
the members to such an extent that 
the Iniilding of the present edifice 
was soon begun and this was dedi- 
cated on Christmas Day, 1876. The 
growth of the society was more 
pr< lUfiuncecl in its early davs 



156 



A CliXTURV OF MERIDEX, 



and although organized with but 
seventeen meml)ers or famihes, the 
first year thereafter twenty-five 
persons received baptism at the 
hands of Rev. Afr. Aloehuan. He 
remained pastor for thirteen years 
and during his pastorate the church 
thrived handsomely both spirituall}' 




RK\'. J. C. IIL'I'.ER. 

and otherwise. His loss to the 
church was sadly felt for he was 
greatly beloved by his people. Some 
months after his departure Rev. 
Henry Weimar was engaged to pre- 
side over the church and as the sec- 
ond pastor remained four years. 
The third pastor was Rev. Henry 



I')cntz, who remained three years as 
did also Rev. Henry Aleyers who 
became the next settled pastor. 
Later divines of this church were 
Re^■. Emil Berger who served as 
such six years and Rev. F. Knorr 
who filled the pulpit from 1901 to 
1904. The present pastor, Rev. J. C. 
Huber, was installed Sept. i, 1904. 

In 1891 the present church par- 
sonage, owned by the society, was 
built and this with a few exceptions 
has been occupied by the several 
pastors and their families. The first 
deacon of the church was Andrew 
Schwab and the present deacons are 
Andrew Stockburger and John Luft. 
The clerk of the church for many 
vears at intervals has been John 
(iuenther, a neighbor of Deacon 
Stockburger and the treasurer is 
Andrew Stockburger. jr. 

Some time ago the church became 
incorporated. There are 100 active 
resident members of the church and 
about 80 in the Sunday school. 
There is also a society of Willing 
W^orkers of twenty members and a 
Young People's society of thirty 
members, also a Ladies" Aid Society 
and Junior League. 

Rev. J. C. Huber was born in 
Switzerland and at the age of seven- 
teen came to this country. He was 
educated for the ministry at the the- 
ological seminary at Minneapolis, 
]vlinn., where he resided for many 
vears. His pastorates have been at 
Tomah, Wis., Danville. IMinn., St. 
Charles, ^linn., and previous to 



CHURCHES. 



157 



c« lining- to .Merideii was located fcjr 
-(.vcn years in Xewark. X. ].. wliere 
lie ])reache(l in two different 
ehurches. one of which was the First 
( ierman llaptist church of that city. 
lie. like his ])redecessors, preaches 
in (ierman although services are at 
times held in Enolish. He is held 
in hi.u'h esteem not onl\- hv the Ger- 
man speaking;' i)o]udation who at- 
tend his church, but in the commun- 
it\- at laro-e. He has been blessed 



lield ])reachin|L;- ser\ices both in this 
hall an<l alternately the Alain 
Street Baptist Church, commenced 
building the present edifice at the 
Corner of Park Avenue and Frank- 
lin street. The following com- 
prised the building committee: Os- 
car Peterson. John V_. Swenson, 
liernard Swenson, G. Kjall, Hans 
Hanson and Rev. A. Rohnstrom. 
the last named being then ])astor of 
the church. The corner stone of 



with a large family and the members the new edifice was laid with appro- 
nf his household add to his efforts priate ceremonies Jidy 6. 1890. and 



1 l)ehalf of Christianit\'. 



THE SWEDISH BAPTFST 
CHCRCH. 

The l-"irst .SAvedish PajUist 
Church of .Meriden. Conn., under 
which name it became incorporated 
December 2. 1889. was organized 
February 16. 1887, with nineteen 
members who had withdrawn b\' let- 
ter from the Main Street r.a])tist 
Church, of Meriden. Some time pre- 
vicnis to this the Swedish people of 
this faith were banded together and 
held business meetings, calling them- 
selves a .societv as earlv as 1886, and 



great was the joy in the hearts of 
the Swedish Baptists wdien the 
church was formally dedicated Xov. 
21. 1890. 

The church has been a growing- 
institution from the start, and dur- 
ing its nineteen _\-ears of useftdness 
297 ha\-e been given the right hand 
of fellowship, thus becoming mem- 
bers of the church. The member- 
ship of the church at the ])resenl 
da_\- is 133. During its existence 
there has been i)aid for running 
ex])enses, charity and missions near- 
ly $25,000. The church, of which 
an illustration is shown, together 
with the parsonage, has a seating 
capacity of 250. and is valued at 



several of whom came to this cit\ 

from the .\nierican Paptist Church of S8,ooo. and u]ton which there is no 

Xew Britain. The first chairman of debt. The c]nu"cli corjioration has 

the society was Rew ( ). Pindh. now also buill a comfortable parsonage 



at Cambridge. Mass.. who ofticiated 
at the organization of the church. 

The young society after ha\ing 
maintained a ."Sunday school in a 
small hall on i'.ritannia street near 
the railroad crossin-j'. ami ]ia\in^- 



fronting on Park axenue. at a cost 
(if S2. 000. but u])o]i ibis a debt of 
Si .500 still remains. 

'i"he serx'ices are held in ."^wedish 
but there are classes in tlu' Sunday 
>chool in which I'li^li^li is used and 



158 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



meetings of the different societies of 
the church, which are frequently at- 
tended by EngHsh speaking people. 
The members are enthusiastic and the 
services are well attended, while the 
Sunday school has a membership of 
about I GO. 

Several well known Swedish 



he remained until 1893 when Rev. T. 
Clafiford became the pastor, serving 
five years. Rev. \Y. Kohler was 
installed and held the pastorate un- 
til i9o4, when Rev. Robert Lar- 
son was called to the church from 
Minnesota, and he has since guided 
the spiritual lives of its members. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

SWEDISH BAPTIST CHURCH AND PARSONAGE. 



divines of the Baptist faith have 
presided over the church from time 
to time. The first regular pastor 
was Rev. A. P. Sword, who served 
in 1888-89 ^iid was followed iby 
Rev. A. Rohnstrom, under whose 
pastorate the church was built, and 



The deacons of the church at the 
present writing are Hans Hanson, 
John E. Swenson, David Dahl and 
blof Falk. 

Mr. Larson was born at Skarf- 
sjon, Stensele, W'esterbotten, Swed- 
en. Comine to this countrv at the 



CHURCHES. 



159 



age of twenty to seek his fortune, 
he finally entered the Theological 
^Seminary of the l'ni\crsity of Chi- 
cag<J. from which he was afterward 
graduated, and December 8, 1900 
became an ordained preacher of the 
Haptist church, later becoming in- 
stalled pastor of the Swedish Bap- 
tist Church at \\'illmar, Minn. Since 
his coming to Meriden, the Swedish 
Baptist Church has continued to 




Photo by Aker> .*>; Pigeon. 

l<I-:\'. KOliKKT LAKSOX. 

grow in membership and prosperity 
and during his brief pastorate, a 
remaining debt on the church edifice 
has been liquidated. Mr. Larson is 
a man of scholarly attainments and 
is mucli beloved by those of liis 
nationality in Meriden. and eni(ns 



llic highest esteem of those who 
kn(_)w him. 

He is married to Anna Sophia 
Mattson, formerly of Daggett, ]\Iich., 
and they have two bright infant boys, 
Charles Eben and Rolf Osmund. Kev. 
.Mr. Larson and his family reside at 
the church parsonage. 



ST. ANDREWS CHURCH. 



The Episcopal parish of .Meriden 
had its origin in the troubles in- 
cident to the Revolution. Moses 
-Vndrews, one of the brothers of the 
famous Parson Andrews of W'al- 
lingford, was a farmer in the west- 
ern part of the town. W'lien the 
war l)r(ike out, in common with the 
rest of the Episcopalians, he became 
an object of suspicion to the ruling 
authorities. Though remarka1)le for 
tlie mildness and gentleness of 
his character, he was placed under 
]iea\y bonds and forbidden to leave 
his farm under any ])retense what- 
ever, without the special permis- 
sion of the selectmen of the town. 
To Mr. An(h-ews the severest ])art 
of the punishment was the being 
forbidden to worship Cod with his 
brethren 011 the Lin-d's dax' and in 
the Lord's house. lie tlierefore 
])etitioned for |)ermission to go to 
church on Sundays in W allingford. 
The indtilgence for which he would 
lia\e been thankful was refused. Tn 
])lace of it he was graciously given 
permission to attend the Congrega- 
tional meeting house in Meriden. But 



i6o 



A CENTURV OF MEKIDEN. 



that was a favor which the sturdy 
old churchman did not appreciate. 
Finding that he would not be allow- 
ed to attend the church of his choice 
he determined to have a church in 
his own house, and that house is 
now standing at 424 West Main 
street. Slabs and blocks of wood 
were brought from the neighboring 
saw mill for benches, and the neigh- 
bors were invited to attend. Every 
Sunda}' the little congregation, pro- 
bably not more than fifteen or 
twentv in all. assembled to unite in 
the worship according to the prayer 
book and listen to a sermon from 
some standard author. Neighbor 
Andrews himself was the lay- 
reader. The services thus humbly 
commenced were continued almost 
a fjuarter of a century. 

The organization of this time 
honored parish of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church, which makes 
^leriden somewhat famous church- 
Avise. dates back to 1789. and ac- 
cording to an historical sketch by 
late Rev. G. H. Deshon, D. D., on 
April 13, of that year, a ]M-elim.inary 
meeting Avas held during the pro- 
gress of which the following agree- 
ment was signed : 

Meriden, April 13, 1789. 

'AA'e. whose names are underwrit- 
ten, do declare our conformity to 
the Church of England and desire 
of joining the worship and sacra- 
ments of said church, do consent 
and agree to support the same." 
Signed: Reuben Tves, clerk; Deni- 
son Andrews, ]\ loses Andrews, Isaac 



Atwater, David Andrews, Simeon 
Perkins, John P. Douglass, Ezra 
r.utler. Watt Hubbard, Seth De- 
Wolf, and Soloiuon Yale. This 
simple record of the first proceed- 
ings toward the formation of the 
society were the first steps taken by 
these early Episcopalians in Meri- 
den. 

At a following meeting held in 
Meriden, December 28 of the same 
vear the society was formally orga- 
nized, at which time Closes .\n- 
drews was chosen first clerk, and 
Denison Andrews and Isaac At- 
water, the society committee. Rev. 
Reuben Ives of Cheshire, who in the 
meantime had served as missionary 
was placed in charge of the parish 
thus formed and was engaged as 
the first rector by the following- 
vote : "that we will hire Air. Ives to 
preach four days for this year," 
'A^:)ted : To keep up meetings for 
this vear." This vote according to 
Dr. Deshon was to have the ser- 
A'ices of a clergyman Init for four 
Sundavs during the year, the balance 
of the time to continue the lay ser- 
vices to which they had previously 
been accustomed. Mr. Ives, who 
remained in charge of the parish as 
its missionary from the time of its 
organization to 1824, sometimes 
preached as often as six Sundays a 
year. Although for scA'cral years 
the society was too small in meni- 
bershi]) and too poor in piu'se to 
even think of building a church, yet 
in 1795 they proposed "to erect a 
church at the southeast corner of 



CIIURCIIRS, 



i6i 



^ 2 



/*C 




II 



1 62 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 



the green whereon the meeting 
house now stands" (meaning the 
Congregational Meeting house), "pro- 
vided the land can be obtained," 
but it was not until 1806 that they 
voted "that we will build a house 
for publick worship on ground be- 
longing to Joseph Merriam." This 
land was located on West Main 
street, directly opposite the house of 




SECOND EPISCOPAL EDIFICE. 

Almon Andrews, but a month later 
they changed their minds, and de- 
cided to build the church elsewhere, 
"within sixty rods of the meeting 
house in Meriden," which they after- 
wards did. 

The raising of money for the first 
church edifice then became a serious 
problem and among the various 



plans suggested was one to apply 
to the legislature for a grant of a 
lottery, a method of raising money 
as fashionable then as fairs of the 
present day. Another was to "build 
a house the doors of which should 
be opened to the Baptists and Pres- 
byterians wdien not occupied by the 
Episcopal Society." Both of these 
plans were almost immediately 
abandoned, and the society finally 
decided, and with laudable inde- 
pendence, to build a church by legit- 
imate methods, building it piece by 
piece, as fast only as they could pay 
for it. First they raised the frame, 
then they had it shingled, later they 
were enabled to have it plastered, 
and finally the pews and furniture 
were put in. All this was accom- 
plished after ten years of jKitience 
and self-denial, and the first edifice 
on Broad street was consecrated to 
God October 18, 1816, by Bishop 
Hobart of New York, under the 
name of St. Andrew's Church, and 
upon that occasion thirty-eight per- 
sons were confirmed by him. The 
building, a plain wooden structure 
with a frontage of thirty-six feet 
and a depth of forty-five feet, stood 
in marked contrast to the impos- 
ing edifice, the present St. An- 
drew's church, as is shown in 
a following illustration. The ex- 
terior was the personification of plain- 
ness, but the interior was neatly 
arranged according to the fashion ot 
the times. Dr. Deshon described 
the interior as follows, "a gallery 
ran around three sides of the build- 



CHURCHES, 



163 



ing. A huge pulpit stood at the 
west end surmounted by a canopy, 
flanked on either side by an elevat- 
ed flight of steps, and cushioned 
and festooned most lavishly with 
crimson damask. In the front of 
the pulpit was a formidable struc- 
ture which served for a reading 
desk. In front of the reading desk 
was a small communion table en- 
closed by a small semi-circular rail. 
The space under the stairs in the 
lower part of the church, by the 
side door, was used for the vestry 
room." 

Rev. Reuben Ives was, in 1825, 
succeeded by Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, 
one of the four candidates admitted 
to holy orders by Bishop Sea- 
bury at the first Episcopal ordina- 
tion ever held in America. He was 
followed in 1826 by Rev. Nathaniel 
Bruce who was called according to 
the parish records by the follow- 
ing cautious vote : ''to appoint a 
committee to wait on the Rev. 
Nathaniel Bruce, and see if he can 
be obtained to officiate two-thirds 
of the time for the year ensuing ; to 
make his residence in ]\Ieriden, sal- 
ary not to exceed $200 ; to be insti- 
tuted our clergyman during the 
amity and friendship of the parties." 
His short term of service according 
to the church records is therefore 
somewhat significant. Rev. Robert 
A. Hallam followed Rev. James 
Keek'r as rector of St. Andrew's 
parish, and residents of Meriden arc 
fully aware of his successful pastor- 
ate extending over a period of three 



years. He was known as a rector 
of "genial and winning manners, 
the brilliancy and beauty of his ser- 
mons and the earnest interest 
which he manifested in his work, 
rendered him a universal favorite, 
not only in the parish but among 
all classes of Christians. ^Nluch of 
the prosperity with whTch the par- 
ish has since been blessed may be 
fairly attributed to his labors." 

Rev. Edward Ingersoll followed 
Dr. Hallam in ministering to the 
spiritual comforts of St. Andrew's 
parish, and later, in 1837, Rev. John 
^I. Guion became the settled rector. 
Both of these men are said to have 
been preachers of ''distinguished 
abilities." Melancthon Hoyt. "one 
of the most successful missionaries 
upon the extreme western border, 
known all over the land, even by 
the Indians," took charge of the 
parish in 1839. 

Following Mr. Hoyt came Rev. 
Sabura S. Stocking, who became 
the rector in 1840, but was succeed- 
ed in 1 841 by Rev. Chas. W. Ever- 
est, the latter of wliom was distin- 
guished not only as a preacher but 
as a poet. Rev. John T. Gushing 
became the head of the parish in 
1843. '^"fl "'^ 1844 came the Rev. 
Gvrus ]\Iunson. Mr. Munson who 
was a lifelong friend of Dr. Desh- 
on, and his companion in his early 
ministry, was called to his heavenly 
reward while in the prime of life. 
iust after his j^astorate here. Dur- 
ing the year following the death of 
Rev. Mr. Munson in 1849, Rev. 



164 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Abram L. Littlejohn became the 
rector; and he was succeeded in 
1850 by the Rev. Giles H. Deshon. 
At the time of the coming of Mr. 
Deshon as rector, the church had en- 
tered upon a new era of prosperity 
for a new church edifice of Gothic ar- 
chitecture had been constructed on 



structed of brownstone. The build- 
ing was forty-five by eighty feet 
and its corner stojie was laid June 
8, 1848. It was consecrated by 
Bishop Brownell, February 6, 1850. 
On Easter day, 1850, the Rev. 
Giles Henry Deshon assumed his 
duties as rector. Under his care 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



ST. ANDREW S CHURCH. 



Broad street by the parish and in and oversight the parish made rai)id 
this the ])rincely generosity of a for- strides in material and spiritual 
mer rector. Dr. Hallam, figured con- growth. About this time the growth 
spicuously in the cost of the build- of the town began to extend west- 
ing, which was $15,000. This, the ward and in a few vears it was 
second church occupied by the deemed advisal)le to Iniild a new 
Episcopalians in Merirlen, was con- church edifice nearer the center of 



CHURCHES. 



165 



l)opulation. The corner stone of 
the new buildint^ was hiid at the 
corner of Libert}' and Catlin streets 
on the 8th day of August, 1866. 
Many of the stones in the ohl 
church were used in the con- 
struction of the new echfice, and the 
churcli was consecrated N(j\-. 7. 
1S07 b\ liisho]) WiUianis. In 1871 
the work of the parish had in- 
creased to such an extent that an 
assistant minister was appointed to 
htlp the rector. Idiis first assist- 
ant was the Re\'. Frank B. Lewis. 
Since his appointment there have 
been lO assistant ministers in the 
parish, two of whom have been rais- 
ed to the Episcopate, viz : the Right 
Reverend Chauncey Bunce Brewster. 
D. D., Bishop of Connecticut, and 
the Right Reverend John Hazen 
White. D. D., Bishop of Michigan 
City, Indiana. For t,t, years did 
the Rev. Dr. Deshon minister to tlie 
people of St. Andre^v's — an earnest 
practical preacher, and above all a 
faithful, tender hearted and sympa- 
thetic ])astor. He bound to himself 
with cords of lo\c and friendshi]). 
not only his own parisliioners, but 
all residents in the community as 
well. His was an uniipu- and nobk' 
personality. In all his ministr}- he 
was zealonsl}' su])porlcd by that 
trio of noble laymen, long ago gone 
to their rest. Edwin E. Curtis, 
Lemuel J. Curtis, and George 
R. Curtis. The last official act of 
Dr. Deshon was on Christmas Day, 
1882. when he attended the services 
of the church suffering intense pain 



from an ulcerated tooth. His low- 
ered \itality could not withstand the 
inroads of the resultant blood-poi- 
soning, and on January i, 1883, he 
passed to his reward. The growth 
of the ])arish under his administra- 
tion is seen in the following conven- 
tion reports: 

1850 1883 

l*'amilies 95 I'aniilies 300 

Baptisms 8 Baptisms 27 

Communicants . 117 Communicants . 510 

ContirniL'd 13 Contirmed 22 

Marriages i Ahirriages 19 

Funerals 3 Funerals 41 

In June 1880, Rev. Arthur T. 
Randall, just ordained deacon, took 
u]) his duties as assistant minister. 
He lield that i)osition until the 
death of Dr. Deshon. wlien he took 
charge of the parish. The combin- 
ed rectorships of these tw'O clergy- 
men extend over a period of fifty-six 
vears. The ])arish contintied to 
grow until in 1888 the corner stonr 
of a ])arish house Avas laid, and a 
few months later was com])leted at 
a cost of $10,000. 

In I )ecember 1885 ser\ices were 
started in a dwelling house in the 
western ])art of the city with a view 
of tdtimately forming a i^arish. The 
generosit\- of Mrs. rhoel)c A. ILnll- 
am, widow of a former rector of 
St. .Xndrew's. Dr. Hallam. made this 
feasible, as in her will was found a 
legacv ni $10,000 to be used for the 
erection of a new church in Meri- 
deii. The hrst service was held in 
the new church on Ash Wednesday, 



1 66 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



1893, and the edifice was separated 
from unhallowed, worldly, and com- 
mon uses, and consecrated for the 
worship of Almighty God on Xov. 
!/• 1893, sutler the name of All 
Saints" Memorial Church. The 



_/* 


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1 


1 


1** 


J 


1 


f 


1-, _,^3PW^^I 


P 


^ 



REV. GILES H. DESHON. 

Rev. A. Sprague Ashley, assistant 
minister, had already been elected 
rector of the new parish, and the 
rector of St. Andrew's transferred 
to his spiritual care and oversight, 
123 communicants who resided in 
that part of the city. 

It is worthy of record to note the 
harmony which existed between the 
mother church and the daughter. 
The canon law of the Episcopal 
church requires that if application 
be made to the bishop for the for- 



mation of a new jiarish within the 
limits of an existing parish, the rec- 
tor and vestry of said existing par- 
ish should be notified of such appli- 
cation, by the standing committee. 
In this instance, before All Saints' 
parish had made formal application 
to the bishop, a special meeting of 
St. Andrew's Parish was called, and 
a resolution passed informing the 
Bishop that a new parish was about 
to be formed within the limits of St. 




Photo by Akers 

REV. A. T. RANDALL. 

Andrew's, and that the old parish 
extended to the new one its best 
wishes and benediction. 

In the convention journal of 1905, 
the following report from St. An- 
drew's is recorded : 



CHURCHES. 



167 



I'aiiiilics, about ^2^. 

Baptized persons, about 2,000. 

Communicants, 803. 

Parochial expenditures, $6,878.53. 

Offerings for purposes outside of 
the parish, $1,080.30. 

'l"he wardens of the church since 
1791 have been as follows: 1791, Jo- 
seph Merriam, Denison Andrews; 
1792, Joseph Alerriam, Seth De- 
W Olf : 1793, Levi Douglass, Simeon 
Perkins; 1794, Joseph Merriam, 
Levi Douglass; 1796, Levi Douglass, 
Simeon Perkins: 1797, Joseph Mer- 
riam. Simeon Perkins; 1805, Joseph 
Merriam, Moses Andrews: 1806, 
Joseph Merriam, Lemuel liradley; 
1807, Joseph ^lerriam, Yale L 
Hough ; 1808, Samuel Tibbals, Dan 
Andrews; 1809, Samuel Tibbals, Asa- 
hel Merriam ; 1810, Sanuiel Tibbals, 
Moses C'owles : 1812, Samuel Tibbals. 
Dan Andrews: 1813, Samuel Tibbals, 
.\masa Merriam; 1814, Samuel Tib- 
bals, Marvel Andrews; 1816, Samuel 
Tibbals, .Asahel Merriam ; 1823, Sam- 
uel Tibbals, Elisha Curtis, Asahel 
Merriam ; 1848, Edwin E. Curtis, Bry- 
ant Hotchkiss ; 1863, Edwin E. Curtis, 
Asa H. Churchill; 1869, Edwin E. 
Curtis, Lemuel J. Curtis; 1885, Lem- 
uel J. Curtis, George R. Curtis ; 1888 
Cieorge R. Curtis, Benjamin Page; 
^^J?i- P>enjamin Page, George ^L 
Curtis. 

The officers of St. Andrew's Church 
in 1906 are as follows : parish clerk, 
A. B. Mather ; senior warden, Ben- 
janu'n Page; junior warden, George 
M. Curtis; vestrymen, Samuel Dodd, 
John \V. Coe, W. W. .Mo.<;her, W. W. 



Clark, George S. Seele\-, A. [\. Mather, 
C. H. Fisk, E. B. Moss, W. J. Robin- 
son ; treasurer, George S. Seeley. 

Rev. A. T. Randall, rector of St. 
-Andrew's Church, was l)orn at Poque- 
tannock, Ct)nn., September 23, 1854, 
and is a son of Rev. H. C. and Mary 
L. (Davis) Randall. He ol)tained his 
education at St. .Ste[)hen"s College, An- 
nandale, X. A'., from wdiich he was 
graduated in 1877, and studied for 
the ministry at Berkeley Divinity 
School, Middletown, Conn., graduat- 
ing there June 2, 1880. Two days 
later he became the assistant minister 
of St. Andrew's parish in Meriden. 
He was ordained priest at Litchfield. 
Conn.. June 7, 1881. L'pon the death 
of Dr. Deshon, January i, 1883, Mr. 
Randall became his active successor, 
and entered upon his duties as rector 
on Easter Sunday, 1884. From that 
time to the present writing Mr. Ran- 
dall has fulfilled the duties of rector 
of this important ])arish, and he has 
alwa_\s held the love and respect of 
his parishioners and the cc^mmunity 
at larcre. 



ALL SAINTS' P. E. CHCRCH. 



Athough the ])resent attractive 
edifice of All Saints" Protestant 
Episcopal Chm-ch. was not occu])ied 
for services until Ash W eclnesday, 
1893, ^'^'iie eight years or more pre- 
vious it became exident that the 
erection of a church was definitely 
contemplatefl for that section of 
-Meriden. The first service was 



J 



1 68 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



held in the dwelling- house, 273 
West Main street, on December 
13. 1885, the officiating clergy- 
man being Rev. A. T. Randall, 
rector, and F. H. Church, assist- 



bled there every Lord's Day for 
several months until a larger place 
of worship was secured at the junc- 
tion of North First and South First 
streets. But services were contin- 




ALL SAINTS MEMORIAL CHURCH. 

ant rector of St. Andrew's parish. ued at the latter place only until 

Services were continued in the December. 1888, \vl:en they were 

small room of that dwelling house discontinued owing to the fact that 

by congregations who were assem- it was found impossible to heat the 



CHURCHES. 



169 



room and there seemed no other 
suitable accommodations for the then 
so-called mission, in which to hold 
meetings. 

.\mong the enthusiastic members 
of the new society were several 
women who formed a sewing circle 
and after the Sunday services were 
discontinued, and it began to look- 
as though the forming of the new 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

REV. I. NEWTON PHELPS. 

"mission church" would have to be 
abandoned, the sewing society still 
continued to meet week days; and as 
a result a considerable sum of money 
was laid by. 

The ultimate aim of these ])atienl 
women was the ])urchase of a lot 
on which to build a church and little 
by little the fund grew in sjiite of 



m:ui_\- disc(juragements. That their 
u]j-hill work was bound to be pro- 
ductixe of even greater results than 
they had dared to hope was soon 
to come to i)ass. ( )n January, 30, 
i8yi, Mrs. Phoebe A. Hallam, a 
communicant of St Andrew's church 
was buried. In her will was found 
a legacy of $10,000 to be used in 
the building of a church as a memorial 
to her husband, the late Rev. R. A. 
llallam, 1). ]).. at one time rector of 
St. Andrews. The money in the treas- 
ury of the sewing society, added to 
consideral)ly ])y the members of St. 
Andrew's church soon after became 
sufficient to purchase the lot on the 
corner of West .Main and .Morgan 
streets, and the future of All Saints' 
church was thus determined. 

W ith the understanding that most 
of his work was to l)e in the western 
])art of Meriden. and with a view of 
becoming rector of the new parish 
when it should be set a])art. in Mav 
i8()2. Rev. .\. Sprague Ashley accept- 
ed tlie ])osition of assistant clergyman 
at St. Andrew's Church. In the mean- 
time .Mrs. Hallam's legacy was 
largely added to by the late (ieo. R. 
Ctirtis, then senior warden of St. An- 
drew's C'hm-ch. so thai llie ])resent 
I)rownsione stn:clure was erected in 
iSi;^. The new parisli was then form- 
ed and l\ev. A. T. Uandall. rector, 
transferred 123 comnunn'cants of St. 
Andrew's church to the spiritual care 
and o\ersiglu of Rev. .A'. S])rague 
Ashley who became tir>t rector of All 
Saints" parish. The church was con- 
secrated Xovember 17, i^)j^. The 



170 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



same year Air. Curtis, just before his 
death presented the parish with the 
lot adjoining the church on West Main 
street for a rectory, and after his death 
througli the generosity of his widow, 
on this lot, a parsonage was buih as a 
memorial to her late husband. Thus 
from a small beginning has sprung 
from St. Andrew's Church, a thriv- 
ing and independent parish with a 
church property valued at about 
$55,000, within a comparatively few 
years. During the valued service 
of Rev. Mr. Ashley, which was 
continued for about six years, 
*-.here were 125 baptisms and 12^ 
members confirmed, making a total 
membership then of about 250. Mr. 
Ashley was succeeded as rector by the 
late Rev. Robert Clarkson Tongue, 
who after five years as rector, was 
called to his reward by the Almighty. 
His death was much lamented for it 
removed from Meriden one of its most 
valued divines, and one who was al- 
most idolized by his parishioners. Un- 
der Mr. Tongue the membership of 
the church was increased largely and 
its w^ork was noticeably extended. 

Rev. I. Newton Phelps took charge 
of the parish as its installed rector in 
April, 1905. The good w^ork of his 
predecessors has been carried on bv 
him and during his short pastorate 
sixty-five members have been received 
into the church by confirmation and 
30 by letter. All Saints' parish at 
the present writing possesses about 
535 communicants. 

The officers of the church for 1906 
are as follows: Treasurer, H. P. Vi- 



bert ; senior warden, Charles P. Rice ; 
junior warden, Albert Babb ; vestry- 
men, H. L. Schleiter, H. P. Vibert, 
Joseph Ridley, F. A. Camp, Alfred 
Barker, James Toothe, F. W. Fris- 
bie, G. W. Reynolds, A. J. Tickell ; 
delegates to convention, Gardiner W. 
Reynolds, Joseph Ridley ; substitute 
delegates, Charles H. Vibert, Curtis 
W. Reynolds ; auditors, C. P. Rice, F. 
A. Camp. 

Rector Phelps is a man of scholarly 
attainments and an able preacher of 
strong personality and social disposi- 
tion. He obtained his education at 
Sampson college, graduating with the 
class of 1885, and was conferred the 
degree of A. M., by St. Stephens col- 
lege, Annandale, N. Y. He studied 
for the ministery at Union Theologi- 
cal seminary, N. Y. Since coming to 
Meriden he has entered thoroughly 
into the spiritual and social life of the 
town and is held in high regard by 
the members of his parish and in the 
community at large. He is at the 
present writing senior warden of Cen- 
ter Lodge, 97, A. F. & A. M. 



THE FIRST METHODIST 
CHURCH. 



Although there were many Meth- 
odists in Meriden previous to 1830, 
it was not until 1844 that their regu- 
lar society was organized. About 
1830 a meeting house was erected 
on East Main street hill, on the land 
of Capt. Lyman Collins, just west of 
the entrance to the East Cemetery, 
where meetings were held somewhat 



CHURCHES. 



171 



irregularly by the Methodists, and 
among the worshippers at that 
church were the following and their 
families : Charles Baldwin, who fre- 
i|uently occupied the pulpit ; Darling 
Stewart, Xoah Hall, Jesse G. Bald- 
win. Elias Baldwin and Seymour 
r.aldwin. Owing to the good spirit- 
ual condition of the Congregation- 
alists and Baptists, the early }iIetho- 
dist church did not begin to thrive 



given a long shoj) owned by Chas. 
Parker, and which stood north of 
his offices, and where the congre- 
gations found sittings on boxes, 
which gave them a good view of 
the preacher. During the summer 
a large tent was pitched in what 
was then an open lot between High 
and Broad streets. 

The society was formed under the 
management of Rev. John Parker,. 




FIRST METHODIST EDIFICE.. 



in numbers until after 1842, when 
the "primitive Alethodists" had sent 
])reachers to Meriden, who availed 
themselves of the advantage gained 
in awakening religious interest bv 
the general apprehension, then pre- 
vailing throughout the country, that 
the end of all things was near 
;ii hand. These revival meetings 
were held in what was known as the 
'"Old Bethel" which was the name 



a member of the New England Con- 
ference, who settled in Meriden to 
recuperate his failing health, and to 
whom more than any other one man 
is said to be due the foundation of 
the Methodist church in Meriden. 
The society as first organized was 
composed of the following people of 
the town: Rev. John Parker and 
wife. Charles Parker and wife, Ed- 
mund Parker and wife, Hiram Brad- 



172 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ley and wife, John Range and wife, 
William Curtis and wife, Mrs. Try- 
phena Bradley, Miss Betsey Par- 
ker, Mr. Beach and wife, Joseph 
Higby and wife, Asaph Merriam, 
Mrs. Partrick Lewis, ]\Irs. Cook and 
Miss Mariette R. Clark, then a mem- 



Chas. Parker Co. The same year that 
this church was built a parsonage 
was also erected, both buildings 
costing about $10,000. The church 
on Broad street continued to be oc- 
cupied by the society until 1867 
when under the judicious manage- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

FIRST M. E. CHURCH. 



ber of the Methodist church. Middle- 
town, who later married Rev. John 
T. Pettee. In 1847 a wooden church 
edifice was built by the society on 
Broad street, which many years later 
became, as it is at this writing, utilized 
for manufacturing purposes by the 



ment of Rev. Freeman P. Tower, 
who served as pastor from 1866 to 
1868, and through the princely gen- 
erosity of the late Charles Parker, 
who gave $50,000, and the generous 
contributions of other brethren, the 
present costly and handsome edi- 



CHURCHES. 



173. 



flic was built at a cost, inchuling 
the land and organ of $85,000. The 
society removed to the new church 
at a most convenient time as the re- 
moval comprised Aleriden's celebra- 
tion of the Centennial of American 
Methodism. Although the society 
did not at first occupy the present 
edifice without a debt, the full 
amount of their obligations as paid 
under the pastorate of Rev. Daniel 
A. Goodsell, and in the spring 
of 1875. Rev. John T. Pettee, 
in his semi-centennial address stated 
that when the New York East Con- 
ference sat at this church in Aleriden 
that "not an unpaid for brick or 
slate looked down from the roof or 
wall to reprove" them. In 1888 the 
church was remodeled and re-fur- 
nished to a considerable extent at 
the cost of $5,000. and under the ad- 
ministration of Rev. G. H. AlcGrew 
the ground beneath the church was 
excavated and social rooms were 
constructed : under the pastorate 
of Rev. John Rhey Thompson, D. D., 
the present handsome brick parson- 
age adjoining the church on Pleas- 
ant street was built. During 
his pastorate also a new and com- 
modious domicile was provided for 
the church janitor, and a debt of 
$20,000 which had accmnulated 
since 1874 was licpiidated. 

I'nder the pastorate of Rev. F. AV. 
Hannan the church was re-carpeted 
and a commodious societv house was 
built at the Plainville camp ground. 
About the same time. also, the church 
l)ecame possessed of its jiresent 



beautiful lawn by the removal of 
the old Lawrence house. The pres- 
ent value of the church property is. 
$101,200. The church membership 
at the close of the year 1905 was 675,, 
fifty-two more being on probation. 
The Sunday school at that time num- 
bered 339, including thirty-nine teach- 
ers. Since 1847 the First Methodist 
Church has received its pastors reg- 
ularly from the X^ew York and New 
York East Conferences. The pastors 
from 1845 to the present time have 
been as follows : Reverends Geo. A. 
Hubbell, John C. Searles, Albert Xash, 
Parmalee Chamberlain, Francis Bot- 
tome, Xathaniel ]\Iead, Geo. C. 
Creevey, John L. Peck. Wm. [Mc- 
Allister, Geo. A. Hubbell (for a sec- 
ond time) ; Chas. Kelsey, Charles 
Fletcher. Frederick P>rown, Free- 
man P. Tower, John Pegg, Jr., Dan- 
iel A. Goodsell, later made bishop; 
W'm. H. Boole. T. J. Lansing, B. I\L 
Adams, J. S. lireckenridge, G. H. 
AfcGrew, ]\L W. Prince. John Rhey 
Thompson, F. A\'. Hannan. John Wes- 
ley Johnston, Frank A. Scofield and F. 

B. Stockdale ; assistant pastors, Geo. 

C. Boswell, John A. Alonroe and F. 
\\'. Hannan. 

Rev. I'^airbank Barnes Stockdale, 
])astor of the First Methodist church 
of Meriden. was Itorn in 1861, near 
Leeds, Yorkshire, I'jigland. He came 
from the working ])cople. his father 
being a miner, and he was raised 
among the coal mines of that locality. 
As a boy he showed a tendency to ap- 
])]\- himself too closelx' to Ixxiks. As 
a result, at eight xears old he left 



174 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



•school and went to work as his health 
■was not equal to day school, but con- 
tinued until fifteen years of age at 
night school which he attended five 
days a week. 

When only nine years old he was 
converted and became a member of 
the Methodist church, soon after 
which he became a reader of theologi- 
cal books. He preached his first ser- 




REV. F. B. STOCKDALE. 

mon at the age of fifteen, and from 
seventeen to twenty was engaged in 
evangelistic work in England, preach- 
ing as many as eight sermons a week. 
He first came to this country in 1882, 
and while enjoying a summer's vaca- 
tion drifted into the East Ohio con- 
ference, which resulted in his remain- 
ing in this country. He took a three 



years' course at Drew Theological 
Seminary, from which he graduated 
in 1889 and while a student there 
preached at Centerville and Maple- 
wood, N. J. One year before his 
graduation he was assigned a pasto- 
rate at Bellport, L. I., where he re- 
mained for three years, and joined the 
New York East Conference. He af- 
terwards went to Flatbush, L. I., 
which pastorate he left at the end of 
one year on account of the poor health 
of his child. He was afterwards sta- 
tioned at Port Washington, for four 
years ; two years at Southampton, and 
later was pastor of the Fleet Street M. 
E. church at Brooklyn, N. Y., where 
he remained for four years. From 
there he went to Waterbury, Conn., 
and after remaining there three years, 
came to Meriden in April, 1905. Mr. 
Stockdale is a natural and fluent 
preacher and is highly appreciated by 
the members of his flock. He has 
published a book of sermons entitled 
"The Divine Opportunity." He is a || 
lover of preaching and has frankly !] 
stated that everything he sees goes in- 
to his sermons. He is a member of 
Meridian Lodge, -/-j, A. F. & A. M. 

He married Sarah A. Machin, who 
comes from a remarkably large family 
of twenty children, and to the union 
have been born George and Ruth, aged 
eighteen and sixteen years respec- 
tively. 



TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 



One of the flourishing church 
societies in Meriden is that of the 



CHURCHES. 



175 



innity M. E. church which celebrated 
its twentieth anniversary in 1905. It 
was on April 26. 1885, that the Meth- 
odist residents of the western part of 
Meriden decided to petition the official 
board of the First ^NI. E. Society, for 
the permission to found another 
Methodist church in Meriden. In 
Ma\ tlie same year, a petition was 
sent in, which was signed by five of' 
the most influential men. As their 
request was granted, they immediately 
beeau holding services in the Y. M. C. 



decided to station him at Meriden. 
In April, 1889, he was succeeded by 
Rev. D. N. Griffin who remained until 
April, 1892. It was during the pasto- 
rate of Mr. Griffin that the society se- 
cured the property at the corner of 
West Main street and Cook avenue, 
where the present handsome edifice 
now stands. Rev. Edward W. W'arri- 
ner was pastor from April 1892-94, 
when Rev. Henry Blatz. Jr., was sent 
by the conference to assume the pas- 
torate of this societv. Durint"' his sue- 










Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



TRINITY M. E. CHURCH. 



A. building", and within eighteen 
niontlis the\' had a church ready for 
occupancy, and on March 6, 1887, the 
first service was held therein. The 
building is now used for St. Joseph's 
Parochial school. Rev. W. F. Mark- 
wick, who was pastor of the South 
Meriden M. E. church, was secured 
early in the fall of 1885, and he served 
as pastor for both organizations, until 
1887. when at the close of his pasto- 
rate in South Meriden, the conference 



cessful pastorate the new church was 
erected and was dedicated December 
29, 1895. Rev. W. D. Tuckey suc- 
ceeded Rev. Mr. Pdatz, and he in turn 
was succeeded by Rev. Iv. C Carpen- 
ter, who was appointed ])astor in 1900 
and after a service of five years was 
succeeded 1)\ the Rev. John I*. Wag- 
ner, the present pastor. 

louring ihc ])astorate of Mr. Car- 
penter the meml)ers raised over $13,- 
000 and less than a vear acfo the mort- 



176 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



gage notes were burned and the church 
was freed from a heavy debt. Many 
members have been received into the 
church within the last few years, and it 
now has a membership of about 375. It 
has a thriving Sunday School society, 




valued at $12,000. During 1905, the 
church debt was reduced $4,000. 
The last report of the church cor- 
];oration to the New York East 
Conference of which it is a member, 
gives the church membership as 
300 with 67 on probation, but this 
number has since been somewhat 
increased. The Sunday school num- 
bers twenty-seven teachers and 326 
scholars. 

Rev. John P. Wagner, pastor of 
Trinity M. E. Church, is a native 
of Iowa. In that state he spent 




REV. E. C. CARPENTER. 

both a Junior and a Senior C. E. So- 
ciety and great interest is shown in 
all of the various societies that are 
connected with the church organiza- 
tion. 

The probable value of the church 
building is $30,000 but this was en- 
hanced in 1906 by the acquisition 

of a new church organ, a portion of his boyhood on his father's farm, 
which was paid for by Andrew receiving his early education in the 
Carnegie. The parsonage, a brick public schools. He afterwards at- 
structure, originally built and occu- tended the Iowa Wesleyan Univer- 
pied by the late Randolph Linsley. is sity, where he graduated in 1883, 



REV. J. P WAGNER. 



CHURCHES. 



177 



and he afterward took a law course 
there graduating in 1884. He was 
admitted to the bar and began prac- 
tice of law, but after a time became 
a member of the St. Louis Confer- 
ence and, in 1890 an ordained cler- 
g-\nian of the Methodist denomina- 
tion. After having held several 
difTerent pastorates in Illinois and 
Iowa, he came east and entered 
the Drew Theological Seminary at 
Madison, N. J., from which he was 
graduated in 1892, and since which 
time lie has been a member of the 
New York East Conference. As a 
member of that conference his first 
charge was a church on Long Is- 
land. He afterwards became pastor 
of the Methodist Episcopal church 
at Simsbury, Conn., where he re- 
mained for a period of six years and 
in 1895 became the pastor at St. Paul's 
M. E. church, Waterbury, remain- 
ing there until appointed pastor of 
Trinity Church of this town, enter- 
ing upon his duties here in April, 
1906, succeeding Rev. E. C. Car- 
penter. Rev. Air. Wagner was mar- 
ried to Miss Anna Axthelm Harper 
of Iowa, and they have four chil- 
dren: Elmer C. L., a student and 
member of the sophomore crew at 
Yale University; Bertha A., Edna 
M., and Grace \'., the first two of 
whom graduate at the Waterbury 
High School in June, 1906. Mr. W^ag- 
ner, with his family, occupies the Trin- 
ity M. E. parsonage and under his 
pastorate the church anticipates a 
successful period of continued pros- 
perity. 
12 



THE SOUTH MERIDEN M, 
CHURCH. 



For twenty years the Methodist 
Episcopal Church has been the only 
active Protestant church in tlie pic- 
turesque village of South Meriden, 
where regular services have been 
held. This church was organized as 
a society in 185 1, but meetings were 




KEV. ROl'.EKT J. r.EACH. 

lield bv Methodists occasii uially 
and somewhat irregularly as early 
as 1839. 'I^hcy first gathered there 
for worship in the school house. 
Mar. IJ. 1S51. At the Ik mse of jolui 
ICvans a determined effort was made 
and an ecclesiastical society which 
was called "'Hh' .M. E. Society of 
the Hanover District." was form- 



178 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



etl. John D. Parmalee was elect- 
ed chairman and John Evans sec- 
retary. The buikUng- committee 
appointed to arrange and carry on 
the erection of the first edifice was 
made up of the following: John 
Davidson, Roger Smith and Luman 
A. Atkins. The building, a wooden 
structure of two stories, was also 
planned for residence purposes, and 
the upper stor\' contained a hall 



den. and theological students of the 
Wesleyan Seminary from Middle- 
town. It was not until 1871 that 
the society became possessed of a 
regularly installed pastor, in the per- 
son of Rev. A\'illiam \\\ Hurd. Dur- 
ing the first year of his pastorate 
the present church edifice was be- 
gun and it was completed in the 
summer of 1872. The cost of the 
church structure was $9,000. and 




Phot . by R. S. Godfrey. 

SOUTH MERIDEN METHODIST CHURCH. 



and the "Methodist Preaching House." 
The building was completed in the 
fall of 1 85 1 and its cost was 
$i'333- This building was used 
by the South Meriden Methodists 
for over twenty years, the preach- 
ers being Rev. John Parker of Meri- 
den, who had previously done more 
than any other man in organizing 
the First Methodist Church of Meri- 



of this amount George Bristol gave 
$2,000, John Evans $1,000. and Chas. 
Parker of Meriden, $400. The bal- 
ance was raised by the members of 
the society and its friends. The 
new church was dedicated Septem- 
ber 25, 1872 by Rev. C. N. Foss. 
After the dedication of the new 
church the society entered upon an 
era of prosperity and many influen- 



CHURCHES. 



^79 



tial members were added. Among 
these, in 1888, was the late Dr. H. 
A. Archer, a somewhat noted physi- 
cian who resided in Tracy, and upon 
his suggestion a committee was 
formed for the purpose of enlarging 
the church. This committee was 
composed of the pastor. Dr. Archer, 
Silas Bradley, Frank Rollins, C. A. 
Hollister, William Baker, and E. B. 
Clark. Among the impro\-ements 
was a lecture room l)uilt in the rear 
of the church which was also re- 
decorated and otherwise improved. 
On March 10. 1889. the church was 
rededicated when it was also freed 
from debt. The church property at 
the present day has an approximate 
value of $13,000. and the society is 
possessed of a building at the Plain- 
ville Camp Ground. The full mem- 
bershi]) of the church is eighty-four 
and there are ten probationers. The 
Sunday school comprises eighty 
scholars, and seventeen officers and 
teachers. The jM^esent pastor of the 
church is Re\-. R. T- Beach. 



ST. ROSE'S CHURCH. 



'I"he organization of this ])arish 
dates back to 1849, although the nu- 
cleus was formed some ten \ear; 
previous. There were, howexer, be- 
fore that several foreign residents of 
the town. The building of the X. ^'.. 
X. H. & H. R. K.. to .Meriden ni 
1839 resulted in l)ringing a number 
of Irish Roman Catholics to the town 
and they were gathered together 
first by mission |)riests. and services 



were then held in a private house 
in the northeastern part of the town. 
Later services were held b_\' Rev. 
Phillip ( )"Reilley and by Rev. J. Tee- 
\-ens of Xew Haven, the latter of 
whom organized the little Catholic 
colony, and first celebrated mass for 
them in the house of Robert Clark 
on Xorth l)road street in January, 
1845. During the next four years 
and at intervals of about every three 
months. Rev. b'ather Teevens contin- 
ued to celebrate mass, but in 1849 
he obtained permission from the 
B)ishop of Hartford to form a parish, 
the Hartford diocese at that time 
and for many years afterwards com- 
prising all of Connecticut and Rhode 
Island. 

The church edifice used by this, 
the mother parish, was that originally 
occupied by St. Andrew's Iqiiscopal 
Church, then standing at the corner 
of Hroad and ( )live streets, and com- 
])rised a frame house, 3f)X45 feet in 
dimensions. This was vacated by the 
E])iscopalians in 1850. L'nder the 
tem])orary pastorate of Rev. Hugh 
( )"Reilley. wlio took charge of tlie 
parish work in 1851. and the first 
few vears of that of Rev. Tliomas 
Ouinn. who in 1854 became the first 
regular settled rector, services were 
JK'ld in this edifice for nine years. 
Cnder tlie direction of leather Ouinn. 
tbr construction of the present brick 
church on Center street was carried on 
at an outla\' of $25,000. [■"ather (Juinn 
later went to Pro\i(lence. R. 1., 
and afterwards became a chaplain 
in the ('i\il War. lie was succeeded 



i8o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 



as rector of St. Rose's parish by Rev. 
Thomas Walsh, in the spring of 1859 
at which time a considerable debt re- 
mained on the church building. Under 
Rev. Father Walsh the debt was re- 
moved and the parish grew rapidly 
necessitating, in 1868, the enlargement 
and improvement of the church which 



serving thus until his death in 1883. 
During his untiring service as rector 
the parish grew and prospered and at 
the time of his regretted decease, it 
ranked fourth among the Roman Cath- 
olic churches in the state. Under his 
pastorate the present parochial school 
was erected at the cost of $20,000. 



y<' 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

ST. rose's church. 



were made at a further outlay of 
$30,000. .Since that date other 
expenditures involving considerable 
money have been made, notably in 
1882. 

Father Walsh served as pastor of 
the church, becoming a vicar general. 



Father Walsh is said to have- 
been "a devout, learned man, highly 
respected by the entire community." 
Under the pastorate of Rev. Martin 
P. Lawlor, the next rector of the par- 
ish, the present parochial residence 
was finished. He remained at St. 



CiIURCHES. 



i8i 



Rose's parish until February 1885, 
when Rev. Paul F. McAlenney began 
his most successful pastorate which 
was concluded in 1900. Father Mc- 
Alenney is a man much beloved by 
the people, whose confidence and es- 
teem he won by his zealous work 
and kindly consideration of the well 
being- of his parishioners. Under his 
pastorate the church property was con- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

REV. JOHN COONEY. 

siderably enhanced and in 1888 St. 
Rose's cha]xd on Liberty street was 
completed. Father McAlenney's re- 
moval from the city was nuich deplor- 
ed I)y his people by whom he is still 
affectionately remembered. St. Rose's 
parish since September 1900 has been 
I)resided over by the present rector. 
Rev. John Cooney. The property of 



St. Rose's parish in 1906 consists of 
a church edifice, rectory, two school 
houses, St. Bridget's Convent, St. Pat- 
rick's Cemetery and the Sacred Heart 
Cemetery, the approximate total value 
of all being $180,000. 

Although from this parish have 
sprung, directly or otherwise, all the 
several different parishes now con- 
tained in the town of Aleriden, it still 
possesses 3,200 individuals and main- 
tains an attendance at the parochial 
school of 700 registered children. 

Rev. John Cooney, the present rec- 
tor was born in the County of Armagh, 
Ireland, in, February, 1841. After ob- 
taining his early education in his native 
town, he studied for the priesthood in 
the American College, Lourain, Bel- 
gium, where in 1867 he was ordained 
by Cardinal Sterks. After his ordina- 
tion he came to this country and was 
appointed curate at St. Peter's Church 
in Hartford, where he remained for 
two and a half years. He was then 
transferred to St. Patrick's Church 
in \'alley Falls, R. I., where he con- 
tinued to serve as pastor until 1871, 
when he was appointed pastor of St. 
Patrick's Church, Thompsonville, 
Conn., where under his direction both 
a parochial school and a rectory were 
built. In 1878 after a successful pas- 
torate at Thompsonville, he was ap- 
pointed rector of St. John's Parish, 
Xew Haven, wliere he remained for 
ten years. His next charge was at 
Colchester, Conn., where he remained 
for eight years, and during his ser- 
vice there he built a church in the 
neighboring town of Fitchville, and 



1 82 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



a parochial school, which territory was 
contained in his parish. During his 
residence in Colchester, he also serv- 
ed as a member of the school board. 
In 1896 he became rector of St. Ber- 
nard's Church at Rockville, Conn., 
where he remained for four years, 
and during' his pastorate there a large 
debt was considerably reduced. Since 
coming to Meriden, thirty-five acres 
adjoining Sacred Heart Cemetery 
have been added to the church proper- 
ty. Father Cooney has two assist- 
ants, Rev. L. A. Guinan, a native of 
Hartford, who has been attached to 
the present parish since 1895 ; Rev. 
J. J. McGivney, a native of Water- 
bury, was one of the curates at this 
church until 1891 when he became 
one of the Connecticut apostles and 
joined the mission band. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. John A. Conlon, a 
native of New Haven. 



ST. LAURENT'S CHURCH. 



The first assemblage of the French- 
Canadian Rbman Catholics of Meri- 
den took place at the Young 
Men's Christian Association hall, 
June 2, 1880. As may be readily 
assumed the object of this first mass 
meeting of the French-Canadians 
was the formation of a new parish. 
Two hundred men were present with 
the result that a president and 
secretary were chosen and the fol- 
lowing committee of organization 
was named, R. T. Chalifoux and L. 
Morrisseau, trustees ; advisory 



board, N. Anger, R. Dessureau, D. 
Dolbec, Joseph Chalifoux and X. 
Lisee, according to the statutes 01 
the diocese and becoming incorpor- 
ated under the laws of the state. The 
formation of the parish is consider- 
ed, however, to date from June 6, 
1880, the Sunday following the first 
mass meeting, at which time Rev. A. 
van ( )ppen took charge of the par- 
ish, which then included not only 
the P^rench, but the German, Polish 
and the Italian Catholics of Meriden. 
The parish was formed with some mis- 
givings even then in regard to num- 
bers, though the different collectors 
who had finished taking a census 
rei)orted 1,150 individuals of the 
French speaking population. These 
serious doubts were entertained ow- 
ing to the previous efforts to 
form a parish having proved futile. 
The French-Canadians, however, in- 
spired by the presence of a rector 
of their own, made up their minds 
that it was then or never that 
the enterprise was to be assured. 
The first subscription of $100 was 
made with the understanding that 
the money should be refunded if the 
project failed but the sum of $3,500 
was quickly subscribed. This fund 
was swelled to the extent of $6oD 
l)y St. Jean the Baptiste Society, 
who thus came to the aid of the new 
parish. 

On Palm Sunday, April 10, 188 r, 
services were first held in the base- 
ment of the present vSt. Laurent's 
Church and were largely attended, 
Bisho]) Laurent McMahon, for 



CHURCHES. 



183 



^k^-^f'-k^ 




ST. I. A U K 1-: X T S C H U RC H . 



1 84 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



whom the church was named, being 
one of the several notables present. 
On that day the first mass was cele- 
brated by Rev. F. de Bruycker, and 
sermons were preached in English 
by Mgr. Shanahan, Bishop of Har- 
risburg and in the French language 
by Rev. L. G. Gagnier of Springfield 
who was then and is still the oldest 
French missionary in New England. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

REV. A. VAN OPPEN. 

During this service, which was long to 
be remembered by those who at- 
tended, the parish was named. 

The building of the superstructure 
was commenced by Father van Oppen 
in 1886 and the contract, involving an 
expenditure of $30,000 was let. Upon 
the completion of the edifice a solemn 
dedication took place Nov. 4, 1888, and 



this became a notable event in the 
history of the church ; and then the 
bishop of the diocese and many visiting 
clergymen of the faith were also pres- 
ent. In 1882 St. Laurent's church ac- 
quired its first rectory which was pur- 
chased at a cost of $6,000, but that, 
since the completion of the present rec- 
tory, finished in 1892, has been occu- 
pied as a convent by the Sisters of the 
Assumption, whose headquarters are 
at Nicolet, P. Q. Since that date these 
sisters have conducted a paroch- 
ial school, where the dift'erent branches 
have been taught by them, and the 
French language has also been pro- 
pagated. The school was first con- 
ducted in the basement of the church, 
but in recent years a handsome school 
house has been erected by the parish 
at the cost of $10,000 and some- 
what concerning it is stated in 
the article by William P. Kelly 
on Meriden's educational institu- 
tions, in one of the following 
pages. On March 13, 1900 the deeds 
of St. Laurent's Cemetery were 
passed to the church by M. ]. Rodier 
and W. L. Henreux, and the French 
cemetery in the Hanover District was 
opened at once. 

The present total value of St. 
Laurent's Church property is $105,- 
000, and the lay trustees of the 
corporation are Dr. A. S. Alain and 
Zotique J. St. Cyr. x'Vt the present 
writing there are 1,850 parishioners. 
In June 1905, the parish celebrated 
its silver jubilee. 

Rev. A. van Oppen, whose ser- 
vice as rector of St. Laurent's 



CHURCHES. 



Church parish covers a period of 
twenty-six years, is a man of schol- 
arly attainments, speaks several lan- 
guages fluently, and is a native of 
Holland. He was born in Heerlen 
Kingdom of Holland, and studied 
for the American missions at the 
American College of Lourain, Bel- 
gium, emigrating to the United 
States in November, 1875. His first 



ent parish, but those of other nation- 
alities, who, under his spiritual 
guidance and encouragement have 
been enabled to form other parishes 
in Meriden. St. Laurent's Church 
is of French Gothic architecture and 
has been minus a completed steeple, 
])ut this, a spire extending skyward 
over 160 feet, will be finished in the 
coni]:)aratively near future. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

HOLY angels' church AND RECTORY. 



charge was at \\'in(lsor Locks, 
where he served as curate, after- 
wards at the church at Putnam. 
Conn. His extended pastorate in 
Meriden has been a great blessing to 
his parishioners. The growth of the 
parish speaks volumes for his favor- 
able work, and he is much beloved 
not only by the members of his pres- 



CHLJRCH 



OF THE 
ANGELS. 



HOLY 



This attractive suburban church 
of the Roman Catholic denomina- 
tion is an offshoot of St. Rose's ]-)ar- 
isli. The church was built under 
the pastorate of Rev. Paul F. Mc- 
Alennev as a mission church to 



i86 



A CENTURY OF :MER1DEX, 



accommodate the members of his 
parish residing' in South Meriden, 
l>acy and Yalesville and who had 
found the distance too great from 
their homes to attend, very frequent- 
ly, the services at St. Rose's church 
on Center street. Tlie first pastor 
appointed was Rev. R. F. Moore, 
A. ]\I., and during the foUowing 
year adjoining land was purchased 
and the present church rectory built. 



the same, 350 individuals, since 
the first year after the church 
was built. The parish became inde- 
pendent of the mother parish in 1888 
and since that time has been entirely 
self supporting. In 1896 Rev. Fr. 
Moore removed to Xew Britain and 
became pastor of St. Joseph's 
church, leaving behind him the affec- 
tionate regard and respect of his 
parishioners. He was succeeded as 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



ST. MARY S CHURCH. 



This church property is now valued 
at about $12,000 and at this writing- 
there remains a debt of $1,500 which 
is gradually being reduced. As the 
church of the Holy Angels is the 
only church of its denomination be- 
tween Meriden and Wallingford, 
its services became well attend- 
ed from the first but its mem- 
bership has remained approximately 



rector by Rev. Patrick Byrne, whi' 
came to the South Meriden church 
from Thomaston where he had 
been previously located. He remained 
pastor for a period of two years 
and then went to Xew Canaan, Conn. 
Rev. Thomas Cronan became the next 
pastor, also remaining two years when 
he went to Xew 2\Iilford. The present 
pastor. Rev. James W. Cunningham. 



CIIURCUKS. 



187 



v.uiio ti) South Mcriden from West- 'I he c-nlirc ])arish C()iii])risos ahout 

Thonipson, after liavin^- hecn pre- 250 families or a])])ruviiiiatcly 1.250 

viotisly connected with a church at in(h\i(luals. Tlie cliurch is incor- 

I'utnani, Conn., and lie has met here pirated and owns all of its pro])erty 

with the hearty .';u])port of a liiyal ])eo- without incumbrance. The lav 

pie in ministeriui;- to their s])iritual trustees of the corporation are Paul 



wants and h\' whom he is held in hi 
reirard. 



ST. MARY'S GERMAN ROMAX 
CATHCLTC CHl'RCH. 



r. Saleski and John Ko]>ske. Sr. 

."^ince the church was built there 
has been accpiired an adjoiuin^- par- 
sonage and additional land, ihe latter 



This ])arish of the Roman church, 

anti in which is propagated the (Ger- 
man lan.ijuajje. was estaldished in 

Meriden by liishop AIcMahon of 

Hartford, and was organized March 

12. 1890. At that time serxices in 

the (lerman tong'ue were held in the 

ba.-Nement of St. Laurent's Lhurch. 

where services in the I-"rench lan- 
uajje were also held, as they were 

before that time and have been since. 

Previous to that date there were 

■«e\eral ( ierman families of the Rom- 
an Catholic faith in Meriden, l)Ut it 

A as not until the Rev. Ignatius Kost 

\as a])pointed rector of the new parish 

hat the ( iermans of this faith ])ccame 

niite<l to any considerable extent, 
rnijer I-'ather Kost money suffi- 

"ient to l)egin the erection of the fronting on ( Irove street, upon which 
>rescnt cluircli edifice was raised, a new and permanent church edifice 

nid this was dedicated Dec. (^k i8yr. may be erected at some future time. 

[I he church is a wooden structure there being in the hands of the present 
n«l Comprises both a ])lace of wor- rector, l\e\-. Nicholas !•". X. l^chnei- 
hip and a school, the latter being der, the micleus of a necessary 
•pened in 181/). and in which at the fund, or about $3,000. 'idie present 
ifesent writing 220 ])U])ils are taught rector of the church assumed liis 
1 (■|cnnati b\ four Sisters of Mercv. charge after having serve<l a>i assist- 




Photo by AkiTs .>,• PiRooii. 

Ki:\'. N. I", x. St' 11 m;ii)i;r 



i88 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ant pastor at New Britain. He is 
said to be held in high regard by his 
parishioners. 



THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY 
OF MOUNT CARMEL. 



This house of worship at which 
the ItaHan residents of the Roman 
CathoHc faith of Meriden receive 
their spiritual food was erected 
in 1894. The church, which is 
located on Goodwill avenue, on 
the boarder of the Italian district of 
Meriden, is shown in the accom- 
panying illustration. Before the 
formation of the present parish the 
Italians of Meriden attended princi- 
pally the St. Laurent's Church on 
Camp street, but to that church their 
attendance was not entirely confin- 
ed. The creation of the parish was 
a source of much spiritual comfort 
to the sons of Italy and gradually 
it has grown in membership until at 
the present writing it numbers ac- 
cording to the figures of the present 
pastor, about 2,200 souls. The 
church property consists in 1906 of 
the church edifice only, which was 
dedicated in 1894 and valued at $4,- 
500, and upon which $1,200 was ex- 
pended in 1905-6 in repairs and 
improvements. The parish is incor- 
porated under the laws of the state 
and the lay trustees are Leonordo 
Suzio and Pasquale lannetti. The 
Sunday school is conducted by the 
Sisters of Mercy from St. Bridget's 
Convent, but the parochial day 
school is yet a thing of the future. 



. The different rectors of the parish 
have been as follows : Father Mor- 
elli, under whose pastorate the 
church was built ; Rev. Antonio de 
Falco, Victorio Sarilla,, Father Mc- 
Laughlin, who though of Irish birth 
also spoke Italian, and the present 
pastor. Rev. Antonio DeSimone, 





Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 
OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL CHURCH. 

who was appointed rector of the 
parish and commenced his duties as 
such April 2, 1905. Father DeSim- 
one has accomplished much for the 
parish in a comparatively short time, 
and receives the undivided sup- 
port of his parishioners. He is a 



CHURCHES. 



189 



man of gentle manners and sympa- 
thetic nature, and the worshippers at 
his church hold him in affectionate 
regard. He was born at Caiazzo, 
IVovince of Casserta, Italy, April 13, 
1871 and was educated for the 
priesthood at the seminary in his 
native town, wdiere he was also or- 
dained in 1894, and was first a cur- 
ate at the Church of San Giovanni e 
Paolo. In 1903 he emigrated to this 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

RKV. A. UE SIMONE. 

ountry and was appointed one of 
ihe assistants at the cathedral at 
Ibany, N. Y., and during his two 
ears' service there he looked after 
he spiritual wants of the Italians 
f the capitol city of the Empire 



ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH. 

This now thriving parish of the 
Roman Catholic church was orga- 
nized in October, 1901, and is an off- 
spring of St. Rose"s parish, having 
been made a parish by itself by 
P.ishop Tierney of Hartford. The 
first services were held in the little 
cha])el on West :\lain. near the cor- 
ner of lUitler street, formerly occu- 
pied bv the Trinity Methodist 
Church, but which had for some 
time been used as a chapel of ease by 
the mother parish. Rev. John T. 
Lynch, to the good fortune of the 
parishioners, was made first pastor, 
and under his leadership it has thriv- 
ed and prospered, and now' com- 
prises 2.700 souls. The territory set 
off for St. Joseph's parish comprised 
that ])art of Meriden west of 
the N. Y.. X. H.. &'H. Railroad. 
Almost immediately after the 
appointment of a rector, the little 
chai)el where services were first 
held became overtaxed, and plans 
were formulated for a new church. 
Tlu- commiiiee appointed for that 
],ur])Ose was made up of the follow- 
ing: John A. Hurley. Roger Crough, 
William Lewis. Michael Keating, 
M. 1-. I'itzgerald. M. <r. Reynolds. 
llrnr\- Cashen. Clias. McCniire. 
I,,lin McWeeney. Cornelius J. Dan- 
aher. John V. I'utler. W'm. B. 
Cashen. 1. j. .Mc.Malicn. I(«lin T. 
McLoughlin and M. I'. .M.^rrissey. 
The first lay trustees of the corpo- 
ration were John A. Hurley and C. 



190 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



J. Danaher. but after the former's residence and adjoining buildings 

removal from the city, he was sue- on the property was immediately! 

ceeded by John McWeeney. In begun, and the foundation for the; 

1902 the new parish became pos- new church, as yet uncompleted,; 

sessed of a most desirable location was started, the corner stone of 

for the new church and a proposed which was laid on October 12, 







■X^'i. ■■ 







ST. JOSEPH S CHURCH. 



new rectory, in a section of the old 
Goodwill homestead property, and 
now bounded by West Main street, 
Goodwill and Lewis avenues. The 
work of tearing- down the historic 



1902. The basement chapel was com- 
pleted in March, 1903, and since 
that date services have been there 
held. The completion of the 
church entire was postponed by 






CHURCHES. 



191 



Father Lynch to avoid heavy inter- from St. Uridg-et's convent. Another 
est on money that would have been acquisition of the new parish is a lot 
necessary for the work. Fr. on North First street and North 
Lynch originally planned to spend Avenue, which comprises a most 
$70,000 on the new church, but desirable location for church pur- 
I when the auditorium is finished, poses. After the completion of St. 

Joseph's church, the building of a 
rectory will be begun and this wdll 
be situated in the rear of the church 
in the C()m])aratively near future. 

St. Joseph's parish has now, be- 
sides its regular pastor, two assist- 
ants, Re\-. John F. Donohue. a na- 





Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

RE\'. JOHX T. LYNCH. 

which it bids fair to be at no dis- 
I tant date, a sum somewhat m excess 
of that amount will have represent- 
ed the cost of the fully completed 
edifice. 

Since the new church became 
occupied, the little chapel, which is 
also owned by the corporation, was 

converted into a parochial school of tive of Litchfield, and i\e\ . W in. J. 
five rooms, where studies from the Judge, wln) was Ixirn ami l)r()uglu 
first to the sixth grades have since u]) in fLartford. I\c\-. I'"ather 
been taught to abcntt 260 children of Lynch, in addition to presiding over 
the parish, by five Sisters of ivlercy his ])arish, with his assistants, looks 



Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

Kl-:\'. lOH.X F. DO.XOIIU 



192 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



after the spiritual needs of the Cath- 
olic inmates of the Conn. School for 
Boys. The Sunday school of St. 
Joseph's Church comprises about 500 
members. An idea of the growth 
of the parish can be gained when it 
is stated that during the month of 
April, 1906, mission services held 
there attracted as many as 1,000 men 
at each service held for them, and a 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

REV. WILLIAM J. JUDGE. 

larger number of women during the 
women's mission. 

Rev. John T. Lynch was born in 
Waterbury, January 24, 1857, and 
was educated in the public schools 
of Ansonia, and the Collegiate and 
Theological departments of Niagara 
University, being ordained June 19, 
1886. He besfan his career as a 



clergyman as assistant at St. John's 
church, Stamford, and was after- 
wards transferred to St. Peter's 
Church, Hartford, where he remain- 
ed for a period of ten years. When 
a new parish was formed at 
Wethersfield, he became its first 
rector, and while located there re- 
modeled the church and bought the 
land upon which he built a rectory. 
During his pastorate at A\'ethers- 
field and while connected with St. 
Peter's Church, Hartford, he served 
as chaplain at the Connecticut State 
Prison. Since coming to Meriden 
his tireless work has resulted in tl'-^ 
remarkable growth of the parish and 
large acquisitions of church property 
in a comparatively short time. He 
is greatly beloved and respected by 
his parishioners and is also held in 
high regard in the community. 



ST. 



PAUL'S UNIVERSALIST 
CHURCH. 



One of the more imposing houses 
of worship in Aleriden is St. Paul's 
I'niversalist Church, a handsome 
structure from an architectural point 
of view, the corner stone of which 
was laid in 1891, the dedication 
taking place September 27, 1893. 
The present edifice was erected dur- 
ing the pastorate of Rev. W. S. 
Perkins, D. D., at an approximate 
cost of $100,000, the late Isaac 
C. Lewis, who in later years was 
for a considerable time superintend- 
ent of the Sunday school, being one 



CHURCHES. 



193 



of the large contributors, not only 
to the building' itself, but presenting 
the set of chimes which, from the 
church tower, have in tuneful peals 
ever since resounded for the benefit of 
the citizens of the town and vicinity. 
The Universalist society was organ- 
ized May 30, 1854, but previous to that 



eroy, Calvin Coe, E. E. Smiley, \Vm. 
H. Golden, John S. Blake, Moses 
Waterman, Isaac C. Lewis, J. V. 
Thayer, B. F. Stevens, Edwin Day- 
ton, Monroe Barnes, John L. Ives, 

B. R. Stevens, H. E. Welton, James 
T. Pomeroy, E. R. Aspinwall, John 

C. Marion, J. U. Foster, Charles 




I'l:i)t<i by H. S. liodtiey. 

ST. Paul's univi-zrsalist ciiukc h. 

meetings were held at the house of Pomeroy. X. W. Pomeroy, Thillip 

Xoah Pomeroy, wdiere also the first S. Pelton, P. S. Pliss, jr., Silas 

sermon in Meriden by a P'niversalist Cdadwin. (i. E. Leonard, Aaron 

minister. Rev. Mr. Brooks was C.ardner and j. P. Lewis. 
preached. Rev. James Gallager was In .\]>ril. 1S35. the si>ciet\ had 

the first regular pastor of the society, become increased by thirteen mem- 

and signed to the constitution the fol- liers. but it was not until December 

lowing names are found: Xoah Pom- 5, i860, that the first edifice was 
1.^ 



194 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



erected and dedicated. The build- 
ing committee of this first Univer- 
salist church was composed of Dr. 
T. F. Davis, Isaac C. Lewis, Silas 
Gladwin, Moses Waterman and 
Robert Hoadley. The whole cost 




Ui:\ . j . 11. CHAPIN, PH. D. 

of the first building including car- 
pets and furnishings was $9,214.18 
and at the time of the dedication 
the church had a debt of $4,432.46. 
It is said that of the sixty-six per- 
sons who contributed to the erection 
of the first Universalist church, but 
forty-eight of them were avowed 
Universalists. 

This church, a wooden structure of 
imprepossessing appearance, stood 
where St. Paul's church now stands, 
fronting on Norwood street, but was 



moved to the northeast corner of Lib- 
erty and Norwood streets when the 
erection of the new church was be- 
grn and services were continued there 
until the present church was com- 
pleted. Since the winter of 1904, when 
the town hall was destroyed by fire, the 
old church building has been occupied 
as a temporary town hall, and used for 
both town and city oftices, as it is at 
this writing. 

Rev. Frederick Foster was the first 
pastor to occu])}- that pulpit, and he 

1 




REV. J. HARRY HOEDEN. 

was followed, Nov. i, 1862, by Rev. J. 
H. Farnsworth, who presided over the 
flock for seven years and placed the 
society on a permanent basis, for dur- 
ing his pastorate and with thirty-six 
members the church became perma- 



CHURCHES. 



195 



ncntl}' organized. June 20, 1863. Rev. 
Martin J. Steere became the next 
settled pastor becoming located 
here in 1869, and remaining until 
1873. when the late Rev. James 
Henry Chapin. Ph. D., was secured. 
Dr. Chapin resigned on account of 
l)rotracted ill health in 1885, and dur- 
ing his pastorate 149 persons received 
the right hand of fellowship and 148 
children were baptized. During l;is 
pastorate also a new organ, one of 
the finest in the city, was placed in 
the church at a cost of $4,000. Dr. 
Chapin was a scholarly man who 
exerted a great influence in the com- 
munity. He showed a . profound 
• interest in educational and philan- 
thropic matters. He was succeeded 
by Rev. C. A. Knickerbocker, also 
an effective preacher and wdiose 
])astorate was marked by increasing 
congregations, and during the four 
years of his ministry the question 
of a new church was first agitated. 
Rev. W. S. Perkins, D. D., followed 

tiev. .Mr. Kickerbocker as the next 
ettled pastor and his ministrv in Mer- 
pden exceeded in length of service that 
pf any other man in the history of the 
phurch. Dr. Perkins was a strong 
i^reacher and possessed a kind and 
■Mupathetic nature, and during his 
1 icessful pastorate many new mem- 
" r> were received into the church. 
Ii> v.Mrk in the cause of Cniversalism 
l"esulted in a continued growth of the 
hrrch and he will be long remem- 
ered by the ])eople of the town. 
The parish at the present writing 
as a membershi]) of about 300 and 



possesses a Sunday school of 200. 
Rev. J. Harry Holden was installed 
as pastor succeeding the Rev. Mr. 
Perkins as regular pastor, May i, 
1903. He was born at Middlesex, 
\^t., March 18, 1861, was educated 
at Goddard Seminary, afterward tak- 
ing a course at the Academic De- 
partment of Tufts College, from 
which he received the degrees of 
A. P., P. D., and A. M., and where 
he later studied for the ministry, 
graduating in theology in 1888. His 
first pastorate was at Amherst, 
}.Iass. He afterwards went to At- 
tleboro, Mass., and after ])residing 
over the church there for some 
years accepted the call to St. Paul's 
Cniversalist Church. While at .A.m- 
lierst, Mr. Holden, in addition to 
hiis pastoral duties, served as su])er- 
intendent of schools, and at Attle- 
I oro was for four years a mcmlxT 
i'i the school board. He is a mem- 
1 er and chaplain of Meridian Lodge 
77. A. F., & A. ]M., and has become 
a prominent figure in the promotion 
of l^niversalism and social life in 
."^leriden. 

He was married in South Poston. 
Mass.. June 11. 1889 to Grace Lucas 
and they have four children as follows: 
I'harlotte. Kathryn, James Henry and 
Ixemieth \\ inslow jjolden. 



ST. JoflX'S GERM.VX lA'.W- 
GI-.LICAL LL'THERAX (11 1 -RrH. 



This, the mother chtu"cli of the 
evangelical Lutheran denomination 
in Meriden, was organized in the 




ST. JOHN S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. 



CHURCHES. 



197 



court room of the town hall, on 
Nov. 0, 1865. The first service at 
which a sermon was delivered by a 
pa.«^tor, was held December 25, the 
same \ ear in the old Episcopal Church 
on South Broad street. The first 
pastor of this church society was 
Rev. ( I. Guericke, but he resigned 
the following }-ear and returned to 
Germany. The second pastor. Re\'. 




Kl.W S. V. GLASICK. 

G. .\. Schniiilt. of I'tica, X. V.. 
arrived in Meriden ( )ct. 1. i<S6f). but 
was not installed until the first 
church edifice, which had been f<^r 
some time in the i)rocess of con- 
struction, was dedicated, March 5, 
1867. Rev. C. A. Graeber, the next 
pastor, and who came here from 
R*>ckville, was installed .August 22. 



1869, his service as such continuing 
until April i, 1886, when his resigna- 
tion took effect. His successor was 
Rev. A. KralYt of Otto, N. Y., who 
was installed pastor of St. John's 
church Ai)ril 16, 1886, and who re- 
mained as such until Jul}' 10, 1890. 
when he left to accept a call to the 
Lutheran church at Fischerville, 
Can. Re\-. William Koepchen of 
New Haven, who almost immediately 
afterwards received a unanimous 
call from the Meriden church, was 
installed as pastor August 10, 1890. 
The erection of the present impos- 
ing edifice at the corner of Liberty 
and Norwood streets, was determined 
u])<>ii just pre\ious to the coming of 
Mr. l\oe])chen but the corner stone 
was laid at the end of his first year, 
on August 30, 1 89 1, its dedication 
occurring March 13, i8o-'- 

During his successful ])asti>rate 
also, in 1897, the parsonage on Lib- 
erty street was purchased by the 
church corporation and in 1899 a 
connuiKlious and comfortable parish 
liouse was erected in the rear of the 
])arsonage by the Young Peo])le's 
and Ladies" Aid societies. In the 
same \ear. a very desirable tract of 
land containing eight acres and front- 
ing ou Roberts and iJee streets, just 
ofi^ East Main street, was purchased 
and has since been used by St. John's 
parish as Gethsemane cemetery, being 
one of the city's most beautiful plots 
for the purpose for which it has been 
designated. 

Rev. .">. I", (ilaser, the present 
])astor of the now thri\-ing congre- 



198 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



gation, succeeded Rev. Mr. Koep- 
chen and was installed in March, 
1900 ; and in the intervening years 
the church has increased largely in 
membership. During the year 1902 
the church replaced its defunct or- 
gan with one of magnificence and 
modern construction at a cost oi 
$3,500. The church congregation pos- 
sesses property at the present 
writing to the value of about $55,000. 
The present church building, a most 
imposing structure of brick with 
brownstone basement and trim- 
mings and cathedral glass windows, 
is of true Gothic architecture, and 
has a seating capacity of 800. The 
extreme width of the aisles, however, 
makes it possible for about 200 
more to be accommodated when occa- 
sion demands. Under the pastorate 
of the Rev. Mr. Glaser, the attend- 
ance at the morning services, which 
are held in German, averages be- 
tween 500 and 6ao, and on the last 
Palm Sunday, there were about an 
even 1,000 people seated in the 
church. During the past three 
years, and owing to the fact that 
many members of the congregation 
have married Americans, the eve- 
ning services have been held in 
English, a most popular innovation 
introduced by the present pastor. 
There are both male and mixed 
choirs at St. John's Church, and the 
music there rendered is of high or- 
der. The congregation now com- 
prises 1,400 souls and there are 845 
confirmed communicants, 185 com- 
prising the adult male members who 



decide the matters of the church liy 
vote. For many years there has 
been maintained by this church a 
parochial school which is held in 
three rooms of the basement and 
where, besides all the branches taught 
in the public schools a thorough course 
in German is also given. This school 
is maintained by St. John's church, 
knowing it to be the sacred dutv to 
give its children a thorough Chris- 
tian education and training. The 
teachers are : C. A. Burgdorf, princi- 
pal ; Miss Elise Flora Sternberg and 
.Miss Alarguerite Xagel, assistants. 
The church Sunday school comprises 
300 children and of this the pastor is 
the superintendent and C. A. Brr;^- 
dorf is the assistant. 

The church council comprises the 
following : Rev. S. F. Glaser, chiir- 
man ; Albert Abel, clerk ; and John 
W. Katt treasurer. The elders are Ed- 
ward Schwarz and Carl SchoenrocK , 
the deacons, Herman Ketelhut, rCarl 
Schroeder and Herman Rufleth. The 
trustees of the corporation are Ch^s. 
Sternberg, Albert Maronde, Albert 
Abel, John W. Katt and Williari 
H. Nagel, president. 

The present pastor. Rev. Sanniel 
F. Glaser, was born in Adrian, Mich, 
and attended Concordia College. Pt. 
Wayne, Ind., from which he wis 
graduated in 1885, after taking the 
regular classical course embracing 
the studies of the ancient languages, 
including Latin, Greek and Hebrew, 
he afterwards took a three years 
course at Concordia University at 
St. Louis, where he prepared for the 



ClIURClIliS. 



199 



ministry, and from wliich he received 
his (hpUin'.a in 1S88. Mr. (ilaser 
came to tliis city from .Vsldand, K}., 
and his pastorate here has met with 
the hearty co-operation of a large 
congre,£(ation. Mr. ( ilaser is a man 
of intellectnal attainments and 
througli his ahihty as a preacher, or- 
ganizer and ai)titnde for his profes- 
sion has the chnrch been brought 
to its present state of prosperity. 



im mantel german luth- 
i-:rax church. 



This now thriving evangelical 
chrrch congregation possessing at the 
present writing a valuable cliurch 
property and parsonage adjoining at 
the corner of Hanover street and 
Cook a\enne. sp'"ang from St. 
John's ( ierman Lutheran Church in 
1889. It was in that year that thirty- 
six families formed the new societ}-, 
it being their desire to worship un- 
der the jurisdiction of the old syn- 
od which is the ^linisterium of 
New ^'ork■. and the adjacent states 
under the (ieneral Ccnmcil of the 
Lutheran Church of North .Amer- 
ica. The first meetings c^f the 
society were held at the hall of 
the ^'oung Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation, where afttr the first few 
montlis of services ])resided over b\^ 
Rev. F^mil Wittmann, Rev. C. R. 
Tappert became the regular ])astor. 

A building lot had been ])ur- 
rhased in the ])resent location 
Find in 1890 the corner stone 
:if the church was laid b\- Mr. 



Tappert. The church when com- 
]dLted and dedicated began imme- 
diately to show a reniarkal)le pro- 
gress in membership and spiritual 
])ros])erity. Two years later it wa.s 
deemed ad\isal)le to l)uy several l()ts 
adjoining that uj)on which t'ne 
church had l)ren built. The land 
was little more than a swam]) and 
was an excellent resort for a large 
congregation of lusty throated 
frogs. The ])astor. how^'xer, saw 
great possibilities to ])e obtained 
from improving the land, and at a. 
large expense the same was tilled in 
and the same year, in 1892. the addi- 
tional land was ])urchased. there- 
were built thereon the ])resent 
church parsonage and carriage 
sheds, thereby greatly im])roving 
that section of the cit} . In 189/^ 
the ]>ros])eritv and growth of the 
church warranted a further outlays 
of $3,000 which was spent in remod- 
eling and l)eautif\ing the interior 
to a considerable extent. After 
the several improvements had been; 
made the church society had a debt 
of $14,000. reduced to $5,000 at this 
writing, and continuing to be re- 
duced at the rate of $1,000 a year, 
without any special effort on the 
part of the .society, from its regular 
inc(ime. This has l)een accom- 
pdished without the holding of fairs 
or other entertainments and the 
rrduction of ilu- drlit lias bi-en in a 
measure accomj)lishe(l from the ])ro- 
';eeds of an established del)t fimd. 
The church has ever been a most 
liarniouious organization and its 



200 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



growth in membership somewhat school which has an average altend- 
remarkable.. At the present writ- ance of 125 children, who attend the 
ing there are 600 communicants. public schools the balance of the 




GERMAN LUTHERAN IMMANUEL CHURCH. 



The Sunday School possesses a week. The teachers at the Satur- 
membership of 225. There is also day school are the pastor, Miss 
conducted at the church a Saturday Meta Kreft, instructor at the Pe- 



CHURCHES. 



20 1 



<|ii()(l business College, and Miss 
Lena Knapp, teacher at the Public 
school of Plantsville. The church 
possesses a ladies' society of ninety- 
seven members and a young people's 
society of about the same member- 
ship. 

Rev. C. R. Tappert. the pastor, 
was born in Hameln, Germanv in 




RliV. C. k. TAPPERT. 

i86<^», and comes from a good 
old family in Germany, tracing 
his ancestry back to the year 
1567. He graduated at the Theo- 
logical school, Kropp. Germany, 
and while still too young to become 
an ordained clergyman came to this 
country and took charge of a con- 
gregation at Greenport. L. T. He 
was ordained 1)\' llu' M inistcrium 



and installed as pastor of St. Peter's 
Church. He afterwards founded 
Trinity (ierman Lutheran church 
in New York city with but nine 
members, which afterwards became 
a thriving society under his leader- 
ship. The history of this church 
reveals a creditable work by its pas- 
tor. Mr. Tappert exerts a great in- 
duence in the community ; for he is 
also pastor of the First Evangelical 
Lutheran clnirch in Southington, 
which pulpit he also fills for that so- 
ciety. He stands high in his 
denomination and is a member of 
the board of examination of the svnod. 
Mr. Tappert has two brothers in 
the ministry, the Revs. Gustave and 
Ernest T., both having charges in 
Xew York City. One of his sis- 
ters holds an important position in 
tlie Lutheran Deaconess home. 
Philadelphia. Mrs. Tappert is a na- 
tive of Greenport, L. L Her family 
IS also well represented in the Luth- 
eran clergy. One of her brothers. 
Rev. \\' . Drach, is pastor in Syra- 
cuse, X. Y. Another. Rev. G. Drach, 
formerly pastor of an English Luth- 
eran Church. Philadelphia, now 
holds the important position of gen- 
eral secretary of the Hoard of For- 
eign Missions of the General Coun- 
cil of the Lutheran Church of 
America. 



SWEDISH LUTH. CHURCH. 



.\s early as 1878 Meriden contained 
in its pn])ulatiMn a number of Swedes 



202 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



of the evangelical Lutheran faith, and 
an attempt, which finally proved un- 
successful, to establish a permanent 
Swedish society, was made about that 
time under the leadership of Dr. Lud- 
wig Holmes. 

The first Swedes began to arrive in 
Meriden about 1865 but for the first 
ten years their numbers were few. 

About 1878 there was organized a 
Swedish branch of the Y. M. C. A., 
which for a time conducted Swedish 
services in the homes and other places. 
They also maintained a Swedish cir- 
culating library of fair size. These 
first services were led principally by 
Dr. Ludwig Holmes, of Portland, 
Conn., pastor of the Swedish Lutheran 
church there, then the only Swedish 
church in Connecticut. Dr. Holmes 
later lived in the west for a number of 
years but a few years ago returned to 
the church in Portland over which he 
still presides. He is now one of the 
foremost ministers in the Swedish 
Lutheran church of the United States 
and is also a poet of some note. 

It was not until the Swedish Luth- 
erans had become reinforced by sev- 
eral families of their nationality that 
the present permanent organization 
became effected. Services were first 
held in St. John's Lutheran church and 
later in German Immanual Lutheran 
church, Bethany chapel on Britannia 
street and Y. M. C. A. hall. The nu- 
cleus of the present organization was 
formed March 22, 1889. 

The society was reorganized Feb. 
rrary 18, 1890, as Swedish Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran Immanuel congregation. 



and the present church really dates its 
history from that day. The society 
became incorporated the same year. 

The first officers were : Deacons, C. 
A. Wickstrand, Peter Fohlin and 
Ewald Thoren ; trustees, Peter Fohlin, 
C. A. Wickstrand. Ferdinand Ander- 
son ; secretary, J. Alfred Sjoquist. 

jMeriden was at first a mission- 
ar\- field and preaching services at 
frequent intervals were conducted 
b}' Rev. O. W. Ferm, then of 
Xew Britain, but now in Sioux City, 
Iowa. He was followed by Rev. C. 
J. Bengtson, of Hartford, now of 
Rockland, 111. Others who were not 
ordained clergymen but divinity stu- 
dents, the last of whom was Rev. K. 
A. Martin, now of Schenectady, N. Y., 
b}- whom money sufficient to buy a 
building lot was raised, followed in 
conducting preaching services and un- 
til 1893, when Rev. A. F. Wicklund, 
then studying for the ministry, but 
now an ordained clergyman in Swe- 
den, became the first resident pastor. 

Under his leadership money was 
subscribed with which to begin the 
construction of the church edifice cm 
the lot previously purchased at the cor- 
ner of Center and Miller streets, where 
now stands the handsome church edi- 
fice. The building committee was com- 
posed of the following : 

John Anderson, John Wessman, 
Otto E. Helin, Peter Anderson, Gus- 
taf Swenson, Ferdinand Anderson. 

Although Mr. Wicklund succeeded 
in making the present church a cer- 
tainty he did not remain in Meriden 
loner enougfh to see it dedicated and 



CIIUKCHKS. 



205 



his successor, Rev. jnlius Lincoln, be- synod at Mnline. 111., and the Swedish 

came the tirst pastor in the new Lutheran church here was his first 

churcli. He preached his first sermon chars^e. During his pastorate, on Oc- 

on the morning of June 16, 1895, and tober 2"/, 1895, the church was dedi- 

on the afternoon of the same day the cated. He remained in .Meriden but 

corner stone of the building was laid a year, after which, much to the re- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH. 



with appropriate ceremonies which gret of his fast-gmwing tl^ck, he ac- 
were largely attended. Rev. Mr. Lin- cepted a call to a pastorate at James- 
coin was an American by birth and a town, N. Y. 

young man of .somewhat remarkable I'nif. Thilip .\ndn.Tn. then a divin- 

ability as a preacher. He was or- ity student, but who afterwards be- 

dained to the ministry of Augustana came an ordained clergyman, and at 



204 



A CENTURY OF M KRIDKX, 



present the pastor of a thriving parish 
in San Francisco, Cahfornia, of the 
Swedish Lutheran denomination, be- 
came the next pastor, and for a time 
filled the pulpit of the newly erected 
church. Upon his removal from Mer- 
iden, his brother, Alexis Andreen, also 
a student of theology, afterwards or- 
dained a clergyman, and at this writ- 
ing presiding over a church at Clinton, 




Ri:V. D.WID FRIDLUXD. 

Iowa, was the next to fill the pulpit. 
He was succeeded by Rev. O. J. An- 
drews, who was regularly installed in 
the pastorate, remaining for a per- 
iod of five years. Much to the regret 
of the people here he finally accepted 
an urgent call to locate in Englund, 
Minn., but he afterwards returned to 
Connecticut and is now located in An- 
sonia. 



Rev. David Fridlund, the present 
pastor, became Mr. Andrews' suc- 
cessor in 1904. The growth of the 
church in membership has been some- 
what notable. From the time when 
the society became under its present 
]:)ermanent organization it had but 
thirty-three members, which has since 
been increased to about 300 at the 
present writing. There is a Sunday 
school of 100, and during the summer 
months there is a day school main- 
tained in the church by the society. 
The church became an incorporated 
organization in 1890 and the ap- 
I)roximate value of the property is 
now $9,000. The deacons of the 
church are Otto E. Helin, J. Alfred 
I'crson and Linus P. Carlson. 

The trustees of the corporation are 
jiihn W'essman, ^Martin Johnson, Gus- 
tav H. Johnson, Albert Holmgren, 
Custav Kugge and ^L A. Wickstrand. 
The church secretary is Otto E. Helin. 
There are two important societies of 
the church, the ladies' society and the 
young people's society. The former, 
of which Mrs. C. G. Anderson is 
president, and Mrs. Andrew Kugge, 
vice-president, is composed of all 
the ladies of the church. The of- 
ficers of the young people's society 
are : President, Fritz Ekdahl ; finan- 
cial secretary, J. Adolph Johnson ; 
secretary, Alton Parks, and treasurer, 
C. J. Lundstrum. 

Rev. David Fridlund, the present 
pastor of the church, was born in Swe- 
den in 1869, and was brought to this 
country l)y his parents who located at 
Manistee. Mich., when he was quite 



CHURCHES. 



20: 



\oiing. He was educated at public 
scluMjls. later attending Bethany Col- 
lege. Lindsburg. Kan., and prepared 
for the ministry at the Theological 
Seminary of the Augustana college at 
R(Kk Island. Meriden is his first pas- 
torate. 



THE lEWISH SYXAGOGl'E. 



There has been a Hebrew reli- 
gious society in Meriden since 1887 
and the structure comprising the 
present synagogue was erected in 
i8«;i at a cost of S5.000. This 
-<»ciety has grown to 125 members 
from small beginnings and the 
founder was Meyer Abraham, who 
was the fourth orthodox Hebrew to 
take up his residence in Meriden. 
and in his house the first services of 
his faith here were held. The first 
Hebrew to come to Meriden was 
-Abraham Harris, who is an indus- 
trious tailor and came here with his 
family about 1872. The seconi'i 
Jewish family was that of which H. 
Holtz was the head and he was fol- 
lowed by Heiman Goldstein. Meyer 
.-\braham was attracted to Meriden 
in 1885 and after his friend Samuel 
Edlemann also took up his residence 
here, these two took it upon them- 
selves to attract others of their faith 
to this city, their object being the 
foimdation of a synagogue. In 1889 
Meyer .\braham. in his name, secur- 
ed a charter and he became the first 
president of the society, and has 
strvtd in that capacity for nine 



vears in all, being the present in- 
cumbent of the ofiice. It was in 
1887 that Abraham Siskind, a man 
e.xceedingly well educated and held 
in great respect by his people, was 
chosen rabbi by the society and he 
has since filled that office without 
pay and in accordance with the Jew- 
ish custom has settled all disputes 
and conducted the marriages of his 




P11..I.. l.y K. S. G..aire>. 

JEWISH SVNWGGGUE. 

people. Services are held in the 
synagogue, which is located at 43 
Cedar street, once every Friday eve- 
ning and three times on Saturday. 
There, as in other Jewish syna- 
gogues, the prayer takes a most im- 
portant part in the services for 
which he receives a liberal salary. 



2o6 



A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 



S. Leiberman serving in that capa- 
city at the present writing. People 
of the Jewish faith become members 
•of this society by vote of its mem- 
bers, three black balls being suffi- 
cient, however, to keep out those 
not desired. The society pays a 
funeral benefit and a certain stipu- 



school where the Hebrew language 
and bible are taught by experienced 
teachers, and where ninety pupils 
are now receiving daily instruction 
from Principal Lewis Ginsberg. Day 
school is also held there on Sundays 
from 9 in the morning to 2 in the 
afternoon. The society is now an 





Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

iMEVER ADRAH.\M. 



Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

RABBI SISKIND. 



lated sum is collected regularly from 
its members for the maintenance of 
the society. The services are always 
private and none but members are 
permitted to take part. The Old 
Testament only is the Bible used. In 
addition to the services of the syna- 
gogue, on every w^eek day except 
Saturday and Sunday, there is held 
from the hours of 4 to 8 p. m.. a day 



incorporated body and its property, 
with the exception of a debt of $615, 
is held free and clear. 



THE THIRD CONGREGATION- 
AL CHURCH. 



This society of the Congregational 
denomination, also called the Hanover 
Congregational Church was organized 



CHURCHES. 



207 



February 13, 1853, by twenty-five 
members who were dismissed from 
the Meriden Congregational Church 
by letter with that object in view. 
Before this, however, the church 
had been erected through the etYorts 
of Walter \\>bb. Deacon N. C. 
Sanford, Ezekiel Hall, Reuben Wa- 
terman, I.. Griswold and others. 
This church is of the typical Con- 
gregational style of architecture 
and comprises a wooden building of 
several hundred sittings. The first 
pastor was Rev. James A. Clark, who 
served from 1853-55. He was fol- 
lowed by Rev. Jacob Eaton, who was 
installed May 18, 1857 and continued 
until the breaking out of the Civil 
War, in 1861, when he left for the 
front as chaplain of the 7th Conn. 
Vols. During his pastorate an im- 
portant revival was held in the church 
which resulted in the acquisition of 
thirty-two new members.. Following 
his pastorate for several years, and 
until 1870, the church had no regular 



pastor but in that year J. Howe X'oice 
was installed and afterwards served 
as pastor until April 3, 1873. At that 
time the Xew Haven East Associa- 
tion supplied the pulpit with acting 
pastors until the regular preaching" 
services were finally discontinued. The 
last three acting pastors were E. B. 
Crane, 1876-7. M. C. Wood, 1880, 
and J. G. Griswold, 1882. Elias San- 
ford and B. C. Eastman were the 
last deacons and Daniel H. Willard 
was the treasurer and superintendent 
of the last Sunday school. The 
church property is still kept in ex- 
cellent condition, and although there 
is no immediate prospect of suffi- 
ciently large congregations to war- 
rant regular services being held 
there, it is not at all improbable that 
the growth of the town may warrant 
such services at some time in the 
future, wlien this fine church proper- 
tv mav again become used as intend- 
ed by the God fearing ]ico]>le who 
caused its erection. 



208 



A CENTURY OF MERIUEN. 



SCHOOLS 



BY WILLIAM P. KELLY, 



The district system of school ad- 
ministration was early devised in Mer- 
iden to place the responsibility and 
control of the schools directly in the 
hands of the surrounding neighbor- 
hood ; but to prevent deterioration 
through their isolation, both town and 
state could legislate for the districts 
in some matters, and the officers of 
each had a deciding voice in its af- 
fairs. 

The voters of each district elected 
each year a committee of one or more 
men to hire the teacher and to attend 
to the business matters generally ; but 
the voters of the town at large elected 
a board of school visitors who ap- 
proved of the qualifications of teach- 
ers and of the character of the school 
houses and text books. 

The board of school visitors through 
its acting school visitor performed the 
duties of a superintendent, visiting the 
schools, making recommendations to 
the district committees, and passing 
judgment on the work of the teachers. 

The recommendations of the acting 
school visitors often had great weight 
with the district committees, especially 
when accompanied by a threat to 
withhold public money. In several 
successive reports during the seventies 
they publicly rebuked the Farms dis- 
trict for the disreputable condition of 
its school house, which in the report 



of 1877 is characterized as "the poor- 
est school building in the town and 
enough, of itself, to demoralize a 
school." Finally on May 24, 1879) 
they officially notified the district com- 
mittee that "no further appropriations 
of school money would be made until 
the accommodations were made satis- 




THE OLD CORNER SCHOOL. 

factory." On September 15, 1879, 
that district had a new Iniilding rea ly 
for occupancy. 

The acting school visitor receive 1 a 
small salary, but the others, both vis- 
itors and committees, served withciut 
pav. In most matters, as the district 
committee controlled the purse, the 
authoritv of the school visitor was lini- 



SCHOOLS. 



209 



ited to giving advice tliat was too often 
unheeded. The board of visitors met 
infrequently, leaving nearly everything 
to the acting visitor. Indeed, their 
|)o\ver was so limited that there w'as 
little occasion to meet. The district 
committees had real control. 

The next logical step in perfecting 
the administrative system was to do 
away with the division of authority 
and responsibility, and have one or- 



committee of twelve men. They 
chose an executive officer with the title 
of superintendent who was entrusted 
with the expert supervision of the 
schools. Though the vote to consol- 
idate was carried by the slender ma- 
jority of five, the ])lan has grown in 
popular favor as the benefits have been 
more clearly seen. 

There have been three su])erinten- 
(lents: Charles M. Williams, 1896 to 




Phot.) l).v R. S. Godfrey. 

OLD MliKIDEX INSTITUTE. 



ganization and a snigle govermng 
board for the town. This change was 
made in Meriden at the close of the 
school year in 1896. Sixtv-six differ- 
ent men held office in the districts that 
year, and if some men had not lu-ld 
more than one office the number would 
have been larger. 

In the fall of 1896 the town assumed 
the property and indebtedness of the 
districts, and elected a town school 
f4 



1898; Albert B. Mather. 1898 to 1905; 
and William P. Kelly, since August I, 
1905. 

The ]jresenl members of the school 
committee are: C. H. S. Davis, chair- 
man ; Homer A. Curtiss, secretary ; 
( linrlcs L. L'pham. treasurer : Thomas 
Kint;", Jolin A. McHugh, James P. 
Piatt. C. E. Stockder, jr.. Xapo- 
leon P. I'^orcier, Thomas .\. Penham, 
M. B. Schenck, Cornelius J. Danaher 



2IO 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



and George J. Stanley. Charles H. 
Wood is the present clerk to the com- 
mittee, and Adelaide R. Pender the 
clerk to the superintendent. 

The consolidation of the districts 
was agitated as early as 1863. At a 
special town meeting that year it was 

"Voted, That the Board of School 
Visitors be instructed to mature a plan 
for the reorganization of the public 
schools and school districts of the 



action in making the schools free will 
be defeated. Our schools should be 
equal as well as free or we shall lose 
the benefits of experience and prog- 
ress." 

The recommendations of the "visi- 
tors" were rejected, but six years later 
the board of visitors at that time re- 
ported that, "the district system as it is 
applied in our town is a hindrance to 
the efficiency of our public schools. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

OLD WEST DISTRICT SCHOOL. 



town, and print the same with their 
next annual report." 

The board of visitors performed the 
duty and reported "That they as- 
sumed this task with pleasure, fully 
aware that the time had come when 
something must be done to render the 
school system of the town more suc- 
cessful — to bring it nearer to the 
standard of perfection, at which we 
aim. and, without which, our previous 



There is an annual suffering of educa- 
tional interests because new and in- 
experienced district committees totally 
leave out of sight the policy of their 
experienced predecessors. There 
should be one system and harmony of 
school work throughout the town." 

Again in 1875 the school visitors 
urged that, "the district system is 
prejudicial to the educational interests 
of our town, and that onlv habit re- 



SCHOOLS. 



211 



tains the former arrangement,"" and 
cites the fact that every year other 
towns are voluntarily abandoning it. 
In April, 1877, a proposition to con- 
solidate the six central districts, which 
were practically within the city limits, 
Mas defeated. 

In 1896, after more than thirty years 
of waiting, the town voted by the 
slender majority of five to consolidate. 

The first town school committee was 



me authority for stating that there is 
simply no comparison between the 
present system and the district sys- 
tem." 

THE DISTRICTS. 

The history of the districts is vir- 
tually the history of the Meriden pub- 
lic schools, and some facts concerning 
their beginnings may prove interest- 
inof. 





/[' 




^^H^lii 


> 


f- ^fl 






^^^^^^H / 'Sif 


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• f V "l^^l 






^^K&jjui 


1 


^i^li^^H 




^H^^H^^9 


^^^^r ' ~ j 




T^^ 




a 


I 





IMioto liy R. S. Godfrey. 

OLD CENTER SCHOOL. 



confident that taxpayers had given 
proof of their wisdom in voting for 
this measure, and pointed out that, 
notwithstanding the employment of a 
superintendent and drawing teacher, 
the expense to the town was no 
greater. 

Mr. Mather, in referring to the 
value received for the money ex- 
pended, said in 1902: "Over thirty 
years' experience in these schools gives 



Broad street, running north and 
south, and Main street, running east 
and west, fixed in a general way the 
Xortheast, Southeast. Xorthwest and 
Southwest districts. The first two al- 
ways retained these names, tliough the 
names Old Road and Farms were sub- 
so(juently applied to the last two. lly 
1 79 1, fifteen years before the town was 
incorporated the East. Center and 
West districts had been added. In 



212 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



1837 the North Center, the Corner and 
Hanover had been added. The name 
North Center disappeared, however, 
about 1865. The Railroad district, as 
its name impHes, followed the open- 
ing of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. 
about 1840, and the Prattsville dis- 
trict was set apart in 1849. The 
West district in 1850 took the name of 
Ives, and in 1870 the name of North- 
west, no doubt to distinguish it from 



Comm*®^ Appointed to Set out the 
Several School Districts in s*^ Society 

which are as follows Viz 

I. The Southeast District begin- 
ning at the Southeast corner at the 
old Society line Running north on the 
east Road half way between John 
Halls & Phineas Halls. Then west- 
ardly to the old Burying Yard, then 
South to the first line, including Asa- 
hel Yale, the Aliddle Road to be in- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

OLD SOUTH CENTER SCHOOL. 



the new West district organized be- 
tween it and the Corner. 

Although no one could now accu- 
rately locate the original districts by 
the following description, the vote of 
an adjourned meeting of the society 
held March 7, 1791, is here reproduced 
because of its quaint character. 
At an Adjourned Society Meeting 

March 7th, 1791 : 

Voted to Except the Report of the 



eluded to the head of Sd. Road near 

Lieut. Jonathan Yales 

2 East District — beginning on the 
north line of the South east running 
West to the head of the lain near 
Lieut. Jonathan Yales, extending 
north on the East Road A quarter of A 
Mile north of Amasa Ives ; including 
the Road by Daniel Halls & John 
Yeamons to Elnathan Ives including 
Sd Ives 



SCHOOLS. 



213 



3. Xorth East District beginning- 
on the north line of the East District, 
Running north to the north hne. then 
westardly to the Bridge West of the 
\\^° Lois Houghs, running South to 
the Road that goeth to Capt. Shalors 



on the Road to the w^'" Louis Hough 

as far as the Bridge, 

5. West District, begiiming at the 
House where James Cobon L'sd to 
Hve. inchuHng al West of tlie Harbor 
Brook to Cheshire Hn 




HIGH SCHOOL. 



then A cros to the foot of the (ireat 

Hill South of John I'.arnses 

4. Xorth west District, beginning 
at the north line, extending South to 
Benj" .Merriams including Sd Mcr- 
riani. West to the blew Hills l-.ast 



6 South west District, beginning at 
the old Society line bounding East on 
the South-east District running north 
to Asaph Mitchcls then west by Israel 
Halls jr: to ihc Country road, not 
includiuu" Sd llall. then runninu' north 



214 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



to the Dog-way So called including all 
East of the Harbour Brook 

7 The remaining part of the So- 
ciety to constetute the Center District. 

Test. Nath" B. Johnson, Clerk. 

The first schoolhouse in the Pratts- 
ville district, built about 1849, was a 
plain two-story building on the cor- 
ner of North Broad and Camp streets. 
The present building was erected to 



The old Center school stood on what 
is now High street, back of the old 
Baptist church, at the northwest cor- 
ner of the Broad street cemetery. It 
probably served as a schoolhouse for 
fifty-seven years or until the South 
Center was built about 1863, on Cur- 
tis street, when it was used a while for 
storage purposes, and then demol- 
ished. The South Center accommo- 




Photo by K. S. Godfrey. 

CHURCH STREET SCHOOL. 



the north of the old one, in 1875, at 
a cost of $23,573. It contains eight 
school rooms and two playrooms. In 
1864 this school registered fifty-two 
pupils, with two male teachers ; in 
1905, the registration was 321, with 
nine female teachers. In 1902 the 
name was changed to North Broad 
street school by which it has been 
known ever since. 



dated the children of the south end 
until the brick schoolhouse on Parker 
avenue was erected in 1869. The 
North Center, which stood on the cor- 
ner of Broad and Wall streets, was 
used by children from the north end 
of the district. This building later 
gave way to a better one, still stand- 
ing on School street. The Parker 
avenue schoolhouse and the Broad 



SCHOOLS. 



2Ii 



street annex gathered in all the chil- 
dren and the old names of South and 
North Center disappeared. "The 
house on Parker avenue," says an old 
report, "is altogether too high. There 
are nearly lOO steps from the street 
in front to the principal's platform in 
Xumher 8." This building is now- 
closed on account of its unsanitary 
condition. In 1864 the combined 
enumeration of the schools in the Cen- 



house in whicli the first four grades 
are taught. The registration for 1905 
was 132, with four teachers. 

The eight-room Liberty street school 
was built in 1894 as a primary school. 
When the I'arker avenue school was 
condemned in 1904, it was made a 
grammar school also. The school reg- 
istered 315 pupils in 1905 under a male 
])rincipal and eight assistants. 

The Hanover school appears on the 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

CEXTRAL GUAM.MAK SCIlOOI,. 



ter district was 176, with three teach- 
ers. In 1897 the name Center is dis- 
placed in the report ])y the name Par- 
ker avenue school. 

South r>road street school was built 
as an annex to the Parker avenue 
school in 1884. It has always been 
used for the primary grades and been 
supervised by the ])rincipal of the Lib- 
erty street school, H. D. Ileebc. 
There are four rooms in this school- 



list in 1837, l)ut the date of the first 
schoolhouse cannot be accuratel\- 
fixed, although it was before 1844. It 
stood a little cast of the present build- 
ing and had two rooms. When the 
new school was erected in 1868 the 
old one was removed to Cutlery ave- 
nue. The new school cost $ii,00D. 
A two-room addition was made in 
1905. when there were 163 pupils un- 
der six female teachers. 



2l6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



There seems to be no trace of the 
Corner district until 1830 when its 
first schoolhouse stood on the corner 
of East Main and State streets. It is 
spoken of as being "surrounded by a 
swamp," and "nesthng among the wil- 
lows," by elderly people who attended 
it. In 1836 it was removed to a two- 
story building on the north side of 
Church street, near the southeast cor- 
ner of the present Church street school 



it still stands near Orange street, and 
is now used as a dwelling. In 1864 the 
Corner District school had enrolled 
275 pupils, with three teachers, and an 
old report has this to say of the insti- 
tution : "This is the only thoroughly 
graded school in the town which re- 
ceives children in the elements, and 
takes them through the successive 
stages of the common and higher Eng- 
lish branches and also enables them to 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

WEST DISTRICT SCHOOL. 



grounds. In 1853 this building was 
purchased by Noah Linsley and made 
into a dwelling. H. D. Smith and 
David N. Camp kept a high and select 
school from 1847 ^o 1853 in a buildinc; 
erected by the former. The Meriden 
Institute, as it was known, was bought 
by the district and enlarged and used 
vmtil a brick building was put up in 
front of it in 1868. The "Institute" 
was then moved to Kinsf street, where 



avail themselves of the facilities of a 
classical education." The registration 
for 1905 for this school, which since 
1897 has been entered in town reports 
as the Church street school, was 576, 
under a male principal and fourteen 
assistant teachers. 

The Willow and King street schools 
were built as annexes of the Corner 
district, the former in 1883, the latter 
in 1887. The Willow street school 



SCHOOLS. 



217 



numbers 153 and has four teachers 
working in the primary grades. In 
the King street school there are 326 
pupils with eight rooms and seven 
grades. 

Lewis avenue school, an eight- 
room building, was erected by the Cor- 
ner district in 1893 at a cost of $10,- 
333.44. The rooms are larger than 
those in the older schools, the black- 
boards put in are of solid slate, and the 



elers on foot or horseback. The dis- 
trict was first known as the Northwest, 
and the change to Old Road was made 
in honor of the historic thoroughfare 
which passed through it. The first 
schoolhouse stood on the corner of 
Hicks and Colony streets, where the 
second was built in 1843. The first 
schoolhouse was moved and made into 
a dwelling on liritannia street — it is 
still standing. The second is at i)res- 





'Sl^^ 


'r V 


r 


m 


s 


^BfiiMBBMBBM^&iitfi'*^'^^c*~'' ■ 


■■■■^H 



Photo by R. S. Godt'iey. 

XOKl'll (()\A)S\ SCHOOL. 



time is kept l)y electrical clocks. Dur- 
ing the first year three rooms in the 
building were rented b\' the West dis- 
trict and one was occu])ic(l by the Cor- 
ner district. In 1905 it had 284 pu- 
pils and eight teachers. 

The ( )1(1 Road district took its name 
from the fact that the old colonial road 
from Hartford to Xew Haven lay 
through its land. ( )riginally the road 
was nothing but a bri<lK' jiatli for trav- 



ent in use 1)\ llic bireanns Co. The 
new schoolhouse was built a few rods 
east of the old location, in 1875, at a 
cost of $15,000. In iS()4 there were 
si.xtv-five ])U1m1s enrolled, with two 
teachers : in 1905. there were 375. with 
a male i)rincipal and nine teachers. In 
the re])ort of 1897 this school was first 
called the Xorth Colon\' .school. 

The Railroad district was not or- 
ganized until after the o])cning of 



2l8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



the Hartford and New Haven rail- 
road, and its first schoolhouse was 
probably not erected until 1853. In 
1868 this was enlarged and made into 
a two-story building. In 1875 a new 
building was put up on the south and 
this was enlarged in 1885. In Air. 
Pettee's report of 1890 he says of the 
district: "But the school buildings of 
this district are badly located, and the 
buildings themselves are discreditable 



rooms on each floor open, giving ex- 
cellent ventilation and light for the 
corridors. The same plan was adopted 
for the Liberty street school. In 1864 
the Railroad school registered forty- 
two pupils, with two teachers. In 
1905 there were no in the Franklin 
street school, with four teachers and 
235 in the Columbia street school, with 
six teachers. 

The date of the first schoolhouse in 




Photos by R. S. Godfrey. 

LIBERTY STREET SCHOOL. 



to the district. I hope that soon bet- 
ter buildings will be provided and a 
better location found for them." His 
suggestion was carried out in 1894, 
when the Franklin and Columbia street 
schoolhouses were erected at a cost 
of $19,299.81. The Columbia street 
school is of Iwo stories and has a cen- 
tral octagorr.l hall extending from the 
first floor to the large skylight in the 
roof ; from this hall the four school- 



the East district is not given in 
old records, but it was some time pre- 
vious to 1 8 14. It stood on the north 
side of the Middletown road, on the 
corner by Almon Hall's. It is not 
known what became of the building. 
Later another schoolhouse was used 
until the easterly of the present East 
buildings was erected in 1843 ; this 
was followed b}- the w-esterly in 1846. 
In 1864 the number registered was 



SCHOOLS. 



219 



sevcnt}-four : in 1905, forty-three. Tlie 
miniber of teachers is the same now 
as in 1864 — two. 

The Northeast district is one of the 
original seven that appear upon tlie 
town list of 1814. Its first school- 
house is still standing near the origi- 
nal location on Bee street, one-fourth 
of a mile north of the present school 
house. It is used as a dwelling. The 
new ht)\is.e was built in 1868 at a cost 



house was built, on the north side of 
Johnson avenue. About 1850 this- 
was moved to the corner of Johnson 
avenue and Spruce street, and in 1870 
the present building was erected. The 
district dropped the name West and 
took that of Ives about 1850, and in 
1870 this was changed to the Xorth- 
west. This school was discontinued 
in October. 1904. The building was 
sold and is now used as a dwelling. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

KING STKEliT SCHOOL. 



of $1,500. In 1888 orders were is- 
sued to improve the house and out- 
buildings. This was done and the 
value of the property was considerably 
increased in consequence. It is now 
closed, and the pupils are conveyed to 
the Xorth Broad street school. The 
building has been sold and is used as 
a dwelling. 

One of the original seven districts 
was the West, where the first .school- 



The \\'est Main street school was 
begun in 1868 as a four-room build- 
ing. By 1890 it had been twice en- 
larged, making it the most unsightly 
school building in town. In 1864 there 
were ninety-two scholars, with two 
teachers. The report of that year 
says : "The large number of scholars 
made it necessary to divide the school 
into two departiuents and the plan was 
continued until last spring. The older 



220 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



children attended in the school house 
and the younger at the house of Almon 
Andrews." In 1905 it had ten rooms 
under a male principal and ten as- 
sistants. 

The Farms district was called the 
Southwest when the town was incor- 
porated in 1806 and as late as 1837. 
It appears on the records just once as 
"Falls Plain." The first schoolhouse 
was built in 1800 and repaired and en- 



trict. It was built about 1800, and origi- 
nally stood some twelve rods southeast 
of the present location, to which it was 
moved in 1847 ! it was enlarged and 
refurnished during the eighties. In 
1864 the register recorded twenty, with 
two teachers ; in 1905 there were 
twelve pupils, with one teacher. 

FINANCES. 

The first schools were inexpensive 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

FRANKLIN STREET SCHOOL. 



larged in 1869. In 1878 the school 
visitors condemned the building which 
was moved ofl:' and a new one built in 
1879, at a cost of $1,500. This dis- 
trict drew about as many children 
from Wallingford as from ]^Ieriden. 
The school was closed in 1905, the 
building sold, and the children trans- 
ported to other schools. 

The oldest schoolhouse in town, 
without doubt, is in the Southeast dis- 



afi:'airs, corresponding to the simplicity 
of the life of the times. The terms 
were short, the attendance was small 
and irregular, and the teachers made 
little preparation for their work and 
received small pay. The schools shared 
in the general progress and have be- 
come more elaborate and costly as the 
people have demanded more for their 
children and have had the means to 
pay for it. 



SCHOOLS. 



221 



The system of accounting is still 
■>L>ine\vhat complex. The first selcct- 
nian pays all the bills from the appro- 
priation as fast as they are approved 
bv the school committee, but turns over 
the money for salaries in a lump sum 
each month to the clerk of the school 
committee, who attends to paying the 
employees, who are on salary. 

The treasurer of the school commit- 
tee receives the library grant from the 



Thus, at the ])resent time, four dif- 
ferent i)ersc)ns receive, disburse, and 
account for the money used by the 
schools. 

The town voted in 1863 ^o increase 
the educational tax from three-tenths 
to one and one-twentieth of a mill 
on a dollar so as to cover all 
the expenses of the several dis- 
tricts, and thus do away with rate 
bills and district taxes. The motion. 



4 







Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

WILLOW STREET SCHOOL. 



State of $270 a year and a like amount 
of town funds from the first selectman. 
These are increased by a tew tuition 
fees and other small sums. His re- 
ceipts for 1904-5 were $848.58 and his 
expenditures for books and apparatus 
were $776.74. 

The principal of the High school 
collects tuition from non-residents, and 
with it buys books for the High school 
library. 



carried in town meeting largol}' 
through the iniluence of Rev. John 
I'arker, Dr. (irove II. Wilson and 
Welcome \\. lienham, declared that 
"all the public schools of the town 
shall be free, and the exi)ense of said 
schools, heretofore defrayed frfim the 
avails of rate bills, shall be paid by the 
lown."" It thus appears that before 
that time every parent who .sent a child 
to school paid, or was supposed to pay. 



222 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



tuition. "The experiment of free 
schools met with universal favor, the 
attendance increased, the finances were 
more simply and economically man- 
aged, and the experience of the year 
(1863-4) shows that this is the only 
just and proper method of securing to 
all the benefits of a good education." 
— Report of 1864. 

The total amount of public money 
expended that year was $5,919.41 or 



dentals. When buildings were to be 
erected, altered or repaired, the dis- 
trict financed the improvements alone. 
For this purpose they had a complete 
fiscal organization with collectors, 
treasurers and auditors. While it was 
simple and quite satisfactory to those 
concerned, the records were often kept 
in a fragmentary way, and only a few 
were turned over to the selectmen 
when the town consolidated. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

NORTH BROAD STREET SCHOOL. 



about $4.11 per scholar enumerated. 
The basis on which this was dis- 
tributed to the districts is not stated. 

For years the school visitors and se- 
lectmen acted as a joint board of 
finance for the town, and recom- 
mended an appropriation by the town 
sufficient to provide each district with 
funds enough for the ordinary run- 
ning expenses, such as teachers' and 
janitors' wages, fuel and minor inci- 



The year i879-'8o is typical. In 
that year the town distributed to the 
treasurers of the various districts $29.- 
647.23. In addition thereto the dis- 
tricts raised by means of district taxes 
$11,877.17, by loans $2,053, and from 
other sources $414.43, or about half as 
much as the town appropriated. 

The state has for many years an- 
nually distributed money to the towns 
on the basis of the number of children 



SCHOOLS. 



223 



enumerated. The sale of the Western 
Reserve lands yielded over $2,000,000. 
This was invested for the benefit of 
the schools. In 1871 it yielded $1.20 
per scholar enumerated. By 1891, be- 
cause of the increase in the number of 
children enumerated and the decline in 
interest rates, it yielded but seventy- 
five cents per scholar. The state, 
however, appropriated in that year 
from the civil list the amount of $1.50 



which should be forever devoted to 
school purposes. The income In this 
town varies ; in 1864 it was $230.20, 
in 1905 it was $179.44. 

When the district system ceased, in 
1896, the town school committee as- 
sumed financial control. Levi E. Coe, 
Benjamin Page and W. A. Miles, none 
of whom were on the town school 
committee, were appointed by the 
town to appraise the property of the 




Photo by R. S. Godtrev. 

SOUTH BROAD STREET SCHOOL. 



per scholar. This sum of $2.25 per 
scholar is still received annually by the 
town. 

In 1836 the finances of the United 
States were in such a flourishing con- 
dition that the national treasury over- 
flowed to the amount of $28,000,000. 
Congress lent this to the several states. 
Connecticut deposited her share, $763,- 
661. among the towns, creating in each 
a Town Deposit Fund, the proceeds of 



school districts. They reported the 
total value of the property to be $234.- 
987.42 though the district committees 
in the same year had set it at $413,548. 
The town assumed the indebtedness of 
the districts, $61,010.45, against whicli 
were ready assets amounting to $2,- 
488.91. 

Including the income from all these 
sources the school committee had 
$115,980 to expend for the year 1905- 



224 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



06. $10,000 of this was a special ap- 
propriation to buy the town's first sup- 
ply of free text books. 

SCHOOLHOUSES. 

The Southeast school at the corner 
of Miller and Paddock avenues is the 
oldest schoolhouse in town. It is said 
to have been built in 1800. It was en- 
larged in 1885 and is still in use. 

The second type of buildings, larger 



twin school houses of the East dis- 
trict standing side by side, and built 
in 1843 S"d in 1846, belong to this 
period. 

In i860 the population of Meriden 
was 7,426; in 1870 it was 10,571. 
Between these years came a great re- 
vival in schoolhouse erection, due, no 
doubt, to the rapid increase in popu- 
lation. During this period the Center 
and Corner districts erected four-storv 



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Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

COLUMBIA STREET SCHOOL. 



and more comfortable, may still be 
recognized, though used now as 
dwellings, sometimes on their orig- 
inal sites, as in the case of the stone 
structure on Allen avenue belonging 
to the West district, sometimes moved 
to other lots. The South Center 
school, a roomy, frame building which 
stood at 12 Curtis street, was moved 
by its present owner to Hobart street, 
and converted into a tenement. The 



brick buildings of about the same 
type, while the West and Hanover 
erected two-story buildings of a type 
afterward followed by the Old Road 
district. Districts seemed to vie with 
each other in the improvement of their 
property. Parents became much more 
eager to keep children in school in the 
new buildings and school was made 
more inviting to the children. 

The Prattsville, or North Broad 



SCHOOLS. 



225 



Street school, was built in 1873. and 
was a model eight-room building 
which might well have been imitated. 
To meet the next wave of increase 
in the early 8o's the West district made 
an unsightly addition to its frame 
building, while the other districts be- 
gan the erection of substantial brick 
houses, two stories high, and having 
two or four rooms on a floor. The 
Did Road and West schools originally 



In the early 90's came another build- 
ing movement. Though the Lewis 
avenue school followed the lines of 
King street, the Columbia street and 
Liberty street schools were of a 
slightly different tyj)e. introducing the 
central octagonal corridor and the en- 
closed pupils' wardrobes. 

One schoolhouse was acquired by 
purchase. In 1903 the proprietors of 
the German-American school sold to 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

LEWIS A\L-\UE SCHOOL 



had a i)air of rooms on each floor, with the town their four-room brick build- 
a corridor and stairwav space between ing in the rear of Liberty street and 
them. They were subse(iuentl\- en- 
larged by the addition of another pair 
of rooms on each floor, at right angles 
to the first, and making use of the same 
corridors and stairs. Tliis resulte<l in 
a building in the sha])e of a cross. 
The substantial brick buildings for 



the Central ( iraniniar sclioo] \\;is or- 
ganized in it. 

The ouh sclioolli(iu>c erected un- 
der town, ratlier than district or pri- 
vate management, is the Meriden 
High school. Into this lieautiful and 
imposing structure were incoq^orated 



the Willow street. South I'.road street the best ideas of beauty and utility of 
ami King street belong to this period. design, and the best materials and 



226 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



workmanship. It was erected in 1885 
but the interior was not entirely com- 
pleted until the needs of the school 
required it in 1890. 

The town now owns eighteen build- 
ings, nine of which are brick. Ten 
have eight rooms or more ; one has six 
rooms ; there are four with four rooms, 
and three with only one room. 

The greatest event in the history of 
schoolhouse building was the town 



sanitary condition of all the present 
houses. 

LEADERS. 

In comparison with the magnitude 
of the present day interests the schools 
of sixty years ago were small affairs, 
yet Meriden was not then, and has at 
no time since been lacking in men to 
labor for the improvement of her 
schools. David N. Camp, than whom 




Photo by U. S. Godfrey. 

EAST DISTRICT SCHOOL. 



vote of 1905 to issue bonds to the 
amount of $150,000 for the purpose of 
erecting modern buildings to meet the 
present pressing needs. The contract 
is already let for a twelve-room gram- 
mar school on West Main street near 
Windsor avenue, and a lot facing City 
Park has been bought for a similar 
purpose in the northern part of the 
city. The year 1905 marked the be- 
ginning of a movement to improve the 



no living educator in Connecticut is 
held in more tender esteem, conducted 
a high and select school here from 
1847 to 1853. 

The Rev. John Parker was a 
staunch supporter of the public 
schools, and led the movement which 
made them free to rich and poor alike 
in 1863. In 1 87 1 Dr. C. H. S. Davis, 
then a rising young physician, came 
on the board of school visitors, and 



SCHOOLS. 



227 



served as acting school visitor for the 
next four years with a zeal that un- 
fortunately proved too costly for his 
practice to long continue. His report 
of 1875 is full of information and 
deals with the professional side of the 
schools as well as the material. Not 
one of the important steps in the for- 
ward movements of the following 
thirty years did he fail to advocate. 
It was the decided misfortune of the 



visitors were luinisters. Two men 
of this calling will always be insepa- 
rabl\ associated with the educational 
history of Meriden. Rev. John T. 
Pettee, who was acting school visitor 
from 1876 to 1896, with the exception 
of the years between 1880 and 1887, 
when the leadership fell to Rev. J. H. 
Chapin. These two men had the su- 
pervision of the schools in hand for 
twenty \ears. The\- were men of 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

HANOVER SCHOOL. 



town that it failed to see the value of 
his proposals at that time. He re- 
mained on the board of school visitors 
until that body was abolished in 1896. 
and was the only member to be elected 
to the new town school committee, 
of which he has ever since been chair- 
man. 

Clergymen always figured promi- 
nently in the lists of school visitors. 
In the year 1857 seven of the nine 



good judgnK'nl in practical atiairs 
who held the confidence, not only of 
the teachers under them, but of the 
taxpayers and voters. The labors of 
Dr. Chapin in securing a town High 
school entitle him to be remembered 
as one of the founders. 

On September 4. 1869, Albert 
B. ]\Iather began his duties in the 
newly organized high school depart- 
ment of the newlv built Corner school. 



228 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



He was soon made the head of the 
school and later of the subordinate 
schools which grew up in that dis- 
trict. At the time of his elevation to 
the superintendency in 1898 there were 
1,000 children in daily attendance to 
the thirty-six teachers working under 
him. For the next seven years he was 
superintendent of schools, but the 
twenty-nine years he spent at the Cor- 
ner school enabled him as a teacher 



ber of men who thus became actively 
interested in their welfare. After a 
man has served a term in office he ap- 
preciates more the work of others. 
Rev. J. H. Farns worth was an able 
and progressive man, giving much 
time and thought to the duties of his 
office as school visitor. Rev. Abra- 
ham Norwood was an aggressive man 
on the board for a short time. Dr. C. 
A. Graeber and Dr. X. Nickerson were 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

SOUTHEAST DISTRICT SCHOOL. 



and a man to put his deepest impress 
on the life of the community. 

To mention all the names which 
deserve mention here is manifestly 
impossible. Many of the best pro- 
fessional and business men of the 
town have served the schools in one 
capacity or another, usually on the dis- 
trict committees. This was good for 
the schools because of the large num- 



active and influential members of the 
same board. Dr. Andrew W. Tracy 
served as member of both boards, 
school visitors and school committee, 
for twenty years, with insight and 
force. 

EVENING SCHOOLS. 

The evening schools have had a 
varied career. During the winter ot 



SCHOOLS. 



229 



1S72-1873 there were 124 registered 
pupils. The school \vas continued the 
next \car, hut in 1874 and 1875 the 
selectmen refused the use of the room 
and the project was dropped for sev- 
eral years. In the winters of 1882 
and of 1883 Edward C. W'heatley. of 
the West district, conducted a school 
without any assistance from the town. 
In 1886 the state bearan to aid the 



even made up by overdraft. Men re- 
ceived v$2.50 a night and women $1.50 
for their services as teachers. 

The next year the average attend- 
ance dropped to 102 per night, and the 
next year to forty-five : the following 
year the project was given up. In 
1893 the state required the towns of 
more than 10,000 population to main- 
tain evening schools and appropriated 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

ST. rose's p.\K()ciii.\l school. 



tf)wns, with the result that in the win- 
ter of 1886 and 1887 the evening- 
schools had a decided boom. 498 pu- 
pils were registered and the average 
attendance for fifty evenings was 24<). 
This was more than double that in 
Hartford, one-third more than in Xew 
Haven, while other cities in the state 
were left far behind. The town ap- 
])roi)riated mone\' most liberalK and 



$3.00 ])er ])ui)il in average membership 
for 100 nights. The committee went 
so far as to recommend the erection 
of a special building for the evening 
school, but it had no support. I'uder 
a threat of mandannis the school was 
o|)cned on the 27th of December. .Mrs. 
.\dele S. r.ooth and her son. Paul (". 
r>ooth, with the help of scholars from 
her own private school, young ladies 



230 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



from the High school and even boys 
from our Central Grammar main- 
tained the school for thirty-seven 
evenings with an average attendance 
of ninety. Mrs. Booth conducted this 
school in the Town hall for two sea- 
sons, and after that at her own house, 
at the small expense to the town of 
$300. 

From that time until the fall of 1905 
the school was conducted at Mrs. 



338 pupils were registered, represent- 
ing twenty different nationalities. The 
average attendance for the fifty nights 
was ninety-five. 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 

The first schools in Meriden were 
private schools, and until 1863 even 
the public schools were not entirely 
free. Whether because some people 
supposed that the public schools were 





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Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

ST. Laurent's parochial school. 



Booth's, at the Pequod Business Col- 
lege, and in the basement of St. John's 
Lutheran church. The small appropria- 
tion and the limited quarters inter- 
fered much with the usefulness of the 
schools. The use of the High school 
building and the appointment of a 
strong corps of eight teachers from the 
day schools in 1905 and 1906 proved 
a popular feature, and made the sea- 
son the most successful of recent vears ; 



inferior, or were too proud to edu- 
cate their children at the public ex- 
pense, the idea long prevailed that 
children of the better class should be 
taught in private schools. 

In 1869 there were four such 
schools — Miss Landfear's, Miss Hin- 
man's. Miss Plumb's and Mrs. Aug- 
ur's. The Meriden Institute flour- 
ished from 1847 to 1853. It was lo- 
cated in a building erected bv H. 



SCHOOLS. 



231 



D. Smith near the site of the present 
Church street school. 

On Aug. 17, 1848, through the ef- 
I'orts of General Walter I'ooth, Sam- 
uel Vale and Rev. John I'arker, the 
Meriden Academical Association" 
was formed, and on the 23d the "Ar- 
ticles of Agreement" were deposited 
with the secretary of state, thus giving 
the organization a legal standing. 
Eighty shares at $25 each, taken by 
over fifty subscribers, provided the 
$2,000 necessar}' to buy and put in 
order the old Baptist church, then 
standing on the northeast corner of 
the Broad street burying ground. 

The stockholders never received any 
cash dividends, were once assessed 
seventy-five cents a share, and several 
times took collections at the annual 
stockholders' meetings to make up 
small deficits. The rent charged the 
teacher varied from nothing to $25 a 
quarter, 'i'here was a fairly good in- 
come from rentals of the basement for 
business purposes, and the hall for 
traveling shows like "Tom Thuml)" 
and the "Indian Exhibition" in 1849; 
for party caucuses, religious meetings 
of Milleritcs and Universalists, lodge 
meetings of the Odd Fellows, singing 
schools and other events. The Ly- 
ceum had free use provided it fur- 
nished the oil which was then $r.i2 a 
gallon. 

The first officers were as follows: 
Sanniel Vale, president ; D. R. Wright. 
.secretary ; Russell Coc. treasurer ; (icn- 
eral Walter Booth. Rev. Harvey Mil- 
ler. Rev. A. A. Stevens, Rev. John 
Parker and Linus Birdsev, trustees. 



-Most of these men served throughout 
the life of the Academy. Linus Bird- 
sey was always in charge of the rent- 
als and repairs. 

The trustees engaged a man teacher 
each year who got what he could by 
charging tuitiim. lie had little or no 
apparatus to work w itli. and only such 
books as he might own himself. Some 
of the teachers were M. B. ^Nloore 
('49), James Atkins ("53), Mr. Ross 
(■57, "58), Mr. Wilder CGi), Mr. 
Jewett ("62), Miss Landfear ('64-'69). 

In 1869, after twenty-one years' ex- 
istence, the building was sold, the 
school being no longer able to live in 
competition with the new Center 
school. It was moved to Twiss street 
where it is now used as a dwelling. 

The school of ]\Irs. A. S. Booth, 
conducted at the lower end of Olive 
street, belongs to a later periotl. In 
the year 1894, in pupils came under 
her instruction. She still teaches 
many ])rivate pupils. 

In 1879, through the efforts of 
])rominent Germans who wished that 
their language might become a part 
of the education of their children, the 
German-American School Association 
was formed. Some of the incorporat- 
ors were: August Schmelzer. .August 
and Henry Hirschfeld. Charles lleine- 
niann, .Albert Patzer and I'eter .Maeur- 
er. The school was organized by Mr. 
and Mrs. IIenr\ A. Koeth. and con- 
ducted by them in a substantial l)rick 
building until the school was discon- 
tinued in i<K'.V In that year the town 
j)urchased the Imilding. and has since 
used it for ilie Central Grammar 



232 



A CENTURV OF MEKIDEN. 



school. The school was very sviccess- 
fnl and generall}' had from sixty to 
I GO pupils. 

Although a few children are pri- 
vately instructed at the present time, 
there is no private school of any con- 
siderable size. 

Church schools have been a prom- 
inent feature in the educational life of 
Meriden from a very early date. Of 
the five Catholic schools St. Rose's is 
the oldest. It was started in 1855 in 
the basement of the church at the cor- 
ner of Broad and Olive streets. In 
i860 it was removed to the basement 
of the present church, and in 1872 the 
school occupied a wooden building, 
first on Liberty street, ' which was 
moved to the rear of the present build- 
ing. As the parish grew a beautiful 
brick building was erected on the 
church property on Center street in 
1874. The sisters came to Meriden 
in 1872, previous to which the teach- 
ing was conducted by lay workers. 

In 1904 the growth of this denomi- 
nation necessitated the building of an- 
other church, when St. Joseph's was 
erected and a school connected was 
opened in the brick building on West 
Main street, between Butler and South 
Grove, formerly used as a chapel. In- 
struction which covers the first six 
vears of school life is now given in 
five rooms of St. Joseph's school by 
Sisters of Mercy from the Convent of 
St. Bridget, on Center street. About 
260 pupils are enrolled. Many of 
these pursue their studies in the gram- 
mar grades at the St. Rose's school. 

St. Laurent's, the French Catholic 



church, opened a school prior to 1893. 
In 1894 it had an enrollment of 300. 
At the present time the St. Laurent's 
church has a beautiful two-story brick 
schoolhouse. The school was origi- 
nally conducted in the basement of 
the church, but in 1903 a handsome 
six-room brick school building was 
erected in the rear of the church. Since 
1893 the teaching has been done by 
Sisters of the Assumption, of Xicolet, 
P. 0., of whom eight are now em- 
ployed. The number of pupils en- 
rolled is 309. French grammar and 
Christian doctrine are included in the 
studies taught. The principal is the 
pastor of the church, Rev. A. van 
Oppen. 

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran 
church in June, 1886, through the in- 
defatigable efiforts of the Rev. A. 
Krafift, established a regular day 
school. Its first teacher was A. 
Miller, who temporarily took charge in 
the fall of 1886. A year later, C. 
A. Burgdorf, the present principal, was 
engaged. From twenty-seven pupils 
enrolled in 1886 the attendance has 
steadily encreased until at the present 
time almost 200 scholars are regis- 
tered. There are now, besides the 
principal, three teachers. Miss M. Xa- 
gel and Rev. S. F. Glaser, who teaches 
geography and religion. The school 
occupies the lower story of the church 
edifice. 

St. Mary's German Catholic school 
was opened in September, 1894, with 
Professor Keller as its first teacher; 
he was succeeded in the following year 
by August Saleski. In September, 



SCHOOLS. 



^35 



i8«/', the Sisters of the Congrega- 
tion ot Xotre Dame, IJaltiniore, Md.. 
Mtk charge. The staff at present 
consists of four teachers. 

The St. Stanislaus' PoHsli churcli 
school occupies two rooms in the rear 
portion of the church building' on Jef- 
ferson street. This school was ojKMied 
for the first time in iS<J7 with about 
ninety scholars, the teacher being A. 
Pryba. At the opening of the school 
year in September. 1905, owing" to the 
crowded condition of the school, it was 
necessary to open two rooms instead of 
one. John Xowak was appointed 
teacher of the Polish branches, suc- 
ceeding" A. Pryba, and Teresa 13. Hav- 
ens was appointed teacher of the Eng- 
lish branches. There are now about 
si.xty scholars in each room. 

The total registration in these six 
schools for the year 1904-1905 was 

HKiHKR EDUC.\TIOX. 

Though the need of a central High 
school was urged many years in vain, 
higher education was provided in 
'.arious ways. The Meriden Institute 
previously referred to flourished as 
1 early as 1847. ^^^^ report of 1864 
' mentions an academy as among the 
nourishing private schools, meaning 
die Meriden .Academy on r)road street. 
The erection of the large brick school 
houses of the Corner and Central dis- 
tricts in t868 and 1869 gave an impe- 
tus to the higher education, which had 
already been carried on to a limited 
extent in the sniallcr district schools, 
and virtualK" closed the Acadeniv. 



In 1868 and 1869 a regular high 
school department was organized un- 
der the direction of A. L5. Mather 
at the Corner school, while Rev. j. T. 
I 'ettee taught the senior department 
of the South Center school, which wa^ 
a two-room building. In Air. l*ettee"s 
room the jmpils ranged from young 
men and women who were instructed 
in Latin and Creek, down to little chil- 
dren in primary geography. In that 
year each of the four largest districts 
employed college graduates as princi- 
pals in order to teach the High school 
branches. 

The visitors of that year strongK" 
urged the establishment oi a central 
High school. It seems that years be- 
fore, after furniture had been pur- 
chased to open a town liigh school, 
the vote l)y which it liad l)een estab- 
lished was rescinded on account of the 
expense. The visitor in 1869 main- 
tained that the town would save 
money ])y having a central High 
school with one college man at the 
head, instead of having four (hsirict 
high schools which re(|uired as manv 
high-priced principals. 

The school visitor in the re])ori for 
1880 gives a full account of the high 
school instruction given at the Corner 
and Center schools, and states that pu- 
pils docked to these sch(X)ls from 
other districts in order to get the 
higlier brandies. Still the number 
was small in comparison with the total 
population. The graduation exercises 
of the (."enter school must have been 
very good that year, for he enthusias- 
ticalK" remarks that the essaxs would 



234 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



have done credit to the graduates oi 
Vassar College. 

On the 1 2th of April, 1881, the long 
and weary fight for a town High 
school came to an end, and the town 
voted $3,000 with which to start a 
Central school of not over two rooms 
The promoters probably won the day 
by omitting the objectionable word 
"High." The second floor of the new 
German-American school on Liberty 
street was leased, and under the prin- 
cipalship of Henry S. Pratt, the 
school began. A committee consist- 
ing of Dr. C. H. S. Davis, Dr. J. H. 
Chapin and Saxton B. Little, ex- 
amined the applicants for admission at 
the Corner school on June 30 and July 
I, 1 88 1. Of the seventy-three appli- 
cants fifty-four passed and fifty-one 
entered the school in September. 
Thereafter the higher studies were ex- 
cluded from the district schools. In 
the following year by vote of the joint 
board of selectmen and school visitors 
the name was changed from the New 
Central school to the Meriden High 
school, and thereafter as long as the 
town remained under the district sys- 
tem, the town annually elected a spe- 
cial committee of five members to take 
charge of this school. On the 15th of 
June. 1883. the first class graduated 
with thirteen members. A total of 609 
persons have graduated from the 
school. 

At the annual town meeting in Oc- 
tober, 1883, it was voted to appro- 
priate $50,000 to procure a site and 
erect a suitable building for the High 
school ; the sum was later increased to 



$80,000. The lot, on the corner of 
Catlin and Liberty streets, was pur- 
chased at a cost of $19,500. Work 
was begun upon the building in 1884, 
and in December, 1885, it was for- 
mally opened. There have been 
three principals : Henry S. Pratt was 
placed in charge of the High school 
when it was opened in 1881. In 1888 
he was succeeded by Simeon T. Frost 
who taught until 1900, when he re- 
signed, and the position was given to 
his assistant, Willis J. Prouty, the 
present principal. 

The dedication of the High school 
building was a notable event, the ora- 
tor for the occasion being United 
States Senator O. H. Piatt. The 
building was thronged by citizens at 
every public occasion. There were 
prize speaking contests and public ex- 
hibitions by the pupils which were the 
social functions of the season. Every 
existing report of the school visitors 
speaks in affectionate terms of the 
school, and recounts the liberal gifts of 
every sort from citizens who believed 
in its educational mission. Isaac C. 
Lewis founded the library with a gift 
of $1,000, and Walter Hubbard, a 
few years later, contributed another 
$1,000. Dr. J. H. Chapin's gifts of 
cabinets of minerals and other articles 
were probably of equal value. Hor- 
ace C. Wilcox equipped the laboratory 
for the study of chemistry, botany and 
physics at an expense of over $1,000. 
Ratcliffe Hicks contributed $1,000 
for a permanent fund for prizes and 
oratory. Besides these larger gifts 
there were smaller ones. The town 



SCHOOLS. 



235 



allowed the receipts for tuition to be 
expended for the library, which is al- 
read\' one of the best High school li- 
braries in the state and has over 
4,200 volumes. There are now^ 287 
pupils, two male and eleven female 
teachers in the school. 

EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS. 

A great step was taken when, in 
1863, the schools were made free. In 
that year but fifty-seven per cent, of 
the children enumerated were regis- 
tered in the schools, and but sixty-six 
per cent, of those registered attended. 
In ii^(x) the irregularity of attendance 
was said to be the most prominent evil 
in the schools, and the apathy of the 
parents was especially censured. But 
as more money was expended upon 
the school buildings and good teach- 
ers, the public schools w'ere better at- 
tended. In 1867 but sixty-five per 
cent, of the registration attended 
schools, while in 1874 the percentage 
rose to eighty-three and one-half. For 
many years the pupils in the upper 
grades would drop out of school as 
the year drew to a close. The enact- 
ment of the compulsory education law 
in 1877 greatly improved the condi- 
tions. An annual inspection of the 
factories used to be made, and from 
thirty to fifty children were made to 
attend school as a result. At first the 
duties of the truant officer was to 
bring runaways back to school. Now 
he enforces the law against negligent 
parents. Truancy has been so sharply 
looked after for many years that it is 
practically impossible for a child to 



grow up in ignorance at this time. 

The general progress of the coun- 
try has l)cen rejected in the progress 
of our schools. The reports of Dr. 
Davis and Dr. Chapin indicate the 
spirit of the times. Dr. Davis was es- 
pecially progressive in temperament,, 
and had he been able to secure the 
adoption of his measures the name of 
^leriden would have been conspicuous- 
throughout Xew England, at least, for 
her good schools. Dr. Chapin was 
more conservative though he was- 
never provincial. He visited the best 
schools of the day and brought the 
comparisons home to the teachers of 
2\Ieriden. 

The growth from isolated schools- 
with short terms and untrained teach- 
ers to a system of schools unified in 
aim and eft"ort, and crowned by a good 
High school was gradual, and was ac- 
complished with much patient effort. 

CHRONOLOGY OF IMPORTANT EVENTS. 
1863 



1872— 

1881 — 
1883- 

1885- 

i8y6- 



Schools made free of tuition 
charges. 

Attendance for at least three 
months in each }ear made com- 
pulsory for children between 8- 
and 14 years by state statute. 
Meriden High school founded. 
First class graduated from the- 
High school. 

Towns of over io.cx)o popula- 
tion required by state law to< 
maintain free evening schools. 
Town voted to abolish districts^ 
and consolidate all schools un- 
der town management. 



236 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



1896— First superintendent appointed. 
1896 — Drawing introduced under a 

supervisor. 
1898 — Singing introduced under a 

supervisor. 
1903 — First kindergarten established 

at Franklin street school. 
1905 — Town voted to furnish text 

books free of expense to pupils. 

TEACHERS OF MERIDEX, APRIL, I906. 

High school — Willis J. Prouty, A. 
j\I., principal ; E. L. Montgomery, B. 
S., Augusta J. Boone, Caroline J. 
Hitchcock, Florence M. Fisherdick, A. 
B., Caroline L. Nagel, Emma K. Fos- 
kett, Elizabeth DeK. Pease, Ph. B., 
Jennie H. Gibson, Caroline -Wilbur, 
Sara Beecher, A. B., Alice H. Breck- 
enridge, A. B., Florence Garton, A. B. 

Central Grammar school — Joseph 
Gerard. A. M., principal ; Nellie F. 
Russell, Flora J. Newell, Annie M. 
Gaines, Anne P. Foskett. 

Church street school — Joseph Ger- 
ard, A. M., principal ; Anna C. Rice, 
Caroline A. Ryan. Louise A. Hitch- 
cock, Edith E. Reynolds, Fannie W. 
Kelsey, Ethel H. Mix, Anna Norton, 
Grace C. Reynolds, Mattie S. Wet- 
more, Flora B. Ray, Rosemary Brady. 
Minnie G. Wiles, Emma F. Ryan, 
Mary A. Havens. 

Willow street school — Edith L. 
Bevins, principal ; Nellie A. Pagnam, 
May A. Lynch. Katherine A. Mcln- 
tee. 

King street school — Ella Daniels, 
principal ; Elizabeth T. Dunne. Nellie 
W. Dow, A. Louise Hastings. Kather- 



ine E. Ryan, Mary O'Brien, Barbara 
Anderson, Agnes Falvey, Mary H. 
Savage (absent on leave). 

West Main street school — William 
E. Gardner, principal ; Jennie D. 
Wood, May H. Clark, Carrie F. Bo- 
durtha. Hazel Harmon, Jeanette A. 
Falvey, Josephine F. Fitzgerald, Nel- 
lie T. O'Donnell, Ella G. Glynn, Au- 
gusta F. Riecke, Eleanor AL Hagerty. 

Lewis avenue school — Cornelia A. 
Comstock. principal ; Helen S. Mix, 
Anna T. L. Burk, Marion G. Hynes, 
Augusta x\. Fischer, Edith P. Alacy 
(absent on leave), Mary E. Lane, Hat- 
tie C. Foster, AL Mabelle Fulton. Alice 
A. Slater. 

Liberty street school — H. D. Beebe. 
principal ; Susan F. Newell, Fannie R. 
Ives, Sarah N. Benedict, Ella L. 
Hitchcock. Nettie L. Bo wen (absent 
on leave), Mrs. G. F. Welch, Emma S. 
Pease. Theresa C. Raarup, Rhoda A. 
Briggs. 

South Broad street school — Carrie 
E. Bull, principal ; Anna Fitzgerald, 
Anna E. Wilcox, Mrs. L O. Ives. 

North Broad street school — Arline 
Denison, principal : Ella Hackett. 
Lena Rettman. Mabel G. Mossmaii. 
Henrietta L. Rahaley, Katherine E. 
Mahon. Laura A. Parker (absent on 
leave). Fannie E. Webber, Lillian J. 
McLoughlin, May Gilmartin. 

Columbia street school — Mrs. Ida 
S. Roeth. principal : Edna AL Harris. 
Airs. Alary ( Foster) Dann. Lucy E. 
Birdsey, Alary AL Rahaley, Georgia 
Seidensticker. 

Franklin street school — Blanche J. 
Paddock, principal : Nellie Keena. 



SCHOOLS. 



^17 



Mrs. H. H. Barnes, kindergarten; 
Harriet I. Foster. 

North Colony street school — S. 
Watson Warden, principal ; Sabra K. 
Taylor, Lillie Eldridge, Minnie Lally, 
Dora E. Tracy, Alargaret Landargan, 
Selena J. King, Helena E. Ryan, 
Katherine Brady, Emma M. King. 

Hanover school — Nellie E. Simons, 
principal ; M. Endocia Bowman, lone 
Renham. Florence W. Richmond, May 
Seidensticker, ]\lary J. ^loriarty. 

East school — Florence G. Robinson, 
May I. Manley. 

Southeast school — Mary Gaffney. 

Supervisor of music — G. Frank 
Goodale. 

Supervisor of drawing — (Jllie E. 
Ragon. 

Janitors — High, John Kane ; North 
Colony street, Frank Pease ; North 
Broad street, James Griffin ; Liberty 
street. William P. Camp : Church 
street. lulward A. \\'uth ; King street, 
Thomas McMahon ; South Broad 
street. D. F. Pardee ; Lewis avenue, 
Patrick Hehir ; West Main street, 
James Mtzgerald ; Columbia street, J. 
v.. Ta\lor : Hanover, J. J. Schwink 
iiid j. W. Stetson: East, Josephine 
Winner : Southeast, James Kates ; 
I. cntral ( Irammar, Wilson Carpenter ; 
Franklin street, Joseph King ; Willow 
I street, Thomas H. Dalv. 



WILLIAM POWERS KELLY. 



William Powers Kelly, superinten- 
^lent of the Meriden public schools, 
was born at Troy. Ohio, in 1865. 
After gaining his preparation for col- 



lege in the public schools, graded and 
High school, in his native town, he 
entered Dartmouth college in 1882, 
and graduated with the degree of A. 
\\. in 1886. Three years after the 
college conferred upon him the degree 
of A. M. 

Following the example of many an 
imi)ecunious collegiate he began to 
teach school for the sake of the quick 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

WM. P. ki:llv. 

and sure income. During llie \ear 
1886 and 1887 he was principal of 
Coe's Northwood Academy, .\orth- 
wood. New Ham])shire, and for the 
next three years was ])rincipal of the 
High and graded schools of South 
Hadlev, Mass. r)n leaving that ])osi- 
tion in i8(;o he acce])ted ])fivate school 
work for l)ovs, in St. Louis. .Mo. He- 



238 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ing somewhat dissatisfied in this school 
he engaged in business in that city 
until the fall of 1891 when he was 
■called to Worcester x\cademy, Wor- 
cester, Mass., a flourishing college pre- 
paratory school for boys. Here he 
remained until he w'as called to the 
principalship of the union schools of 
St. Johnsbury, Vt., in 1894. Within 
a few months from the beginning of 
this work he was made superinten- 
dent of all the schools in the town, 
and during his three years there he 
^ave the schools their present organ- 
ization, and instituted the series of 
summer schools for the teachers of the 
county. 

In 1897 he accepted the super inten- 
■dency of the schools in Hudson, Mass., 
and two years later the same office in 
the town of Attleboro, Mass. After 
a work of six years in these schools 
during which the school system was 
greatly developed he was elected su- 
perintendent of the schools in Meriden, 
and began his duties on the first of 
August, 1905. 

Mr. Kelly was married in 1896 to 
Miss Lillian M. Lee, of New^port, R. 
L, and has two sons, David, born in 
1899, and William P., Jr., in 1901. 
He attends the Center Congregational 
church and is a member of the Colo- 
nial Club. 



WILLIS J. PROUTY. 



Prof. Willis J. Prouty, principal of 
the Meriden High school, who has 
taken a prominent part as a public ed- 
ucator, was born in Spencer, Mass., 



May 22, 1865. He is the son of Henry 
J. and Parmelia (Roberts) Prouty, 
and his family is one of the oldest of 
the Bay State. He is a descendant 
of Richard Prouty, who settled in 
Scituate, Mass., in 1667, and whose 
great-great-grandson, David, was a 
soldier in the French and Indian war, 
also serving as a captain during the 
Revolution, and later a major of the 
militia. Adam, son of Isaac Prouty, 




Photo by H. T. Shaw. 

WILLIS J. PROUTY. 

born in Scituate in 1721, removed to 
Spencer previous to 1750, where the ^ 
family name has since been a promi- 
nent one. 

Willis James Prouty was given 
an excellent education by his pa- 
rents. He graduated from the Spen- 
cer High school in 1883, after- 



SCHOOLS. 



239 



wards entering Tufts College, taking- 
the academic course, and graduating 
therefrom with high honors, with the 
class of 1887. In 1896 he was con- 
ferred the degree of A. M. by his 
Alma Mater. He began his success- 
ful career as an educator by accepting 
a position as instructor in mathematics 
and bookkeeping at the Meriden High 
school soon after leaving college. Two 
years later he was made assistant prin- 
cipal, and in 1899 succeeded Prof. S. 
T. Frost as master of the school, 
which position he has since filled. 
Prof. Prouty's record as an educator 
of the youth has reflected much credit 
upon Meriden, and has proven that 
as a school manager he has few supe- 
riors. He has ever held not only the 
regard of the school board but of the 
pupils with whom he has entered into 
direct fellowship both in and out of 
the school room. In addition to his 
duties at the High school, Prof. 
Prouty has for two terms had charge 
of the evening schools of the town, 
namely 1887-8. 

He is a prominent figure socially, 
being a member of the Zeta Psi of 
Tufts College, treasurer of the Home 
Club of Meriden, a member and for 
one year secretary of the Colonial 
Club, a member of the Meriden Golf 
Club and its executive committee, a 
j>ast regent and collector of Alfred 
11. Hall Council, Royal Arcanum; a 
|l)ast councillor and collector of Invin- 
cible Council Loyal Association, li- 
brarian of the Meriden Scientific As- 
sociation, member of the executive 
rommittee of the ]\Ieriden Guild of 



the Religious Educational Associa- 
tion, and member of the Committee 
on Historic Addresses, Events and 
Relics of the Meriden Centennial. 

He was married in 1890 to Jennie 
W., daughter of Ilenr\- ( i. Smith, of 
Meriden, to whom one daughter, Mar- 
illa, has been born. 



JOSEPH GERARD. 



Joseph Gerard, A. .M., i)rinc!pal 
of the Church street and also the 
Central Grammar school, was born 
at Mount 15ethcl, X. J. He is the 
son of ^\'illiam and Susan (.\ntho- 
ny) Gerard, also natives of New 
Jersey. His ancestors on the 
paternal side came from the Chan- 
nel Islands and settled near Phila- 
delphia. His great-grandfather 
shod Gen. A\'ashington's famous 
white horse diu-ing the Revolution- 
ary War. 

Mr. Gerard ])re])ared for college 
at Centenary Collegiate Institute, 
Hackettstown, Xew Jersey, later 
entered W'esleyan L'ni\ersily .Mid- 
dletown, and after taking the regu- 
lar college course, was graduated 
in 1882 witli the degree of A. I'.. 
This university afterward conter- 
ed u])on him the degree ot A. M. 

Adopting teaching as his profes- 
sion, he began his first \ear as a 
pedagogue at East Hartford and 
continued his work as an educator 
at the public schools in Southing- 
ton, but in 1884 he was secured by 
the school committee of Meriden as 



240 



A CEXTURV OF MERIU" tN. 



principal of the Old Road school. 
After fulfilling the duties of master 
of that school for five years, he re- 
signed and accepted an office in the 
United States custom house in New 
York City, after having qualified 
for the same by passing the required 
civil service examinations. At the 
end of two years, however, his love 
for teaching prompted him to relin- 




JOSliPIl GliKARD. 

quish his position in the custom 
house and again enter the educa- 
tional field. Soon after he was in- 
stalled in his old position as prin- 
cipal of the Old Road school, where 
he remained until appointed the 
successor of C. M. Williams at the 
West Main street school. Two 
years later when A. B. Mather was 
appointed as superintendent of 



schools, Mr. Gerard succeeded him 
as principal of the Church street 
school, familiarly known as the Cor- 
ner school. This, the largest gram- 
mar school in the city, has ac- 
commodations for 600 scholars, and 
contains fourteen rooms all of which 
are taxed to their utmost and where 
he is assisted by fourteen teachers. 

At the Central Grammar school 
the higher branches of the grammar 
grades are taught, and this school 
has been under his guidance since it 
wa? acquired by the city 

Mr. Gerard stands high in his 
profession and is a member of the 
State Teachers" Association, the 
Schoolmasters' Club, and is a trus- 
tee of the State Teachers" Guild. 

He has also taken two courses at 
Yale University, one in psychol- 
ogy and pedagogy and the other, 
school organization and supervision. 

He was married in Middletown to 
Martha J. Chapman, daughter of 
Owen Chapman, and to this union 
have been born two children. Ruth 
\\'ilheln;ina. not now living, and 
( )wen Stephen Gerard, who gradu- 
ated at Meriden High School and 
from there entered Wesleyan Uni- 
versity. 

Mr. Gerard is a member of the 
Home Club, the Colonial Club and 
Business Men"s Association. In 
fraternal life he is a Royal Arcli 
Mason and a member of the B. P- 
O. E., Xo. 35. 

In church afl:"airs he and his fam- 
ily belong to the First Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 



SCHOOLS. 



241 



WILLIAM E. GARDNER. 



William Elliott Gardner, principal 
of the West District School of Meri- 
den, was born at Lodi, Seneca Coun- 
ty, N. Y., January 14, 1861. His 
father was Edwin Forest Gardner, a 
native of Brooklyn, N. Y., who in his 
youngs manhood bought land and en- 
gaged in agriculture in Lodi where 




WILLIAM 



GAKDXLR. 



he married. Jane, dau^liter of Cor- 
nelius Compton. Mr. Gardner is 
also descended from the Catlin fam- 
ily of Connecticut and liis grand- 
mother. Marv Catlin, lixed in Litch- 
field. 

-After s])en(ling his earl\- life on 
his father's farm and attending the 
common schools of the town he 
16 



graduated at the High School at 
Truinansburg, .\. V. He tittctl for 
the work of an educator first at the 
Albany State Normal School, after- 
wards taking the teachers' course at 
the L'niversity of the City of New- 
York, where he achieved high hon- 
ors in scholarship and took promi- 
nent part in literary and debating 
societies of the college, and later 
post graduate pedagogical courses 
at Yale College and the summer 
school at .Martha's A'inevard. While 
fitting for liis ])rofL'Ssion he taught 
several terms at country schools in 
New York State, but after his grad- 
uation from the Normal School at 
Albany, he was ai)])ointe(l ])rinci])al 
of the Greenfield llill ."School, Green- 
field Hill, Conn. His next school was 
at New Canaan. Conn., of which he 
was the ])rincipal for a jieriod of six 
\ears. During the latter j)art of his 
stay in that town he also served as 
superintendent of schools. 

In .September. 1895. he was secured 
as principal of the Prattsville School 
in this town, where he remained for 
three years and until transferred to 
the West -Main Street Sclio. ,] in 1898 
and where hv now has ten assistants. 
( )wing to the (i\ ercrowded condition 
of this school, which, at tliis writing, 
has an a\erage attendance of 400, a 
new building now in ])rocess of con- 
struction has l)ecome an absolute 
lU'cessity. Mr. (iardner is a most 
successful educator of the yoimg, is 
a deep student of hi^ |)rofession. and 
enjoys the respect of his ])upils and 
assistant teachers and the full con- 



242 



A CENTURY OF MERIDliX. 



fidence of the community. At his 
home he possesses a valuable library 
included in which are many books 
treating on educational subjects. Mr. 
Gardner is a member of the Colonial 
Club, the Meriden Grange and the 
First Congregational Church. 

He has been twice married : first 
to Etta Perry of Greenfield Hill, 
Conn., who died in 1890. To that 
marriage two children were born. 
Elliott and Esther. Mr. Gardner 
was married, second, to Emily Ho- 
garth Covert of Interlaken, Seneca 
County, N. Y., and to that union 
two children, Pauline and Alan, have 
been born. Mr. Gardner resides with 
his family on Linsley avenue. 



S. WATSON WARDEN. 



S. Watson Warden, principal of 
the North Colony School is a native 
of Virginia. He w^as born Septem- 
ber 7. i860, near Charleston, West 
Virginia, which, at the time of his 
birth, had not been set apart from 
its mother state. 

He is a son of a Methodist clergy- 
man, and in his boyhood lived in 
different parts of that commonwealth. 
He, therefore, gained an extensive 
acquaintance in his native state 
which he values highly. He was 
brought up to fully value educa- 
tion, and after obtaining a common 
and normal school training began 
his college life in the Ohio Wesley- 
an University, but afterwards en- 
tered the Universitv of West Vir- 



ginia from which he graduated in 
1886. He was enabled to receive 
his full college course by teaching 
school at intervals, thereby paying 
his own way. 

After the graduation from the 
University of West Virginia, he was 
well qualified both by experience 
and knowledge to become master 
of a school. Mr. W^arden came to 




S. WA'rSOX WARDEN. 

Meriden in 1888 after having been 
at the head of a select private school 
at Goodground, L. I., and when se- 
lected by the district committee as 
master of the Hanover School, he 
made a valuable acquisition to the 
teaching staff of the Meriden public 
schools. After remaining in this 
school for a period of eight years. 



^(■|l()()l.^ 



2-13 



lie succeeded Joseph Gerard, in 1896, 
as principal of the Old Road School, 
which after the consolidation of the 
districts was given the name of the 
Xorth Colony School, where he has 
since ably presided over the des- 
tinies of the pupils. 

Tiie increase in attendance, at this 
school, especial]}' within the past 
year has been somewhat remarkable 
and has resulted in more than tax- 
ing the building of eight rooms to 
its fullest capacity. 

The recent growth in attendance 
is caused by the acquisition of new 
manufacturing industries in that 
section of the town, resulting in the 
arrival in Meriden of a large number 
of new families, whose children are 
.sent to that school. At the pres- 
ent writing Principal \\"arden has 
nine assistants, and from the pres- 
ent attendance at the school, 390. 
which bids fair to prove larger 
rather than decrease, additional 
school room seems an absolute nec- 
essity. At this school all the gram- 
mar grades but the ninth are taught. 

Mr. Warden, in addition to his 
duties at the Colony School, during 
last season was master of the Meri- 
den Evening School, which this year 
had the largest attendarice in the 
history of the evening schools of the 
town, or an average of ninety-five 
for the fifty nights comprising the 
term. 



.Mr. Warden is a jjrominent mem- 
ber of tlie Independent Order of 
Odd l\-llows, having filled all the 
chairs at Hancock Lodge in South 
Meriden, and being twice sent as 
delegate to the Grand Lodge of 
Connecticut. In his religious sym- 
pathies he is a Methodist and, with 
his family, attends the first Church 
of that denomination. 

He was married to Henrietta 
M., daughter of Alvin Sweet of 
South Meriden, and to that mar- 
riage two girls and two boys have 
been born: Rdna. Raymond. .Mildred 
and \\'atS(Tn. 




Photo by Aki r- \ I'ii;i'oii 

II. i>\\ ic.iri' i:i-:i-:nii:. 



244 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



BIOGRAPHIES 



JERE DEWEY EGGLESTON. 



Among her physicians Aleriden pos- 
sesses none more esteemed by his pa- 
tients and friends than Jere Dewey 
Eggleston, M. D. 

He was born in Longmeadow, 
Mass., October 28, 1853, his parents 
being Jere D. and Louisa (Carew) 
Eggleston and he is descended of a 
long hne of New England ancestry, 
and in the seventh generation from 
Bigat Eggleston who w^as born 
in 1590 and came from Exeter, 
England to Dorchester, Alass., in 
1630. He was a freeman in 1631, was 
an original member of ]\Ir. Warham's 
church and with it moved to Wind- 
sor, Conn., in 1635, becoming one of 
the first citizens of that historic place. 
He died in September, 1674, and his 
wife, Mary, preceded him December 
8, 1657. From his first American an- 
cestor, Dr. Eggleston's lineage is as 
follows : James, Nathaniel, Eben, Eli, 
and Jere D. Eggleston. 

Dr. Eggleston is essentially a self- 
made man in the very best interpreta- 
tion of that term. His father's death, 
while he was yet an infant, followed 
not many years afterwards by that of 
his mother, threw the boy upon his 
own resources and developed in him 
those qualities which have united to 



make his career eminently successful. 

He began to be self-supporting at 
the age of thirteen, and, first by 
working on a farm and afterwards bv 
teaching school, he prepared the wav 
for the education which he had early 
determined should be his. He grad- 
uated from Williams College, and later 
from the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons in New York City. 

He began the practice of his pro- 
fession in Windsor Locks, Conn., and 
in about 1880 he removed to Meriden 
which has been his home ever since. 
It was not long after his coming to 
Meriden that he began to be known as 
one of the leading young physicians 
of the city. He threw himself heart 
and soul into the practice of his chosen 
profession, and his marked abilities, 
united with a pleasing address and 
genial personality, soon won for him 
a firm place in the opinion of all. H^' 
has kept abreast of the times in all 
his works, and his opinions on all 
subjects connected with his profession 
are eagerly sought, not only by his 
patients, but by his fellow practition- 
ers as well. 

Dr. Eggleston's many professional 
calls have not kept him from other 
calls and pleasures, political and so- 
cial. His home is often thrown open 
for enjoyable events in the social life 



RIOGKAPHIIiS. 



245 




^.^. %^' 



246 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



of the city and no one excels him as 
a host. In poHtics he is a Repub 
Hcan and, although always a busy 
man, took the time to serve his city 
as alderman for several years. He is 
prominent in both Free Masonry and 
Odd Fellowship and is a member of 
local orders. He is also a prominent 



zens and manufacturers, Thomas 
Duncan, who was a native of Scot 
land, where he came from distinguished 
Scotch ancestry. The following 
children have been born to 
them : Robert D., born March 7, 1882 ; 
Ralph B., born November, 1884, ^'id 
died March 19, 1886 ; Jeannette L., 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



RESIDENCE OF DR. J. D. EGGLESTON. 



member of the Meriden Medical so- 
ciety and the city hospital staff. 

May 18, 1 88 1. Dr. Eggleston was 
married to Elizabeth C. Duncan, of 
Poquonnock, Windsor, Conn., a na- 
tive of Poquonnock and the daughter 
of one of its former prominent citi- 



born April 18, 1887; Arthur ]., born 
November 19, 1890, and Jere Dudley, 
born May 29, 1894. 

The Eggleston home is a delightful 
one as many who have enjoyed its 
hospitality can testify, and an illustra- 
tion of which is here shown. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



247 



E. T. BRADSTREET. 



Edward Thomas Ilradstreet. M. D., 
was born at Thomaston, Conn., Feb. 
15, 1852. He is the son of Thomas J. 
and Amanda 1 Thomas ) Bradstreet, 
and a descendant of the earlv colo- 
nial governors, Simon Bradstreet and 
Thomas Dudley, Governor B)radstreet 
having: married Anne, dauQlitcr of 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

DR. E. T. liRADSTREET. 

Dudley, before leavinjr England. His 
luaternal strand father was Seth Thom- 
is. for whom Thomaston was named. 
The father of Dr. Bradstreet grad- 
lated from Vale College in 1834, and 
oon after comjjleting the course at 
he .Andover Theological Seminarv. 
ras engaged to preach for six months 
t the Center Congregational church 



at Meriden. Poor health affecting his 
voice soon after taking a church at 
Thomaston. he left the ministrv. After 
filling various positions with Iiis 
father-in-law, Seth Thomas, in his 
clock lactory, cotton mill and brass 
mill, including that of traveling sales- 
man, being probably the pioneer drum- 
mer of the brass trade, he adopted the 
more healthful occupation of improv- 
ing land and doing light farming. He 
died at the age of ninety years. 

Dr. Bradstreet was educated at the 
Thomaston Academy, afterwards tak- 
ing the academic course at Yale Col- 
lege, and graduated in 1874 with the 
degree of A. B. He studied medicine 
at the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons of Columbia University, from 
which he was graduated in 1877, and 
after a brief period, in which he was 
engaged in further study, he came to 
Meriden in the same year, and began 
the practice which he has ever since 
continued. 

Since its organization Dr. Brad- 
street has l)een a member of the staff 
of the Meriden City Hospital, where 
he is now president of the medical 
board: and his services have always 
been highly valued. 

He stands high in his chosen pro- 
fession. He is a member of the Amer- 
ican Medical Association. Connecticut 
State Aledical Society. New Haven 
County Aledical Society. President of 
the Meriden Medical Society, one of 
the directors of the Gaylord Farm San- 
atorium, examiner for fourteen of the 
leading life insurance companies; 
I)resident of the Meriden Yale Alumni 



248 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



Association; since 1901 has served as 
medical examiner of the town of Mer- 
iden, and from 1882-1893 was a mem- 
ber of the New Haven Board of Ex- 
aminers for Pensions. He is a mem- 
ber of the First Congregational 
church, the Home Club, president of 
the Meriden Golf Club since its or- 
ganization, member Gov. Thomas 
Dudley Family Association and of the 
Sons of the Revolution. He is also 
one of the General Committee arrang- 
ing for the Centennial Celebration of 
the town. 

He was married in 1875 to Alice E., 
daughter of Hiram and Sarah (Beers) 
Pierce, of Thomaston, Conn., to whom 
have been born Edward Dudley Brad- 
street, a graduate of Yale College in 
1901, who has ado])ted painting as a 
profession ; Mary Thomas Bradstreet. 
and Alice Pierce Bradstreet, who died 
at the age of six years. 



E. W. SAHTH. 



Edward Wier Smith, M. D., a rep- 
resentative physician and surgeon of 
note, and valued member of the city 
hospital staff, was born here October 
17, 1854, and has for more than five 
decades been identified with Meriden's 
educational, social and medical inter- 
ests. His parents were David and Fi- 
delia (Parker) Smith, and his ances- 
tors won considerable distinction in 
the battles of the American Revolu- 
tion. 

Dr. Smith acquired his early educa- 
tion in the schools of Meriden. This 
was followed by a course in the Hop- 



kin's grammar school. New Haven, 
and Yale college, from which institu- 
tion he graduated in 1878. 

During his college life Dr. Smith 
took considerable interest in athletics. 
He played on the Yale University 
baseball team and participated in con- 
tests with Harvard, Princeton and 
other educational institutions. 

His predilection for a medical ca- 




DR. E. W. SMITH. 

reer took definite form when he en- 
tered the medical department at Yale, 
but like the great majority of pro- 
fessional men in former years, his col- 
legiate course was interrupted in his 
case, and at the end of a year, he 
turned his attention to teaching as a 
temporary makeshift. He did not 
lose sight of his goal, however, for in 
1880 he returned to college to pursue 



lUOGRAPIIIES. 



249 



the course upon which his hopes were 
centered, at McGill Medical school, in 
Montreal, Canada, by which institu- 
tion he was granted his diploma and 
degree of ^I. D. in 1882. He lost no 
time looking about for a suitable open- 
ing, but returned at once to Meriden 
and established his office in a desira- 
ble location that same year. 

Dr. Smith's ambition to keep 
abreast of the times in his profession 
was further manifested when he pur- 
sued a post graduate course, in the 
medical college, New York City, in 
1892. Dr. Smith has allied himself 
with various medical associations, in- 
cluding the Conn. Medical Society, 
American }iledical Association : Amer- 
ican Academy of ^Medicine and the 
Meriden ^Medical Society. He has 
ever kept in touch with the great 
Strides that have been made in the 
medical and surgical fields and his 
success in the latter has won for 
him the admiration of his brother 
practitioners. 

He was married October 14. 1885. 
to Helen B. Rice, daughter of Oliver 
and Abbie C. Rice, of ^leriden, and 
their two children are ]\Iarion R. and 
David Parker Smith. 

Dr. Smith is a member of the First 
Congregational church and is also a 
member of the Meriden Golf club and 
the Home club of Aleriden, in all of 
which he takes a deep interest. 



E. W. PIERCE. 



June 18, 1862. He is a son of the late 
Rev. A. C. Pierce, a Congregational 
clergyman, who removed to Brook- 
field Center, Conn., in 1870, and there 
was a pastor until his death in 1888. 
Dr. Pierce obtained his ])reliminary 
education in a private school in Brook- 
field, the Newtown (Conn.) Acad- 
emy, and the Sheffield Scientific 
School, of Vale : his professional edu- 




Elbridge \\'orthingt()n Pierce. ^I. 
1)., was born in Northford. Conn.. 



\n<. 1:. w. \'\\:\<( !■:. 

cation in the medical de|)artnK'nt of 
the I'niversity of New York, the New 
^'ork Postgraduate School and Hos- 
pital, New York Policlinic. New York 
Eye and Ear Infirmary and the out- 
patient department of Bellevue hos- 
pital. 

He came to Meriden in September, 
1885, and engaged in general prac- 
tice in ])artnership with Dr. V.. W. 



250 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Smith but after seven years this part- 
nership was dissolved ; and since then 
he has hmited his practice to diseases 
of the eye, ear. nose and throat. 

Dr. Pierce became a member of the 
medical stafif of the Meriden Hospital 
when it was first organized and was 
elected secretary of the Medical Board, 
which position he has held to the pres- 
ent time. 

He is a member of the American 
Medical Association, Connecticut 
Medical Society, New Haven County 
Medical Society and the Meriden 
Medical Association. He is a mem- 
ber of the Home Club and Meriden 
Golf Club. 

He was married to Bessie Hubbard 
November 12, 1895, and to that union 
one son has been born. 



E. A. WILSON. 
Edgar Adams Wilson, M. D., ocu- 
list and aurist. and since its organiza- 
tion, a member of the hospital staff, 
is the only son of the late Dr. Grove 
H. Wilson, a former mayor of Meri- 
den and for many years a leading prac- 
titioner of the medical profession. He 
was born at Conway, Mass., Decem- 
ber 4, 1853. When he was four years 
old his parents removed to Meriden ; 
and he obtained his early education 
first at private school and later at the 
Corner school. He fitted for college 
at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H., 
and was later graduated from the 
academic department of Yale College 
with the class of 1877. He studied 
medicine at the University of Penn- 
svlvania where he took the medical 



course and received his diploma in 
March, 1881, and from the New York 
Homeopathic College in 1882. 

He began his professional career bv 
conducting a general practice at 
Rockville, Conn., where he remained 
from 1883 to 1888, afterwards engag- 
ing in general practice with his father 
until 1893 ; when he became the clini- 
cal assistant surgeon at the Manhat- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

DR. 1-:. A. WILSON. 



tan Eye and Ear Hospital. There he 
became intensely interested in that spe- 
cial branch of his profession, and 
since 1897 he has confined himself to 
the treatment of those diseases and 
continued practice in the office made 
vacant by the death of his father. 

He was for five years city health of- 
ficer, and since 1893 has been health 



D10GKAl"Iin-:S. 



2^1 



officer of the Town of Meriden and 
since its formation, in December. 1890, 
he has been secretary of the Xew 
Haven County PubHc Heakh Associa- 
tion. Dr. Wilson is a member of the 
various medical societies, also of the 
Alumni of the ^Manhattan E\e and 
Ear Hospital, the New England As- 
sociation of Alumni of the University 
of Pennsylvania. As well as being a 
member of the city hospital staff, he 
fulfills similar professional duties at 
the Connecticut Masonic home at 
Wallingford. He is a member of 
.Meridian Lodge, 'j'/, A. F. & A. W.\ 
.\Ifred Hall Council, Royal Arcanum ; 
and also of the Home Club of Mer- 
iden. 

He married in 1883 Ida M.. daugh- 
ter of George and Lydia (Redfield) 
Beach, and they have one son, Leslie 
Adams \\'ilson, born in 1886, and a 
graduate in 1906 of W'illiston Acad- 
emy, Easthampton. 



F. P. GRISWOLD. 



Frederick Pratt Griswold. AL D.. a 
leading physician and member of the 
cit\ hosjjital .staff of Meriden. was 
born in Esse.x, Conn.. ^larch 3. 1850. 
He comes of early colonial ancestry 
and is the son of Samuel and Susan 
(I'ratt) Griswold. One of his fore- 
fathers. Edward Doty, the fortieth 
signer of the Mayflower Compact, 
served under Myles Standish in the 
hirst Military company and took part 
in the first encounter, December 8. 
1620. 



Dr. Griswold received his education 
in the common schools of his native 
town, later studying at the Suffield 
Institute and afterwards taking up 
medicine at the College of I'h\sicians 
and Surgeons of New York City, 
from which he graduated and received 
his degree of M. D. in 1876. After 
spending a }ear and a half in Belle- 
vue Hos])ital, he began the i)ractice of 




UK. I", r. (iKiswdi.i). 

medicine in (iuilford. remaining there 
for six \ears. He afterwards s])ent 
six monllis at the Polyclinic in Xew 
^'ork City and came to Meriden in 
the fall of 1884. 

Since that timi' he has been a val- 
ued resident of the town and has con- 
tinued practice without interruption to 
the present writing. Dr. Griswold 



252 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



has always stood high in his profes- 
sion and has built up a large practice, 
his office and residence being situated 
on Broad street opposite the Center 
Congregational church. He has been 
a member of the hospital staff since 
the excellent institution was first 
founded in Meriden. He is a member 
of the American Medical Association. 
Connecticut State Medical Society, 
the New Haven County Medical 
Society and the Meriden City Medi- 
cal Society, in all of which he enjoys 
the fellowship and esteem of the mem- 
bers of the profession in the highest 
degree. He is examiner for the Mas- 
sachusetts Mutual and the National 
Life Insurance companies. 

He was married October 30, 1878, 
to Caroline P., daughter of Wm. Sew- 
ard and Caroline Parmelee Hull, of 
Madison, Conn., to whom have been 
born two boys : Frederick Prescott. 
born April 16. 1880, and Harold Hull, 
born November 12, 1886. Both Dr. 
and Mrs. Griswold are active members 
of the Center Congregational church. 



H. A. MEEKS. 



Harold Albert Meeks. M. D., a well 
known physician of Meriden, who has 
been a member of the city hospital 
staff since its organization, was born 
at the summer home of his parents, 
Preakness, Wayne Township, N. J., 
July 27, 1868. He comes from an old 
Knickerbocker family and his descend- 
ants figured prominently in the affairs 
of Manhattan Island lono; before the 



Revolution. His father was of Eng- 
lish and Spanish descent. Dr. Meeks 
has also Holland-Dutch and French 
blood in his veins. 

He is descended from Abra Clark, 
one of the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence and also from Cap- 
tain Francis Van Dyke, of the Conti- 
nental artillery whose prominence and 
valor at the Battle of Monmouth are 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

DR. H. A. MEEKS. 

matters of history, and who was also 
instrumental in the capture of Major 
Andre. His wife, a daughter of a 
French Huguenot minister, entertained 
Lafayette and acted as interpreter in 
his first conference with Washington. 
The father of Dr. Meeks was captain 
of the Eighth Company of the Ander- 
son Zouaves which served under 



P.IOGKAPHIES. 



253 



Generals McClellan and Keyes and 
throughout the Civil war. , 

Dr. Meeks attended school in New 
York City, afterwards entered and 
graduated at Phillips Exeter Academy 
where he prepared for Columbia Col- 
lege. He studied medicine at the 
Bellevue Hospital Medical College, 
from which he graduated and was 
conferred the degree of M. D., in 
1890. He began practice immediately 
at the St. \'incent's Hospital, New 
York City ; and after his service there 
continued, a few months, with a pri- 
vate office at the metropolis. He 
came to Meriden in 1891 to continue 
the i)racticc of his profession which he 
has since conducted here. 

Dr. Meeks was three years town 
])hysician of ]\Ieriden and has been 
city health officer since 1901. In ad- 
dition to being a valued member of 
the city hospital statt. upon which he 
has served ever since the hospital was 
founded. Dr. ]\Ieeks has for eleven 
\ears been the physician and surgeon 
for the State School for Boys. He 
stands high in his profession ; is a 
member of the ?\Ieriden City ]\Iedical 
Society. New Haven County Medical 
Society, Connecticut State Medical 
Society, New Haven County Health 
Officers Association, and is also a 
member of the Home Club of Meriden. 

He was married in 1892 to Florence 
Austin, of Meriden, and has two sons. 



JOSEPH A. COOKE. 



of the medical profession, one of the 
ablest of which is Dr. Joseph A. 
Cooke. He was born at New Haven, 
February 11, 1866, and was grad- 
uated from the medical department 
of Yale University in 1897. After 
practicing for a time in New Haven, 
and getting further valual)le expe- 
rience at St. Francis' hospital. New 
York Citv, he came to Meriden in 




Meriden is peculiarly fortunate in 
the possession of skillful practitioners 



DK. j- A. (.OOKi:. 

1899. -^^ warm letter of introduction 
from the celebrated Dr. I'rancis 15a- 
con, of New Haven, assured him a 
cordial reception from the other mem- 
bers of the medical profession in Mer- 
iden by whom he has ever since been 
extended every courtesy and consid- 
eration. Dr. Cooke has, therefore, 
been in continuously active and sue- 



254 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



cessful practice in Meriden for six 
years. 

He was appointed a member of the 
hospital stafif in 1901 and has proven 
himself one of the most enthusiastic 
workers in the cause of science and 
humanity at that excellent institution. 
Like many other physicians and sur- 
geons of the town, he is possessed of 
admirable judgment, a quality which 
must be inborn and his capacity for 
work is somewhat remarkable. He 
has a particularly large office practice 
and usually several hospital cases. He 
is a general favorite in the commun- 
ity. He is a member of several fra- 
ternal organizations, including the 
Eagles, Foresters, Elks and Turners, 
and is also a member of Division 2, 
Ancient Order of Hibernians. Dr. 
Cooke is local medical examiner for 
the Massachusetts Mutual Life In- 
surance Co. and is a member of the 
city, state, county and American med- 
ical societies. 

Dr. Cooke married Susan Josephine 
Stanford, of Xew Haven. Conn., Au- 
gust 6, 1903. 



GEORGE ROCKWELL. 



George Rockwell, secretar}- of the 
International Silver Co.. now of W^a- 
terbury, but for many years a resi- 
dent of Meriden, was born at Ridge- 
field, Conn., and is one of the three 
sons of Francis A. and Mary (Lee) 
Rockwell, who have figured promi- 
nently in the manufacturing and finan- 
cial life of Meriden. 



He was educated in the schools of 
his native town and concluded his 
studies at the academy at Fort Ed- 
ward, New York. He began his suc- 
cessful business career as a clerk in 
the First National Bank, of Norwalk, 
Conn., where he became schooled in 
banking methods. At the end of two 
years he accepted a position with a 
firm of wholesale grocers in New York 
City, with whom he remained for a 
period of nine years, and during that 
time became the head of the account- 
ing department. 

In 1879 hs was elected auditor of 
the ]\Ieriden Britannia company and 
later became a director and secretary 
of that company. He held that office 
until the organization of the Interna- 
tional Silver Company, when he was 
elected secretary of that corporation 
and holds the office at the present 
time. 

His general business ability and 
great energy have brought him many 
other positions of honor and responsi- 
bility. He was treasurer of the Rog- 
ers & Brother corporation, of Water- 
bury, and the Meriden, Waterbury &- 
Connecticut River Railroad Co. while 
those two corporations were carried 
on under those titles and since its or- 
ganization has been one of the di- 
rectors of the International Silver 
Company. 

He is also one of the directors of 
Alanning, Bowman & Co. and the Mil- 
ler Bros. Cutlery Co., of Meriden. 

Air. Rockwell took up his residence 
at Waterbury in 1890 to become man- 
ager of the Rogers & Bro. corpora- 



BIOGUAPHIES. 



255 




256 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



tion, one of the companies forming 
the International Silver Company, and 
holds that office at the present time. 
He is a man with an almost unlimited 
capacity for work, and never shirks a 
duty he is called upon to assume either 
in business or social life. His success 
in business life may be largely at- 
tributed to the fact that he has found 
pleasure in the faithful performance 
of every duty. 

Mr. Rockwell is a member of the 
board of managers of the Waterbury 
Club and is a member of the house 
committee of the Manufacturers' Club 
of Waterbury. 

He was married in 1881 to Minnie 
F. Battles, of Lowell, Mass., and that 
union has been blessed with two chil- 
dren, George Rockwell, Jr., and Sher- 
burne B. Rockwell. 



E. LYMAX MARVIN. 

E. Lyman Marvin, for more than 
twenty years a valued resident and 
leading merchant of Meriden, was 
born in Greene, Shenango county. 
N. Y., July 15. 1839, and died in 
Meriden, ^lay i. 1899. His early 
life was spent upon his father's 
farm. He afterwards for a time 
taught a village school wdnters. He 
learned the drug business, which he 
made his life's calling, at Bingham- 
ton, N. Y., where he also enlisted 
in the Civil War in the Eighth N. Y. 
Cavalry, serving as hospital stew- 
ard until the close of the war. He 
then returned to Binghamton, 
where he assumed his former po- 



sition as drug clerk, and in 1867 was 
married to Mrs. Susan B. Barber,, 
mother of W^illis N. Barber, now a 
well known druggist of Meriden. 
Mr. Marvin, with his wife and step- 
son, came to Meriden in 1868, and 
on Broad street, in the building now 
the residence of Silas B. Hall, start- 
ed the third drug store in Meriden, 
his quarters comprising one-half of 




E. LYMAX MAKXTN. 

the ground floor, and the other halt 
being used as a shoe store. Owing 
to the scarcity of rents Mr. Marvin 
secured accommodations with board 
in the old Central hotel, afterwards 
removing his family to a small 
house on East Main street, but in 
1883 built a comfortable residence 
at 530 East Main street, where he 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



257 



lived with his family until he passed 
out of this life. ^ 

His strict integrity and reliability 
as a merchant soon won the con- 
fidence of the buying public at the 
center, and his enterprise in putting 
in one of the first soda fountains in 
Meriden made him somewhat cele- 
brated. His progressiveness as a 
merchant was also demonstrated in 
various ways. In February, 1870, 
having bought out the drug store 
of Davis (S: (ireenfield. he removed to 
the present location, where he con- 
tinued in business as long as he 
lived, and which store, now owned 
by his stepson, Willis N. Barber, 
has been gradually enlarged from 
time to time until it comprises one 
of the largest and best ordered drug 
.stores in the city. Athletic goods, 
school books and periodicals former- 
ly comj)rised a large portion of the 
-tock. aufl during the youth of W^il- 
- \. r.arber, Avho grew up \\ith 
;he st<->re, a job printing business 
was conducted, but as the popula- 
tion at the center increased, the 
store became more confined to the 
goods usually found in a drug store, 
but a large stock of stationery, 
blank books and ])eri()dicals is still 
carried. 

.Mr. .Marvin was affiliated Avith 
everal organizations and was es- 
l)ecially active in the Odd Fellows, 
being a member of Meriden Center 
Lodge, 68. I. C). O. F.. in which 
odgc he passed through all the 
chairs. Fie was also a member of 

17 



tile building committee and one of 
the trustees of the ( )d(\ b'ellows' 
building on Hroad street. lie was 
a member of (J)asis Encam])ment, 
and of the uniform rank of that 
order. I U- was a n)end)er ot' ('en- 
ter Lodge, 97, -A. F. & A. .M.. and 
Keystone Chapter, 2"/, R. A. .M., 
and was highly esteemed in .Masonic 
circles. He was also a niend)er of 
.Merriam Post. 8. (',. A. R.. and also 
of the -Meriden I )ruggists' Associa- 
tion and the Connecticut I'liarma- 
ceutical .Association. In i)olitics he 
was a consistent Republican, and 
although he served two }ears from 
the Fifth ward in the common coun- 
cil, he declined further to hold pul)- 
lic office. W ilh his wife lie was a 
devout member of the h'irst llaptist 
church. 

Airs. Alar\in. Avho died July 16, 
1903. was an exemplary Christian 
character. She was prominent in 
Rachel Lodge. D. of R.. and was 
also a member of the relief corps 
auxiliarv to Merriam Post. C .A. R. 



W ILLI.^ X. P.ARP.I'.R. 



\\ illis Xorman P>arl)er. druggist, 
of .Meriden. a merchant who. though 
much engrossed in business, has for 
nian\- \ears been a ])r(iininent tigure 
in military and fraternal circles, was 
born in flarwinton. Conn.. ( )ctober 
II, i85(;. He is the son of the late 
.Xorman P.uell. and ."^u^.-m I'.each 
(Wood) P.arber. lli> father was 
the .son of Lo\al and Lucretia 



258 



A CENTURY OF MERlUliN. 



(Buell) Barber, and his mother, a 
daughter of David B. and Beulah 
(Beach) Wood. His father lived 
in Harwinton until the breaking out 
of the Civil War, when he enlisted, 
August 28, 1862, in Litchfield, in 
Company A, Nineteenth Connecti- 
cut Volunteers, dying after one 
year's service. 

In 1867 his mother was again 
married to E. Lvman Marvin, 




WILLIS N. B.\RBER. 

of whom a sketch appears else- 
where. Mr. Barber, coming to this 
city with his mother and step- 
father in 1868, has ever since been 
identified with the town. He ob- 
tained his early education in the 
Center school, and after gradu- 
ating in 1877, entered the store of 



his stepfather, where he commenced 
to learn the drug business. There 
he finished his course, becoming a 
registered pharmacist in 1883, and 
has always remained either as clerk or 
proprietor, with the exception of 
two years, when he was employed 
at the old Whittlesey drug store. 
New Haven. 

Returning to Meriden in May, 
1899, upon the death of Mr. Marvin 
and after having previously man- 
aged the store and looked after his 
mother's interests, in 1891 he pur- 
chased a part interest in the busi- 
ness, but since September, 1899, has 
been sole proprietor. 

This store, the fourth oldest drug 
store in Meriden, has always enjoy- 
ed the unstinted patronage of the up 
town people, and has ever been con- 
ducted under honorable business 
principles, at the present day com- 
prising an establishment of most 
modern pattern containing a large 
stock of pure drugs and medicines, 
sundries, and all the goods usually 
found in a high class drug store, as 
well as a large stock of stationery 
and periodicals. 

Mr. Barber stands high in the drug 
trade, being a merchant of good 
repute and a mendjer of the Con- 
necticut Pharmaceutical Associa- 
tion and the Meriden Druggists' 
Association. He is also a director 
of the Meriden Business Men's As- 
sociation. 

In fraternal life he is one of the 
best known men of Meriden. He 
is a past master and has been for 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



259 



several years treasurer of Center 
Lodge, 97, A. F. & A. ]\I. ; member 
of Keystone Chapter. 27, R. A. M. ; 
also of Hamilton Council, 22, R. & 
S. M. ; and a past commander of St. 
Elmo Commandery, 9, K. T., and a 
member of Meriden Chapter, O. E. 
S. He is, as well, a member of the 
New Haven Ijodies of the Scottish 
Rite and of LaFayette Consistory. 
Bridgeport, where he obtained his 
thirty-second degree, and is a mem- 
"ber of Pyramid Temple, ^I. S. Mr. 
Barber has also taken all the de- 
grees in Odd Fellowship. 

Since 1884 he has been a charter 
member of C. L. Upham Camp, 7, 
S. of v., and has held all the offices, 
not only in the camp, of which he 
was its first captain, but others with- 
in the gift of the state. He was 
colonel of the Connecticut division 
in 1891, and has served as special 
aide on the staff of the commander- 
in-chief, and attended several of the 
national encampments. 

He began his creditable service 
in the Connecticut National Guard 
])y enlisting, ^larch 15, 1883, in Co. 
I, Second Regiment, from which he 
Avas discharged in 1888. In July, 
1888, he again enlisted in the service, 
becoming a member of Co. B. C. X. 
'■ t. (the New Haven Blues), in 
which he served until his return to 
Aferiden, when, in August, 1889, he 
was appointed hospital steward on 
the staff of Col. John B. Doherty. 

After six years" service in that 
cai)acity he was re-appointed by Col. 



Lucien F. Burpee, serving until the 
retirement of Col. Burpee, and thus 
completing a service of seventeen 
years. Sergeant Barber, while in 
the state militia took an active in- 
terest in rifle practice, shooting on 
both the Co. I and the regimental 
teams, winning several handsome 
decorations with tlie rifle. He has 
since presented to his old company, 
the Barber medal, shot for annuallv 
b}- the members of Co. I. 

Mr. Barber was married in 1877 
to Melissa, daughter of George H. 
and Maria (Lewis ) Beckley of Meri- 
den. The father of Mrs. Barber 
was the son of Luther Beckley, who 
was born at the old homestead, 
Beckley Quarter, Berlin, Conn., and 
her mother was the daughter of 
Partrick and Sarah (Flagg) Lewis. 
To Mr. and .Mrs. Barlier have been 
born the following children : Maude 
Beckley (Mrs. Chas. E. Wheeler); 
Norman George, a book-keeper at 
the office of the Chas. Parker Com- 
pany; Lewis \\'illis, associated with 
his father in business ; Ethleen Su- 
san, a student at the IMeridcn High 
School, and W'auneita Ruth, who 
]:)assed out when three years of age. 
Mr. B>arber resides with his family 
in his own comfortable home at }^1 
( )rient street. 



E\AX o\vi-:x. 



Evan Owen, remembered for his 
good citizenshi]:) during a long resi- 
dence in Meriden, was born in 



26o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Newtown, Montgomeryshire, North 
Wales, July 7, 1832. He came to this 
country in the spring of 1857, locat- 
ing in Rockville, Conn. Owing to the 
financial panic of that period, he did 
not bring his family from Wales until 
two years later. 

At Rockville and at Windermere 
(Ellington) he worked at his trade in 
woolen mills until after the close of 
the Civil War, when he went to Hol- 




EVAN OWEN. 

yoke, Mass. He afterwards returned 
to Windermere, however, remaining 
there until 1873. In that year he came 
to Meriden and with the exception of 
a few years spent in Lawrence. Mass., 
and Chester, Pa., made this city his 
home until his death, which occurred 
September i, 1900. 



He was always deeply interested in 
politics, and was an ardent Republi- 
can from the time when he was a mem- 
ber of the "W'ide-awakes"" in Rock- 
ville during the Lincoln campaign of 
i860, and thereafter as long as he 
lived. He never desired public office 
but was at one time a member of the 
board of selectmen of the town of El- 
lington, and at the time of his death 
was a member of the city government 
of Aleriden, serving as a member of 
the common council from the Fifth 
ward. 

He was especially beloved in fra- 
ternal circles and was a member of 
Fayette Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of 
Rockville, and Meriden Center Lodge, 
68. L O. O. F. 

In 1850 he was married to Sarah 
Pryce, who, with his two sons, Llew- 
ellyn and Richard A., survive him and 
live in ^feriden. 



RICHARD A. OWEN. 



Richard A. Owen, a valued citizen 
of jMeriden for many }'ears past, and 
since 1889 superintendent of the job 
printing and binding departments of 
The Journal Publishing Company, was 
born in Newtown, North Wales, April 
27. 1855. He is one of the two sons 
of Evan and Sarah (Pryce) Owen. 
He came to this country when he was 
four years of age with his mother, two 
years after his father's arrival here, 
and went to live in Rockville. He 
came to Meriden in 1873 where he has 
ever since lived and for many years 
has been one of the most familiar fig- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



261 



ures of the town associated with the 
printing' business. He began to learn 
the art preservative at the office of the 
Meriden Recorder in 1874. later be- 
coming employed at the office of the 
Meriden Republican. In 1875 he went 
to work for E. A. Horton, with whom 
he remained for more than seven 
vears. In 1883 with Charles E. Bi- 
beau as a partner, and under the firm 
name of Owen & Bibeau, he engaged 
in the job printing business for him- 




Publishing" Comi)any, whose extensive 
printery and iiinder\" has during hio 
superinlcndencN l)ecome one of tlie 
most complete in all Xew I^ngiand. 
Mr. Owen is well versed in his call- 
ing, is an almost infallible authorit.' 
in all things ty])ographical and his 
knowledge and judgment are often 
turned io the good advantage of the 
customer and the author. 

He is a member of Meriden Center 
Lodge. 68, I. O. O. P.; A. H. Hall 
Council, 1423. R. .\.. and ElectriL 
Lodge, 50, X. E. ( ). 1'. 

He was married October 25, 1876. 
to Elizabeth J. Barlow, and to them 
were born two children, Grace Eliza- 
beth, died September 30, 1885, aged 
six years ; and Alice Cary, died Feb- 
ruary 20, 1889. aged seven years. Mr 
Owen resides in his own comfortable 
residence at 50 Fourth street. 



W. l\. THOMl'SOX, 



KiciiAKi) A. o\\i;\. 



William Henry 'rhom])son. mer- 
chant of Aieriden. and who conducts, 
on Colony street, an extensive ice 
cream and confectioner} business, was 
born in Xew Haven. After ac(|uiring 
a good common school education, at 
the age of seventeen lie went to Phil- 
adelphia to learn the trade of a con- 
fectioner under Whitman, .\fter ten 
self. '1 he firm continued the Ijusincss vears at his trade, .Mr. Thompson en- 
successfully for six years, until 1889. gaged in business in the (Juaker L'hy. 
when they sold out to The Journal He came to Meriden in 1879 and 

Publishing Co. Since that date Afr. opened a store at 73 West Main .street, 
f )wen has held his present res])onsible After conducting business at that lo- 
position. where his efforts have re- cation for a ])eriod of twenty-one 
dniindcd to the credit of The Jou.rn.d \ears. he riMuoxrd to hiv present estab- 



262 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



lishnient on Colony street, which is 
justly considered one of the handsom- 
est and best equipped of its kind in all 
New England, and where he has fa- 
cilities for manufacturing the confec- 
tionery for a large retail trade, com- 
prised largely of the elite of the city, 
and also for manufacturing ice cream 
in large quantities which he has always 
served to the public in its purest, rich- 
est and most delectable form. 



JOHN H. PARKER. 



■F 


^ 


S 


■ 1 
1 


.:|llS'#'-,- 


( 


P 4 


I 



Photo by Akers Ai Pigeon. 

W. H. THOMPSON. 

Mr. Thompson is a member of Mer- 
idian Lodge, yy, A. F. & A. M., and 
the Meriden Business Men's Associa- 
tion. He has two sons, George H., a 
talented musician and organist of Ply- 
mouth Congregational church at New 
Haven, and Charles E., associated 
with his father in business. 



John H. Parker, an estimable 
citizen of Meriden and owner of 
the Parker block, one of the most 
substantial business structures of 
the town, was born in Windsor, Yer- 
mont, January 12, 1857. He is the 
son of George A. Parker, a native of 
Ashford, Conn., who married Laura 
L. Conant of Reading, Vt. Mr. Par- 
ker, on the maternal side, is a direct 
descendant of Roger Conant, who 
emigrated to this country, landing at 
Plymouth, Mass., in Julv, 1623, mak- 
ing the passage in the ship "Ann". 
L'nder the Sheffield or Cape Ann 
charter, he was the predecessor of 
Endicott as governor of the Colony, 
with residence at Salem, and was 
appointed as such by the Dorchester 
Company, an office he held for some 
three years, and until the Massachu- 
setts Bay Colony was chartered by 
King James in 1628. He is also a 
direct descendant of Nancy Hanks, 
the mother of Abraham Lincoln. 

(ieorge A. Parker, father of John 
H., was a gun and spectacle maker 
in his young manhood, and was em- 
ployed in the government armory at 
Windsor. About a year and a half 
after the birth of our subject, he 
came to Meriden with his family, 
driving the entire distance. He 
came to Meriden to take charge of 
a livery stable then located on East 
Alain street where the Morse & 
Norton block now stands, and which 
stable was owned by Prosper Merrill, 
a wealthA- manufacturer of A'ermont. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



263 



and which had previously been con- 
ducted by his son. Mr. Parker with 
his young wife and child took up his 
residence on East Main street. 

John H. Parker in his boyhood 
was sfiven the best education the 




later, after serving one _\car in the 
drug store of John W. Shedden. cor- 
ner of Broadway and 34th street, 
New York City, he entered the drug 
business on his own account by 
opening a well patronized store at 
the corner of 6th avenue and 124th 
street, where he continued success- 
fully for six years. 

After the completion of his busi- 
ness block, one of the most desirable 
and thoroughly built structures on 
the main thoroughfare of Meriden, 



I 




GEORGE A. PARKER. 

town atlorded and iinished by taking 
the high school course at the ( )Id 
Corner School, under Prof. A. LI. 
Mather, graduating with the class of 
1872, He began his business life 
in the store of W. W. Mosher, 
where he learned the drug business. 
After two years" experience he se- 
cured a position in a drug store in and which during its CDUsiruction 
Hartford, one vear later entering was under the su]>ervisi()n of his 
the Xew York College of Pharmacy, father, he returned to Meri-den and 
where after taking a two years' occupied the corner store, fitting up 
■Murse. he graduated in 1877, and the same as a drug st.ire. disposing 



I'lioto by .Akcrs iV Pigeon. 

|()11 X II. PAKKIIK. 



264 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



of his interests in New York City. 
Mr. Parker conducted the drug store 
in his business block thereafter for 
a period of twenty years, retiring 
from the drug business in June, 1904, 
with a well earned competency and 
after having made an enviable busi- 
ness record. He has since devoted 
himself to the care of his real estate. 
He is a member of the Connecticut 
Pharmaceutical Association, and the 
Meriden Druggists' x\ssociation. He 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

PARKER BLOCK. 

is also a member of Myrtle Lodge, 
4, Knights of Pythias, and was once 
for many years treasurer of the Pa- 
triot (3rder of the Sons of America. 
He is also a member and one of the 
executive committee of the Colonial 
Club. He is a member of the First 
Congregational Church. 

On November 23, 1880, he was 
married to Mary E. Balcom of New 
York City, to whom two daughters 



and one son have been born as fol- 
lows. Marion Conant, born in 1881, 
married Edward C Waterman of 
Troy. N. Y., and to whom one son, 
John Parker Waterman, was born 
February 8, IQ06; Laura Albertina 
Parker, born in 1884: and Robert 
Lane Parker, born 1890. The par- 
ents of Mr. Parker are still living in 
Meriden. 



S. C. PIERSON. 



Stephen Condit Pierson was born 
at Orange, N. J., Nov. 18, 1841. son 
of Aaron and Mary C. (Ogden) Pier- 
son. 

Ancestry : Thomas Pierson of 
Yorkshire, England, who with his 
brother. Rev. Abraham Pierson, 
( father of the first president of Yale 
College) was a founder of South- 
ampton, L. L, Branford, Conn., and 
Newark, N. J. ; John Odgen, born 
1610 at Corfe Castle, Dorset County. 
England, built the first church in 
New York City (within the old 
Dutch fort) in 1643, named on Royal 
Charter 1662, as assistant to Gover- 
nor ^^'inthrop, the founder of Eliza- 
l)eth, N. J., and "Schout" of the Eng- 
lish towns in New Jersey ; Edward 
Howell, (gent.) born 1584, Marsh 
Gibbon, Bucks County, England, 
])urchased east end of Long Island 
for his colony, and for the hon- 
or of being the first English set- 
tler of New York state, his CHowell) 
coat of arms was carved on the stair- 
way of the present capitol at Al- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



26 = 



bany ; Richard Treat, born London 
1584, named in Connecticut charter 
1662 as assistant to Governor Win- 
throp ; Robert Treat ( son of Rich- 
ard) born London 1622, commander- 
in-chief Connecticut troops in King 
Phihp's War, magistrate Xew 
Haven Colony 1661-65, governor of 
Connecticut 1672. governor or de])u- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

S. C. PIKkSOX. 

ty-governor for thirty years, a 
founder of Xev.ark. X. j.; Jasper 
Crane, a founder of Xew Haven and 
Rranford, also a founder and chief 
magistrate of Xewark. X. J. His 
son married Mary, daughter of Gov- 
ernor RolxM-t Treat. Richard Har- 
rison, a founder of X'ew Haven and 
r.ranford: Jose])h P-aldwin. a 



founder of Milford; Rev. Peter 
Prudden. the leader of Milford and 
a founder of Xew Haven; Daniel 
Dod, a founder of Branford ; Henrv 
Botsford, a founder of Milford. 

Mr. Pierson resided in Hartford 
1850-65, graduated at Yale in the 
class of 1864, and took post-gradu- 
ate course of one year at Sheffield 
Scientific School ; then was member 
of N. Y. C. R. R. engineer corps and 
thereafter in the employ of the X. 
H., H. & S. R. R., and engaged in 
railroad surveys, for the most part, 
until coming to .Meriden. Since 
1888 has been, and still is, activelv 
engaged as civil engineeer and sur- 
veyor. 

He was city engineer and sur- 
veyor from the organization of the 
city to 1888, with the exception of 
four years. During this time the 
more important streets laid out, and 
for the most i)art graded and side- 
walked, were as follows. — Crown, 
Camp, Bunker Avenue, Xorth Colo- 
ny, South Colony. West Main, East 
Main. Pratt, Center, IJritannia, Gris- 
wold. Hicks, \\arren, Sherman Ave- 
nue, Franklin. Lewis .\venue. Lins- 
ley Avenue, Hanover to end of Xew 
City. Maple, (Irove. Columbia. Lin- 
coln. Miller. Liberty. Cook Avenue 
from West Main lo Harrington Hill. 
N'eteran. Willow. Pleasant, Elm, 
High. Cooper. Hobart. Olive, Oak. 
School. Cottage, Xewton, Broad and 
Curtis. Harbor P.rook from :\ Idler 
Street was laid out and graded, and 
the dams removed. 



266 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Married at Simsbiiry, Sept. 23, 
1868, Hannah Pettibone Lati- 
mer, who was ever diligent in minis- 
tries and good works, and died Sept. 
22, 1883. 

Married Mrs. Mindwell Hastings 
Glazier Sept. 18, 1890. 

Children. I Guy Rowland Phelps, 
died young. 

n Decius Latimer, died 
1897 at age of twenty-five years. 

HI Mary Caroline Ogden 
who married June 7. 1898, Horace 
Bushnell Cheney of South Manches- 
ter. They have children, Horace 
Bushnell. Antoinette Phelps and 
Stephen Pierson. 

IV Antoinette Randolph 
Phelps, died 1903, aged twenty-seven 
years. 

V Lucy AA'ilcox, who 
married April 6, 1904. George 
Francis Dominick of Xew York. 
Thev have one child, Antoinette 
Pierson. 



A. E. AUSTIN. 



Abner Ellsworth Austin for many 
years prominent in the business life 
of the community, was born in 
North Haven, . September 13, 1839. 
He was educated in the common 
schools of his native town and 
brought up on his father's farm, 
where from early boyhood he was 
taught the value of industrious 
habits. His father, Joseph Austin, 
died when Abner was fourteen years 
old and a portion of the property 



was thereafter managed by him for 
agriculture until April, 1905. 

At the age of sixteen, in addition 
to carrying on the share of the farm 
which he had inherited, and also his 
mother's portion, he engaged in the 
meat business, first on a small scale, 
driving a meat cart and doing his 
own butchering. At twenty he 
married Ruth B., dauehter of Eben 




Photo by Aker<= & Pigeon. 

A. E. AUSTIN. 

J. Coe, of Stony Creek, who died in 
Meriden in 1895. and to that union 
was born one daughter, Sarah Flor- 
ence, who married Dr. H. A. Meeks 
of Meriden. Mr. Austin continued 
W'ith growing success in the meat 
business until 1867 when he came 
to Meriden and engaged in business 
with his brother-in-law as a member 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



267 



of the firm of Coe & Austin, and the 
firm during the four years ensuing 
carried on the largest retail market 
business in Meriden, also doing their 
own butchering, which was common 
in that period. In 1871 they sold 
out their successful business to 
Charles Grether. 

The following March, Mr. Austin 
engaged in the livery stable busi- 
ness by buying out the Meriden 
House stables, which were then 
conducted by Orrin Carpenter, and 
where he became one of the best 
known horsemen in the state. He 
conducted the ^leriden House sta- 
bles until 1890 when he built the 
present four story brick stable at the 
corner of High School avenue and 
Church street where he became pos- 
sessed of better facilities and more 
room and did a larger business than 
before until ^larch 15, 1903, when he 
'lis])osed of the livery business, still 
retaining his ownership of the build- 
ing, which is the largest livery sta- 
ble in the citv and one of the most 
desirable in the state. During Mr. 
Austin's career in the livery stable 
business, he not only provided fine 
'Iriving equipages and furnished 
' arriages for every occasion, but his 
-tables always contained fine speci- 
men of the equine race, and he be- 
came famous as a dealer in well bred 
horses of which he is a connoissem\ 
Mr. Austin has done much in im- 
proving local real estate and with 
others showed keen foresight in ac- 
Muiring land in the once undc- 
\eloped section of Lewis and 



Springdale avenues which he later 
disposed of advantageously. He 
built his own comfortable residence 
on East Main street in 1874, the 
contractor whom he employed being 
the late George Gay. 

Mr. Austin was one of the 
founders of the Meriden Trotting 
Park Association, and is a member 
of Meridian Lodge, j"/. A. F. & A. 
M., but is not affiliated with any 
other organization. He was mar- 
ried the second time in 1899 to ■Mary 
Gilbert of North Haven. 



H. L. MOREHOUSE. 



Henry L. ]\Iorehouse. Meriden's 
leading carpenter and builder, was 
born in New Mil ford. Conn. He 
comes from one of the coldest families 
in the state and is a son of the late 
Cvrus A. and Cornelia (Canfield) 
Morehouse, and is directly descended 
from Thomas Morehouse who came to- 
Wethersfield in 1640. but the follow- 
ing vear settled in Stamfi>rd where he 
received a grant of seven acres of 
land which was his jiortion. Besides 
tilling the soil and clearing the for- 
est he conducted a gristmill later in 
life at Fairfield. 

His father was a marl)le worker and 
lived and died at New ]\Iilford. 

Hcnrv L. ^forehouse received a 
cmnmon scIiodI educatinn which was 
su])plemented by attendance at the 
Eastman Business College at Pnngh- 
keepsie. from which he graduated in 
1866. .\fter learning the trade of a 
car])cnter and i)uilder at the shops of 



268 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Mr. Dykeman at Bridgeport, he made 
his start in business for himself in 
that city. 

In 1869 '""^ removed his business to 
New Haven and in 1872 came to Aler- 
iden where he has since resided and 
done business, achieving a high repu- 
tation as a contractor and an esteemed 
citizen. His business grew^ with his 
reputation and for some years Mr. 
Morehouse has possessed a large plant 
for the storage, dressing and matching 
of lumber. For some years the office 
and entrance to the plant were on State 
street but since 1901 both the business 
of Mr. Morehouse and that of the 
Morehouse Bros. Company have been 
brought under cover and the office re- 
moved to 24 Miller street, and the 
plant is now one of the most complete, 
best equipped and ably managed in 
New England. 

Being one of the leading carpenters 
and builders of this part of the state, 
Mr. Morehouse has naturally con- 
structed several of the imposing build- 
ings of Meriden and vicinity which 
stand as monuments to his thorough 
and conscientious work. 

Among these could be mentioned 
the Aleriden High School and the St. 
Laurent's Roman Catholic Church, 
many factories and business blocks. 

Mr. Morehouse has always taken 
an active interest in everything that 
pertains to the welfare of his adopted 
city. He has never sought nor held a 
public office and is a man of domestic 
tastes and habits. He is always to be 
counted upon in matters where local 
pride is concerned. 



Mr. Morehouse has four children as 
follows : Allison F., with the A. L. 
Robinson Co., of New York City, sec- 
retary of the Morehouse Bros. Com- 
pany ; Andrew C, of Meriden, treas- 
urer of that company ; Mattie C. and 
Franklin L. Morehouse. 



NOAH POM FRO Y. 



Noah Pomero}', a man who took an 
active part in the afifairs of Meriden, 
was a worthy descendant of honorable 
ancestry. One of his ancestors, Elt- 
weed Pomeroy, came from England in 
the ship John and Mary, it is under- 
stood, landing in Dorchester, Mass., 
now a part of Boston, March, 1630. 
He descended from Ralph de Pom- 
eroi, wdio went to England from Nor- 
mandy with William the Conqueror, 
(nth century) taking active part in 
the conquest for which he was 
knighted. 

Eltweed settled in Dorchester where 
he was prominent in organizing the 
provisional government. In 1637 he 
removed to Windsor, Conn., for per- 
manent settlement. Like many of his 
descendants he was a blacksmith, 
which trade meant more than now 
that machinery is superseding handi- 
craft. In the settlement of Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut they were wel- 
come artisans, being granted large 
tracts of land to induce them to settle 
and carry on business. They were 
the gunsmiths of their locations, wild 
beasts and savages making the gun a 
necessity. In the French and Indian 
wars the Pomerov sjun was in i^reat 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



269 





^. 




^^^^^ 




2/0 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



■demand and in the Revolution, indis- 
pensable. Before the United States 
had an armory the private armories 
■of the Pomeroys were famous. These 
men were of hberal and independent 
jiiinds, determined to preserve their 
civil and religious liberties. Among 
their descendants were successful mer- 
chants, civil engineers, lawyers and 
ministers, one of the last named pro- 
fession was Samuel Pomeroy, a grad- 
uate of Yale College in 1705. 

Noah Pomeroy was born in Say- 
brook, Conn., March i. 1786, the 
youngest of five children. His father, 
'Charles Pomeroy, a merchant of that 
place, who died shortly before Noah's 
birth, was a soldier of the Revolution, 
who enlisted July 8, 1775, as ser- 
geant and served in the Sixth com- 
pany. Col. Charles Webb's regiment. 
In 1776, he joined Lieutenant-Colonel 
Seymour's light horse cavalry as pay- 
master and in 1777 was appointed re- 
ceiver of the 400 pounds of powder 
granted Saybrook. At the age of ten 
Noah began to earn his living, work- 
ing summers, saving his meager earn- 
ings, thereby enabling him to attend 
school winters. At fifteen he com- 
menced peddling tin, of which he 
eventually became a manufacturer, not 
only of plain, but japanned and orna- 
mented ware, which industry he car- 
ried on in several locations, finally 
moving it to Meriden in 1818 where 
he bought a farm and spent the rest 
of a useful life. He retired, nomi- 
nally, from business in 1839, leaving it 
to his sons, but continuing to exercise 
an oversight of the finances, suggest- 



ing improvements and inventing ma- 
chinery that made the establishment a 
leading one. For pastime, when not 
engaged in official duties, for he held 
every office wdthin the gift of his 
townsmen, he devoted his still un- 
abated energies to the improvement of 
his farm. 

He filled the office of justice of the 
peace by appointment of the legisla- 
ture as long as it possessed the power 
to appoint. His knowledge of law 
and impartial judgment were such 
that an appeal was never taken from 
his decisions. He was an ardent ad- 
vocate of progression and reform con- 
tending for the broadest religious and 
political liberty. He earnestly urged 
the calling of the convention which re- 
modeled the state constitution and ex- 
punged many of those statutes known 
as "blue laws." In 1832 he was elected 
to the legislature and in 1837 was 
chosen senator from the Sixth dis- 
trict. 

When the ^^leriden Bank was organ- 
ized in 1833 he was made a director 
and in 1849 i^s president. From 1851 
he was a charter member and a trus- 
tee of the Meriden Savings Bank. 

Mr. Pomeroy was a lifelong I'ni- 
versalist and an ardent supporter of 
that faith. In his house the Univcrsa- 
lists of Meriden held their first meet- 
ings. There also in 1821 the first ser- 
mon in Meriden by a Universalist min- 
ister was preached. 

He took a deep interest in the Civil 
War and the abolition of slavery which 
he lived to see accomplished. He cast 
his last vote for General Grant for 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



271 



president, dying November 2^, 1868. 
He was twice married ; first to Xancy 
Merriman, a descendant of Lieutenant 
Xatlianiel Merriman. a first settler of 
W'allingford, Conn., by whom he 
had ten chihlren : Corneha, I'-liphalet. 
Angehna ( Mrs. EH Ives), EHza ( Mrs. 
John S. Blake), Harriet (Mrs. Isaac 
C Lewis). Xorman. Eugenia (Mrs. 
James P. Stow), Xancy. Charles and 
James T., none of whom are living. 
His second wife was Hattie Hasen, 
also deceased, by whom he had two 
daughters, Hattie (Mrs. George B. 
Fi~»<tte) and Cornelia, the former of 
>vh()ni is now livinc 



HEXRY lAMES LEWIS. 



Henry James Lewis was born at 
Meriden, Connecticut, on October 21, 
184 1. He was the son of Isaac C. and 
Harriet ( Pomeroy) Lewis. His father 
was one of Meridens most prominent 
citizens and one-time mayor, a worthy 
de.scendant of William Lewis, who 
came to this country from England on 
the ship "Lion." landing in Boston, 
Mass., in 1632. and settling in Cam- 
bridge. Four years later, William 
Lewis became one of the Rev. Thomas 
Hooker Company that settled in Hart- 
ford, and still later he removed to 
Farmington, where was built the 
homestead that is yet standing as a 
part of the "Elm Tree Inn." know;: 
now and for many years as a famous 
hostelry. The land, a tract sixteen 
miles s(|uare. he, together with Samuel 
Steele, bouirht from the Indians on 



behalf of the Farmington Company. 
Henry J. Lewis was also descended 
from Jared Lewis, a patriot of the 
Revolutionary War. who served in the 
Continental Army in the regiment 
commanded by Col. Canfield and on 
tlie maternal side from Sergeant 
Charles Pomeroy, also a soldier of the 
Revolution. By virtue of this ances- 
try, Mr. Lewis was a member of the 
Connecticut Society of the Sons of the 
American Revolution. 

He was educated in the common 
schools of Meriden, later attending 
the Meriden Academy, finishing his 
schooling at Eaton's Commercial Col- 
lege, Worcester, Mass. He began his 
business career by entering the office 
of the Meriden Britannia Company, of 
which his father was one of the found- 
ers. Some years after this he went 
into the hardware business as a part- 
ner of X. F. Ciriswold. under the style 
of Griswold & Lewis. About 1880 
he disposed of his interest to John 
L. Richmond. Always a lover of 
outdoor life, he removed to Stony 
Creek, where he could engage in a 
business that should satisfy his desire. 
Here he had from boyhood owned one 
of the Thimble Islands, charted as 
"Lewis Island." The business of his 
choice was that of oyster cultivation, 
and he was one of the first men in the 
state to realize the importance this in- 
dustry was to attain. It was not long 
before he made his headquarters, first, 
at Bridgeport and later at Stratford. 
From now on he rapidly built up a 
business of huge ])roportions until hi.<i 



2.^2 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 










)MUl ^cJjM/^^ 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



^71 



iiii^s extended from Xorwalk 

, .. iward aloiiij the Sound as far as 

kiuilford and Madison, with wharves, 

"s and offices at various places, and 

,,. , .iiional oyster-heds off the south 

Miore of Long" Island and in the waters 

i.f Xarraij^ansett 15ay. Rhode Island. 

In iJV)5 the Connecticut husiness was 

•r|;anized as the H. J. Lewis Oyster 

omi)any. Lnder the name of this 

■oqjoration Mr. Lewis hecame pos- 

essed of a title to more than 10,000 

icres of territory in Connecticut wa- 

ers alone, thus heing at the time of his 

leath the larg-est holder of oyster 

grounds in the state. His Long Isl- 

md branch was incorporated as the 

.ewis I'due I'oint ( )yster Cultivation 

"innpany, with lu-adtiuarters at Say- 

ille. L. I. 

Mr. Lewis was also interested as a 
tockholdt-r and director in a nnmlier 
f hanks, trust companies, and indus- 
ial enter])rises. Some of the Meri- 
en concern> were the International 
ilver Company, of which he was one 
f the lar^e stockholders, the Meriden 
National Uank, and the Mcridcn Trust 

Safe Deposit Comi)any ; he was pres- 
lent of the Horton Printini^ Com]iany 
n<l a director of Edward Miller t.^- 
oinpany and the Miller brothers Cut- 
ry Company. These varied interests 
ept him vigorously active up to the 
ay of his death. 

( )n .\ugust 7, 1S84, .Mr. Lewis 
larricH Mary E. Stringer, daughter 
f William C. and Mary Stringer, of 
old Spring, Long Island, X. \ . They 
id four children, Henry Leroy, Helen 



Margery, Kate Ma\ and Isaac Chaun- 
cey. 

Xever a seeker after ])ul)liciiy or 
popularity, .Mr. Lewis devoted himself 
t(j his husiness and his home, and tlis- 
liked nothing more than a paratle of 
his virtues. Yet a biographical sketch 
omitting all mention of character and 
characteristics could hardly be re- 
garded as satisfactory. 

His ability to see, antl quickness to 
grasj) ui)portunities, prove him to 
have been possessed of the two prime 
essentials of business success — good 
judgment combined with courage. 
Indeed, of business sagacity he had a 
generous endowment both by nature 
and by heritage. This, however, was 
but one phase of a singularly well-bal- 
anced temperament, lucn more dom- 
inant traits were tin- e(|uit_\- wliich 
earnrd him the hearty good-will of his 
business associates, the symi)athy and 
generosity that made of his force of 
emi)lo\es a little army dexoted t»t his 
interests, and the philanthropy whose 
manifestations were known only to 
those institutions and individuals that 
stood in the position of l)eneficiaries. 
The town of Stratford, which he made 
his place of residence for a score of 
years, has known no man that ever did 
more for the town and its peoi)le than 
did he. To talk with him. no matter 
on what subject, was to be imjiressed 
with the sanity of his outlook; to ap- 
peal to him in behalf of a worthy 
cause was to be convinced of the gen- 
uine spirit of kindness and sympathy 
that ruled his life. 



274 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



He died at his home in Stratford, 
on the nth day of January, 1902. 



AARON L. COLLINS. 



A sturdy son of Meriden was Aaron 
Lyman Collins who, during a long and 
useful life, was an influential figure 
in the town and city. He was one of 
the sons of Lyman and Elizabeth 
(Carter) Collins and was born in the 
house on East Main street hill owned 
and occupied by his father and grand- 
father before him. His father carried 
on a large farm and was an extensive 
owner of land which he acquired when 
property valuation was many times 
less than at the present day. 

Aaron L. Collins was reared among 
healthful surroundings and he at- 
tended the common schools of the 
town. He began a long and success- 
ful business career by starting in the 
grocery business on Broad street with 
his brother, the late Charles Collins. 
The venture was successful and the 
Collins brothers built up a large trade 
and established a reputation for busi- 
ness acumen maintained by them 
through life. In 1854 the partnership 
was dissolved and Mr. Collins became 
associated with Pratt, Ropes, Webb & 
Co., who conducted the manufacture 
of cutlery in the location at South 
Meriden now occupied by the Meriden 
Cutlery Company. Of this firm he 
became a traveling salesman, each 
year becoming a more important fac- 
tor in the business until 1878, when 
he was elected president of the Meri- 
den Cutlery Company, which through 



his wise and conservative management 
was kept on a solid business basis as 
long as he lived, continuing to carrv 
out his duties as the head of that large 
concern for about forty years and until 
within a short time previous to hi^ 
death which occurred March 25, 1903. 

J\Ir. Collins had interests in other 
]\Ieriden factories, and was a large- 
stockholder in various other Meriden 
industries, and for a number of years, 
until it was absorbed by the Interna- 
tional Silver Company, he was pres- 
ident of the Wilcox Silver Plate Com- 
pany. He was also a director of tlie 
Home National Bank, a trustee of the 
City Savings Bank and was president 
of the Meriden Grain & Feed Com- 
pany. During his long and useful 
life Mr. Collins maintained a large 
farm of sixty acres situated on what 
is now Williams avenue, and in hi- 
early life owned many acres on East 
Main street hill ; a portion of the latter, 
however, he cut up into house lots, 
and the once extensive property is 
now invaded by many streets, upon 
which substantial residences stand. 

Mr. Collins was a man who held the 
entire respect of the people of the town 
and city of which he was privileged to 
take an important part in its growth 
from a small village. He was emi- 
nently successful as a business man 
and his loss to the community is one 
not easily filled, especially at the Cen- 
ter Congregational church, of which 
he was a valued member and gener- 
ous contributor. 

He was married to Sylvia, daughter 
of Rev. Mr. White, of Middlefield, 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



275 




276 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Conn., and three sons survived him : 
Charles Lyman, of CHnton, Edward 
John, since deceased, and Benjamin 
White Collins. 



EDWARD J. COLLINS. 

Edward J. Collins, a lifelong resi- 
dent, whose life was cut short in his 
prime through the wisdom of the Al- 
mighty, was one of the most lovable 
personal characters in Meriden. At 
the time of his death he was man- 
ager of the Boston office of the Meri- 
den Cutlery Company. He was 
born in the old Collins homestead 
on East Main street on March 31, 
1856 and was the second son of the 
late Aaron Lyman Collins, a leading 
and influential citizen of the town 
and for forty years president of the 
Meriden Cutlery Company. His 
ancestors in this town date back to 
Robert Collins, who came to Meri- 
den in 1727 and became a large land 
owner, since which time the family 
name has held an honored place in 
the history of the town. 

Edward J- Collins with his bro- 
thers, Charles L., and Benjamin W'. 
Collins, a sketch of the latter of 
whom immediately follows this, was 
reared on his father's large farm in 
East Meriden. He was possessed 
of strong mental and physical vigor 
and although he was given an oppor- 
tunity to prove himself in business 
by his father, his success was due to 
his ability to make the most of his 
opportunities. In 1879 after securing 
a good, practical education he en- 



tered the Meriden Cutlery Company 
as a foreman of the stock depart- 
ment, where he became familiar with 
the methods of manufacture and the 
product of the company. In 1894 he 
was promoted to traveling salesman, 
his territory comprising New Eng- 
land and New York, and in 1898 he 
took charge of the Boston office of 
the company. During this long 
period he became one of the best 
known and most popular traveling 
men in the hardware trade, his sun- 
ny disposition, even temperament, 
and proverbial good nature under all 
circumstances making him a general 
favorite with all. He had the facul- 
ty not only of making but of holding 
friends to whom he was always loy- 
al. He was a man who could be 
counted upon whether in business, 
social or private life. 

After the death of his father he 
became one of the directors of the 
Meriden Cutlery Company, and was 
also one of the directors of the Meri- 
den Grain & Feed Company. Mr. 
Collins was a thirty-second degree 
member of the Masonic fraternity, 
being affiliated with all the different 
branches of the order in Connecticut 
including Center Lodge, 97, A. F. & 
A. M., Meriden; LaFayette Consist- 
ory at Bridgeport, and Pyramid 
Temple, Mystic Shrine. 

His death was a particularly sad 
one owing to the fact that he had 
been married but four months, and 
was building a handsome residence 
on School street on land owned by 
the Collins familv for four eenera- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



277 




&,J.^/e:a . 



27\ 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



tions, where he was to make his 
home with his newly wedded wife. 

He was married June 28, 1904, to 
Miss EHzabeth J. Alahon, daughter 
of Thomas Mahon of South Meri- 
den, who survives him and makes 
her home in Aleriden. His funeral 
was largely attended and the active 
and honorary pall bearers included 
men prominent in public, business 
and social life. The following reso- 
lutions adopted by the Meriden Cut- 
lery Company express a measure of 
the esteem in which he was held ii7 
the community. 

"For the third time within the 
brief period of less than two years 
this board is called to deplore the 
loss of an honored member. Mr. 
Edward J. Collins died at his home 
in Boston, October 19, 1904, at the 
close of a brief but severe illness. 

"In the midst of a useful life in 
accordance with the workings of an 
inscrvitable Providence he was tak- 
en from us. We as a body desire 
to leave upon record a testimonial 
which shall speak our profound es- 
teem for one deceased associate 
therefore : Resolved that for the ex- 
cellence of his business qualities, for 
his faithfulness in the performance 
of every duty intrusted to his care 
in the interest of the company ; for 
his worth as a man and a citizen we 
seek through this memorial to give 
honor to his memory ; Resolved 
that these resolutions be spread up- 
on the records of the company and 
a copy sent to the family. Direc- 
tors, Homer A. Curtiss, John L. 



Billard, James W. Gildersleeve, 
Charles L. Rockwell, Robt. W. Hal- 
lam, Frank P. Wilcox, A. Chamber- 
lain and Walter Hubbard.'' 



BENJAMIN W. COLLINS. 



Benjamin White Collins, an active 
man of affairs in business and agricul- 
tural circles, is of a family for many 
years a leading one in Meriden. He 
is a son of the late Aaron L. Collins, 
and a worthy descendant of early col- 
onial ancestry. Lewis Collins came to 
this country from England in 1630 
and with his four sons, Nathan, John, 
Albert and Dexter, located in Charles- 
town, Mass., and whose grandson, 
John Collins (second) became one of 
the patentees of Guilford, this state, 
where as early as 1682 he taught 
grammar school. His family in Mer- 
iden dates back to Robert Collins, who 
settled on a portion of the Belcher 
farm in 1727. Captain Daniel Collins, 
of Meriden, served three enlistments 
in the Revolutionary war ; first in 1775 
as sergeant in Captain Haven's com- 
pany ; again in 1777; and in 1779 re- 
sponded to the New Haven alarm, 
serving in Col. Thaddeus Cook's reg- 
iment, assisting in the defense of Led- 
yard. For valiant service he was 
made a captain in 1780 and was then 
stationed at Guilford in the defense of 
the coast. Lyman, grandfather of 
Benjamin W. Collins, also of Meriden, 
was a soldier in the War of 1812, and 
like his ancestors, became a large 
owner of land in Meriden, which af- 
terwards became possessed by his heirs. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



279 




f'liol.i by H. T. Shaw. 






28o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Benjamin W. Collins is the fourth 
generation born in the old Collins 
homestead on East Main street hill, 
where he still resides and where he 
first saw light April i, 1859. He at- 
tended the old Center school and be- 
came trained in matters of business 
and agriculture long before he reached 
his majority. His father's large farm- 
ing and other interests gave him ani- 
ple opportunity for assuming respon- 
sibilities long before he had reached 
the years of discretion of the ordinary 
youth. The farm of sixty acres he 
took an important part in the manage- 
ment of, and as well looked after the 
family real estate. He has for many 
years been interested in the raising of 
fine stock and has bred many good 
blooded horses as well as pure Jersey 
cows. In 1895, with his father, he be- 
came possessed of the old established 
hay, grain and feed business of A. S. 
Russell on South Colony street. In 
December, 1897, they incorporated the 
business under the present name of the 
Meriden Grain & Feed Co., of 
which he has been the leading spirit in 
the management and since the death 
of his father, the former president, he 
has held the offices of both treasurer 
and president. Under his able man- 
agement the business has increased 
every year and is at this writing of 
large proportions, the concern doing 
its own milling and grinding on the 
premises and dealing in flour, seed and 
fertilizer, as well as hay. grain and 
feed. Mr. Collins is also a large 
stockholder and one of the board of 
control of the large potato dealing 



concern of the R. D.. Prentice Co., 
which controls twent}'-tliree potato 
jobbing houses in the state of Maine. 
He is also a large reai estate owner 
and taxpayer and interested in several 
local manufacturing industries and is 
one of the directors of the Home Na- 
tional Bank. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. He has served as a mem- 
ber of the board of selectmen and for 
the past ten years as one of the school 
board of Meriden. He is also a mem- 
ber of the Town Hall Building Com- 
mittee and one of the reception com- 
mittee of the Meriden Centennial. 

He is a thirty-second degree mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, being a 
member of the following bodies of the 
state: Center Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; 
Keystone Chapter, R. A. M. ; Hamil- 
ton Council, R. & S. M. ; St. Elmo 
Commandery, K. T., and the Scottish 
rite bodies of New Haven and Bridge- 
port. He is also a member of Pyra- 
mid Temple, j\I. S. and of Alfred H. 
Hall Council, Royal Arcanum'. Mr. 
Collins is treasurer of the Coniiecticut 
Cattle Breeders Association, secretary 
of the Connecticut Agricultural So- 
ciety and president of the Meriden 
Agricultural Society. 

He was married March 5, 1895, to 
Sophia Lovell Northrop and to that 
union one daughter, Betsey, was born 
October 9, 1901. 



OWEN B. ARNOLD. 



Owen Brainard Arnold, financier 
and literatus, deceased, and who was 
associated with the life of Meriden for 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



281 



nearly half a century, was born in 
Haddam, Conn., the home of his an- 
cestors for many generations, July 11, 
18 1 8. He was the son of Jared and 
Susan (Brainard) Arnold. On the 
maternal side he was descended from 
David Brainard, a native of Braintree, 
England, one of twenty-eight persons 
who moved to Haddam, Conn., from 
Hartford in 1662, and took up large 
sections of land deeded by the Indians 
to Matthew Allyn and Samuel W'yllis. 
Daniel Brainard became the largest 
land owner in the town and his pro])- 
erty included not only much land in 
what is now known as Haddam proper 
but all now covered by the present 
village of Higganum. From that 
early colonial period the name has 
ever since been prominent in the town. 
In his boyhood, Mr. Arnold was in- 
dustrious and while he was given a 
good education, he showed an inde- 
pendence not only in thought and ac- 
tion but in monetary affairs. Among 
his playmates were many men who 
achieved national prominence in var- 
ious walks of life, and among them 
Cyrus W. Field. To work he thought 
was honorable, and when not employ- 
ing his time in the school room, did 
work about his father's farm, and oc- 
casionally neighboring farms. After 
receiving due preparation, he entered 
Yale College, taking the academic 
course ; he was considered one of the 
brilliant men of the class of 1837 w itli 
which he was graduated, a class that 
has passed down in college history as 
one of the most famous in its amials 
from the large luunber of men it con- 



tained who became eminent in various 
professions. 

Mr. Arnold Ijegan his lousiness life 
in the IJank of Xew England, now 
the Xatitnial Bank of Xew England 
at Haddam, one of the oldest banks 
of the state. There he learned the 
rudiments of banking, a business he 
followed continuously thereafter. It 
was in 1856 that he came to ^^leriden 
to become cashier of the Meriden 
l!ank, his brother, Joseph Arnold, 
having previously occupied the same 
]>osition — and who had resigned in 
1853 to accept the office of cashier of 
the bank in Derby, Conn. O. B. Arnold 
served as cashier until the death of 
Joel I. Butler in 1890, when he was 
chosen president, and he held the lat- 
ter office continuously imtil the day 
of his death which occurred August 
30, 1900. 

The following extracts from the 
resolutions adopted at a meeting of 
the directors of the Meriden Xational 
Hank held a few days after his death 
show in what high regard he was held 
])y his bank associates: 

"After a considerable training in 
banking and financial atifairs he 
(Owen 1'). Arnold) joined his for- 
tunes with our bank forty-four years 
ago, and has remained in continuous 
service, until death following a lin- 
gering illness, severed our official re- 
lations. 

"Knowing him as few did, we held 
him in the highest respect and es- 
teem, llis advice was frequently 
sought and nnich prized. He was 
careful, thorough and painstaking, 



282 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



^A\ 



scrupulously exact, ever affable aiacl 
courteous, with a quiet dignity and 
charming refinement of manner. 

"The worthy never appealed to him 
in vain, and his charity, public and 
private, at home and abroad, was un- 
failing and without display. He was 
a helpful, sympathizing friend, a loved 
companion, and a favorite wherever 
he lived. His library was carefully 
selected, and was always at the ser- 
vice of friends or callers. 

"It is a matter of regret that no ar- 
tist has preserved such work as might 
always call to our minds that tall, 
spare, courtly figure, that winning 
personality, that inspiring face, that 
kindly but searching eye, that impres- 
sive brow, and crowning all, that 
wealth of luxuriant hair. 

"There are enterprises now nour- 
ishing which might have perished 
long ago, except for the courage 
which he infused and the support he 
imparted. 

"His friendly advice and kindly 
word has more than once saved the 
young from ruin, and led them into 
a better and w-orthier life. He heart- 
ily supported all measures calculated 
to elevate, educate and improve man- 
kind, but he received with caution any 
suggestion which involved a possible 
menace to financial, social or commer- 
cial integrity. He scrutinized every 
proposal which might lead to useless 
and burdensome expense, and tried to 
test all questions by the touchstone 
composed of truth, honor, justice and 
fair play. 

"While to the unthinkinc: his ca- 



reer may seem an entire success, he 
had in ihe twilight of his later life 
realized only too clearl\ the uncer- 
tainty (if liuman ])lans, and his grief 
was the keener because he suffered 
for those whose interests were under 
his care, so that at last his troubled 
heart began to long the more for that 
rest and peace which can only be found 
in the companionship of Him who is 
infinitely tender and compassionate." 

Besides the important part Mr. .\r- 
nold took in the successful manage- 
ment of the ]\Ieriden National Bank, 
he was from 1862 until his death one 
of the trustees and directors of the 
Meriden Savings Bank, of which in- 
stitution he was also from 1870 one 
of its vice-presidents. Several local 
manufacturing enterprises were aided 
to success and encouraged both by his 
sound judgment and his means. He 
was one of the directors of Edward 
Miller & Co., and The Wilcox & 
White Organ Company. In the af- 
fairs of the town of Meriden he was 
always active, and although quiet and 
unpretending was a man whose influ- 
ence invariably was exerted for the 
welfare of his fellow townsmen. He 
was kind, not only to relatives. l)ut it 
was his delight to help the jioor and 
unfortunate. 

Tic was one of the founders of the 
Meriden Boys' Club, and contributed 
liberally towards its maintenance. He 
was for about twenty years one of the 
trustees of the Connecticut School for 
Boys. For several years and until 
his death he was president of the Cur- 
tis Home, and he was treasurer of St. 



284 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Andrew's parish for many years, with 
wdiich church he was connected as one 
of the vestrymen for a great many 
years, although in his early life he 
was affiliated wath the Congregational 
church. 

Mr. Arnold's public career con- 
sisted of two terms in the legislature 
where he ably represented the town 
of Meriden, being first elected in 1861 
and again in 1874. 

Mr. Arnold amassed considerable 
land in and about ]\Ieriden and among 
his possessions was quite a tract on 
West Peak and in his will the extreme 
point of the Peak, consisting of about 
four acres, was left to the city of Mer- 
iden. It was his earnest hope that by 
some means this high point of land 
could be used in the same way that 
Mt. Tom in Massachusetts is used, as 
a pleasure resort for the people of 
IMeriden and vicinity during the warm 
days of summer. 

During his entire life he was a stu- 
dent, and as he advanced in age he 
found his greatest pleasure, outside of 
banking hours, with his books. 

His acquaintance among men of let- 
ters was unusually large, while his 
generosity and charity were not fully 
known until after his death. In his 
will were provisions for many charita- 
ble objects, but so reserved a man was 
he that even his executor had no idea 
of the extent of his liberality until 
proven to him conclusively by the 
large number of calls from individuals 
and institutions that had previously 
been helped by Mr. Arnold. 

]\Ir. Arnold was never married. One 



of his nieces, Katherine Arnold, 
daughter of Joseph Arnold, married in 
1874, Charles H. Nettleton, of Derby, 
Conn., whom he appointed executor 
of his w'ill. 

The accompanying engraving of 
Mr. Arnold and the only one of him 
known to exist is from a photograph 
probably taken shortly after his re- 
moval to Meriden. 



HENRY B. BEACH. 



A loyal citizen of Aleriden who 
has taken a part in the betterment of 
the town for over forty years, is 
Henry Burton Beach. He was born 
in New Milford, Litchfield County, 
Conn., ]March 17, 183 1, and is a son 
of Burroughs Beach, a native of Ox- 
ford. Conn., who married Harriet M. 
daughter of Justice A\"eller of 
Bridgew^ater, Conn. His father was 
an exemplary Christian character 
and in his young manhood engaged 
in the manufacture of cabinet furni- 
ture at New ]\Iilford, and his factory 
grew to be the largest in that indus- 
try for several miles around. He 
was a man of strong personality 
and pronounced convictions, es- 
pecially on the slavery question, and 
was one of the earliest advocates of 
the abolition of slavery. On this 
question he had the sympathy of 
but few residents of the town, 
among them was Augustine Thayer, 
father of Judge John Q. Thayer of 
Meriden. Another strong sympa- 
thizer was Daniel Piatt, father of 
the late O. H. Piatt wdio lived in the 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



285 







J^Cl.^ 




286 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



adjoining town of Washington. 
Burroughs Beach, who afterward be- 
came a resident and property owner 
of Meriden, where he died January 
12, 1872, lived to see slavery abol- 
ished, very much to his satisfaction. 

To his son, the subject of this 
sketch, he gave a good education, 
first at the common schools, later at 
private school in his native town, 
afterwards at the Methodist Semi- 
nary at Amenia, N. Y., concluding 
w^ith an attendance at a select private 
school at New Milford. Henry B. 
Beach, after entering a dry goods 
store at New Milford as a boy, be- 
came a clerk and later owned a store 
of his own where he became engag- 
ed in the sale of general merchan- 
dise. In the early 50s he went front- 
iering, locating at Stillwater, Minn., 
where he became a leading factor in 
that town and vicinity and was 
heavily engaged in the lumber and 
milling business, and also in the 
droving of cattle and horses. Just 
previous to i860 his parents re- 
moved to Meriden where they con- 
tinued to reside until called to rest 
from earthly cares. 

Henry B. Beach returned from 
Minnesota and settled permanently 
in Meriden about 1863 engaging in 
the chuck and drill business in a 
portion of the office of Lyon & Bill- 
ard. After a year or more be began 
his long and successful career as a 
traveling salesman in the employ of 
what was then known as the Wil- 
cox Britannia Co., but soon after as 
the Wilcox Silver Plate Co. Mr. 



Beach continued, with the excep- 
tion of one year, in that capacity un- 
til 1905, and still retains his con- 
nection with the company Al- 
though he has now retired from the 
road, he is one of the best known 
traveling men of the trade, and has 
for over forty years been an import- 
ant factor in the concern. He served 
as one of the directors from 1879 
until the business became re-orga- 
nized as a part of the International 
Silver Company in 1903. Mr. Beach 
is connected with the Masonic fra- 
ternity being affiliated with Merid 
ian Lodge yj, A. F. & A. M., of Meri 1 
den and is also a member of thd. 
Council R. & S. M., of Bridgeport-^ 
He is a communicant of St. Andrew's 
Episcopal church. He was marrieo, 
September 5, 1850 to Charlotte 
daughter of Sheldon and Jennettc 
( Wooster) Leavenworth and to thai 
union six children have been born 
Joseph B., of Meriden; Julia B. 
married George B. Paddock, former 
ly of Meriden, of Jackson, Minn. 
Harry Burroughs ; Sheldon B. 
Frederick, died in infancy; and E 
AV. Beach. Mr. and Mrs. Bead 
are also blessed with grandchildrer 
and ereat-erandchildren. 



JAMES COOK. 

Nearly a half century of activ< 
residence and participation in th< 
business affairs of Meriden mad( 
James Cook one of the best knowi 
citizens of the town. He was bori 
in Higganum, Conn., April 26, 1835 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



287 




-; 



G 



Z2/^3^>^t^>^<2^ ^S> ^J-2r-^< 



288 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



where he obtained an education. 
Mr. Cook came to Meriden in 1858 
where he resided continuously until 
his regretted decease. He was in 
every sense a self-made man and be- 
gan his extensive business career by 
securing employment with Lyon & 
Billard where he remained for five 
years. He then became associated 
with Julius I^ratt & Co. 

James Cook as a young man was 
industrious and thrifty and it was 
not long before he had saved enough 
from his earnings to engage in the 
livery business, the site of his stable 
being on Crown street in the rear of 
where the Cook block now stands, 
but which afterwards was destroyed 
by fire. 

Mr. Cook was successful from his 
first business venture, but he started 
on a greater era of prosperity after 
he bought the square on East Main 
street, also bounded by South Col- 
ony street. Crown street and the 
tracks of the N. Y.. X. H., & H. 
railroad. He had an eye to the 
improvement of the property and 
was ever known as a fair minded 
and liberal landlord. 

With Joseph Alorse he built the 
Morse & Cook block, one of the most 
substantial business structures of 
Meriden, located in the heart of 
the business section, and which has 
always proved to have been an ex- 
cellent investment, and at the time 
of its construction was considered an 
important stroke of enterprise on 
the part of its owners. Among Mr. 
Cook's other property holdings 



were a partnership in the Curtiss & 
Cook block located on Main street, 
186 feet of railroad frontage on 
South Colony street, the whole of 
the corner of East Main and Crown 
streets, the old Trading Company 
store on East Main street, and be- 
sides his own residence on Crown 
street he possessed several tenement 
houses and other property. 

Mr. Cook was a man of good re- 
pute and one who was ever consid- 
ered a worthy adopted citizen of the 
town. He took a deep interest in 
the afl:'airs of the locality and no 
movement for the betterment of the 
town was ever known to be 
discouraged by him During the 
last few years of his life Air. Cook 
did not enjoy customary good health 
but his indomitable energy and per- 
severance would not permit him to 
give up his business cares until he 
succumbed to a complication of dis- 
eases. He was much devoted to his 
home and his family and was affil- 
iated with but one fraternal organi- 
zation. Meridian Lodge, No. yy, A. 
F. & A. M. 

He was married to Enuna L. Fay 
who now survives him and to that 
union were born two children : a 
daughter who died in infancy and 
one son, Arthur E. Cook, who now 
fills the important place in the busi- 
ness world made vacant by the death 
of his father, which occurred June 
10, 1903. Mr. Cook was also sur- 
vived by a sister, Mrs. Joseph Hub- 
bard of Middletown, and a brother, 
Henry Cook of Higganum. 



IlIoiiK \l'll 1|- 



289 




19 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 



JOHN SHERMAN LANE. 



Meriden being a manufacturing city 
can boast of many able and progres- 
sive business men. One of the most 
prominent of these is John S. Lane. 
Although he did not become a resi- 
dent of Meriden until 1894 he has 
so identified himself with the business 
and social life of the city as to be 
looked upon as a foremost citizen. 

Mr. Lane is a native of Connecti- 
cut, having been born in Kent, No- 
vember 27, 1839. His father was 
Hon. Daniel P. Lane and his mother 
a member of the well known Sher- 
man family which has given to New 
England so many illustrious citizens. 
Daniel Lane fought in the War of 
1812, and was a well known man about 
the state, having been a member of 
the State Assembly from Kent in 1840. 
He had five children of whom John 
Sherman was the second. 

Mr. Lane attended the district 
school of his native town during the 
winter months and worked on the 
farm during the summer until he was 
thirteen years of age, when he served 
as clerk in a store for one yeear. At 
the age of eighteen he left the hill- 
side home and went to -Bridge- 
port to make his fortune. He 
found employment with the New York 
& New Haven Railroad Company as 
a track repairer. His ability soon 
earned for him a better position, that 
of foreman, and later he served the 
Housatonic road in the same capacity. 
During this time the double track was 



laid between New York and New 
Haven. 

The western fever seized him about 
this time, and in 1859 he went to Chi- 
cago where he remained until 1861. 
Lincoln's call for "500,000 more" after 
the battle of Bull Run found John S. 
Lane ready and willing to answer to 
his country's call, and he came back 
to Connecticut and joined the Eighth 
Connecticut Volunteers, enlisting from 
New Mil ford September 14, 186 1. He 
acquitted himself with gallantry in 
all the engagements of his regiment 
which included the following: Roan- 
oke Island, Newbern, N. C, siege of 
Fort Macon, N. C, South Mountain, 
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Va., Fort 
Huger, Va., Fort Darling, Va., Cold 
Harbor, Petersburg, Watthall Junc- 
tion and Fort Harrison. 

Mr. Lane left the army a first lieu- 
tenant October 14, 1864. On his re- 
turn home he was appointed supervis- 
or of the Housatonic Road, and in 
1880 he accepted a similar position 
with the New York, New Haven & 
Hartford Railroad. Part of his work 
at this time was to attend to the stone- 
ballasting of the tracks, and he soon 
felt that there was a good opening 
in this section of the country for the 
business of furnishing crushed stone 
to the railroads. It was found upon 
investigation that the hills about Mer- 
iden furnished excellent material for 
this crushed stone, and in 1894 Mr. 
Lane moved to Meriden where the 
great industry of John S. Lane & Son 
was started and has ever since been 
growing to greater proportions. In 



292 



A CEXTL'RY OF MERIDEX. 



1893 a quarry was opened near West 
field, ;Mass., on the Boston & Albany 
Railroad where the same class of stone 
is found, and this has also been ver\ 
successful. ^Ir. Lane, at this writing, 
is president of the following concerns : 
John S. Lane & Son, Incorp., Lane 
Construction Co., Incorp., Lane Quar- 
ry Co., and he is a shareholder in the 
Connecticut Trap Rock Quarries In- 
corp. 

For some }'ears he has devoted 
most of his time to his extensive prop- 
erties in Eustis. Florida, where he 
owns large orange groves and a hotel. 

On January 2"/, 1863, ^Mr. Lane was 
married to Miss Emma S. Plumb, and 
their children are as follows: Arthur 
S., Bertha, wife of W. R. Smith, E. 
Le Rov, Harry C, and Edna C, wife 
of Oliver Yale, formerly of ^leriden. 
now of Brooklyn. X. Y. Arthur S., 
E. Le Roy and Harry are all engaged 
in the trap rock business. 



HOX. EDGAR T. DOOLITTLE. 



Hon. Edgar J. Doolittle, for five 
terms mayor of ^Meriden and once 
representing the district in the State 
Senate, was born in Hebron. Conn.. 
January 29. 1845. He is descended 
from Abraham Doolittle who came 
from England in 1640, and took a 
prominent part in the organization uf 
the Town of W'allingford. His father 
was Rev. Edgar J. Doolittle,. a native 
of Xew Haven, and a clergyman of 
the Congregational denomination. 
On the maternal side Mr. Doolittle is 
of the Sage family. David Sage, his 



early antecedent, coming to Middle- 
town from Wales in 1652. One of 
his ancestors on his mother's side. 
Captain William Sage, who fought at 
the battle of Bunker Hill, was also 
one of the antecedents of Russell Sage, 
the noted financier of X'ew York. 

The subject of this sketch received 
his early education in the public 
schools in his native town, his father 
at that time being the settled pastor 
of the First church of that town. Af- 
ter obtaining a practical education, and 
a year after receiving his diploma from 
the Guilford Institv.te. he engaged in 
the paper box industry in ^leriden, 
which from a modest beginning has 
been developed by him into one of the 
largest in the state. From the high 
character of the output of the factory 
(situated on Camp street and conven- 
iently adjoining the tracks of the N'. 
Y.. X. H. & H. R. R.), the industry 
has for many years refl-rcted great 
credit upon Meriden and given em- 
ployment to a large mmiber of hands, 
who find there both regular and re- 
munerative employment. The gf ods 
made at the Doolittle factory comprise 
a great variety ; and almost ever}' de- 
scription of paper boxes and cartons 
are produced there, a large portion of 
the output consisting of the finest 
goods lined with satin, silk and plush, 
and used extensively by the manufac- 
turers of silverware and plated ware. 
The name of the factor}- over which 
^Ir. Doolittle has continuously main- 
tained a personal supervision and man- 
agement, is a synonym for the best 
boxes for all uses in the trade. 



BKCBAFHIES. 



^^ 




) 



294 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Strict integrity and honesty of pur- 
pose in all his dealings have won the 
confidence and esteem of Mr. Doolit- 
tle's fellow townsmen, and he has 
many times been called to accept poz)- 
tions -of honor and trust. He is at 
this writing vice president and trus- 
tee of the Meriden Savings Bank ; di- 
rector of the Meriden Gas and Elec- 
tric Light companies ; vice president 
and director of the Home National 
Bank ; trustee of the Meriden Hospi- 
tal, and in 1904 was appointed by the 
governor of the state a member of 
the Connecticut Commission to the St. 
Louis \¥orld"s Fair Exposition, where 
his service to the commonwealth was 
marked with rare judgment and abil- 
ity. During his terms as chief mag- 
istrate of the city of Meriden, his ad- 
ministration, which was concluded in 
1887, was productive of many perma- 
nent improvements and conducted in 
the interests of all citizens and tax- 
payers. 

While in the State Senate he won 
the esteem of his colleagues and con- 
stituents alike by his close attention 
to the proceedings of that worthy 
body and fearless prosecution of bills 
which embraced that which was right 
and wise. 

In social life Mr. Doolittle is a 
prominent figure and universally es- 
teemed and respected. He is a mem- 
ber of Meridian Lodge, St. Elmo Com- 
mandery, K. T., and a thirty-second 
degree member of the F. & A. M. He 
is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. 

He was married November 13, 1867, 
to Martha W., daughter of George 



and Mary Warner (Couch), of Meri- 
den, who died August 21, 1902. He 
has one daughter, Dorothy. 



HON. BENJAMIN PAGE. 



Hon. Benjamin Page, mayor of 
Meriden in 1890 and 1891, was born 
in North Branford, a son of Benjamin 
and Sarah E. (Merriam) Page, Sep- 
tember 4, 1840. He comes of English 
ancestry. Both his father and grand- 
father were farmers whose names 
were Benjamin and they took a most 
active part in the affairs of their na- 
tive town. 

Inheriting a love of learning and 
a desire for knowledge, young Benja- 
min by close application to his school 
books, fitted himself to become a 
teacher at the age of seventeen ; and 
after an attendance at the State Nor- 
mal school began his career in that 
capacity, his first school being at Wal- 
lingford. He continued with like suc- 
cess as a teacher at East Haven and 
in his native town of North 
Branford. afterwards becoming prin- 
cipal of the school at South Meriden, 
which position he held for four years. 
In 1865 and while still a teacher, he 
established the insurance agency which 
in 1892 became Page & Pardee, of 
Meriden, and for some years past has 
been known as one of the largest and 
most reliable in the state. 

A man of acknowledged judgment 
and with a conscientious regard for 
the rights of others, he has been chos- 
en to settle many important estates, 
and in that capacity has proven him- 



BIOGRAl'IllKS. 



-'95 




(/ tf^^-c^ c/J^^^- 



296 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



self a valued friend to many bereaved 
families. His broadness of mind, 
wide experience and knowledge of 
men and affairs have made him a man 
much sought for advice ; and he has 
achieved a success in business life 
that can only be attained by much ex- 
ecutive ability and the practice of 
methods of strict integrity. 

Mr. Page has had an extended and 
fionorable public career. Shortly af- 
ter obtaining his majority he became 
an active and interested worker in the 
ranks of the Republican party of 
which he has ever been a loyal and 
able supporter. He was first elected 
to office in 1883 when he was chosen 
a member of the Board of Aldermen 
from the Third Ward. His re-elec- 
tion was but a fitting tribute to his 
valued service and during the lasi 
two of the four years he was a mem- 
ber of the upper branch of the citv 
government, he was made president 
pro tem. His nomination and elec- 
tion as mayor in 1889 were the results 
of his popularity and general fitness 
for the honor ; and upon assuming the 
duties of the office he became the chief 
magistrate of the city in fact as well 
as in name. His first term won him 
a spontaneous re-election and the ex- 
ecutive ability and display of wisdom 
during his second term was but a 
continuation of his first. Although 
a third time honored with a nomina- 
tion by his party he declined to serve 
another term as mayor but in 1894 ac- 
cepted the call to take a seat in the 
state Legislature. He was made 
clerk of the Committee on Insurance, 



in which capacity he was admirably 
qualified to serve and at the close of 
the session had made a record satis- 
factory to his constituents. 

Mr. Page was collector of taxes for 
the Town and City of Meriden for a 
period of ten years and during his ser- 
vice in that office handled the public 
funds in a manner most satisfactory 
to the people. His appointment as a 
member of the Board of Fire Com- 
missioners by Mayor Seeley in 1902 
was met with expressions of warm ap- 
proval from both the public and press. 

Mr. Page is a director of the Meri- 
den Savings and Meriden National 
Bank ; president of the board of trus- 
tees of the Curtis Home and one of 
the directors of the Middlesex Mutual 
Assurance Company of Middletown. 
He is prominent in church and social 
life and is one of the wardens and 
vestrymen of St. Andrew's Episcopal 
church. He is also a member of Mer- 
idian Lodge, F. & A. M., and Pacific 
Lodge, L O. O. F. 

He was married in 1864 at North 
Branford to Miss Margaret A. Cook, 
daughter of Leverett and Thankful 
(Stevens) Cook, of Wallingford, to 
whom one daughter, Mrs. Frederick 
W. Kilbourne, of Springfield, Mass., 
was born. 



WILLL\M W. LYMAN. 



The late William Worcester Ly- 
man, one of the foremost citizens of 
Meriden from 1836 to the time of his 
regretted decease, November 15, 1891, 
was born at Woodford. Vermont, 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



297 




298 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



March 29, 1821. He was the son of 
Andrew and Anna (Hall) Lyman. 
When he was but seven years old his 
father died, and with his mother he 
removed to Northford, Conn. In 
1836 he came to Meriden and served 
his apprenticeship in the shop of Gris- 
wold & Couch, britannia ware manu- 
facturers, where he remained for a 
period of five years. With a determi- 
nation to make his mark in life, in 
1844 he embarked in business on his 
own account, which he was enabled 
to do by the practice of strict economy 
for some years previous. With a 
practical knowledge of his business he 
engaged in the manufacture of bri- 
tannia spoons, taking with him as 
partner Ira Couch. A short time later 
he purchased his partner's interest and 
continued in the same factory, which 
was near his late residence in jMeriden, 
for the following two years. He then 
removed his enterprise to the Twiss 
factory in Prattsville, which offered 
larger and more suitable quarters, and 
took as partner Lemuel J. Curtis. 
This partnership was afterwards dis- 
solved and Mr. Lyman took possession 
of the old Frary shop which at that 
time stood near the works lof the 
present Meriden Firearms Company. 
He continued in the manufacture of 
spoons until 1858 wdien he patented 
the "Lyman Fruit Jar," which was 
well received by the trade from its 
highly desirable qualities and practi- 
cal usefulness for the canning of 
fruits. The jar was the first of its 
kind put upon the market and after- 
wards became in srreat demand in 



fruit growing communities. While 
his patent of the fruit jar in itself 
gave him a competency and enabled 
him to leave his family well provided 
for, he also patented an ice 
pitcher, a copper-bottomed tea pot, a 
butter dish and several other articles. 

Mr. Lyman was possessed of rare 
business attainments, and was a citi- 
zen of enterprise and public spirit. 
For many years and until the time of 
his death he was one of the directors 
of the Meriden Britannia Company. 
He was also until 1878 president of 
the Meriden Cutlery Company, of 
which concern he afterwards and until 
his decease continued as one of the di- 
rectors. Fie was also one of the prime 
movers of the street railway and a 
director in the Meriden Horse Railway 
.Co. He was a director of the Meri- 
den National and also in the City Sav- 
ings Bank, and was the first president 
of the old Meriden Flint Glass Co. 

]\Ir. Lyman was a man who could 
be counted upon at all times to do his 
duty toward his fellow citizens, and 
several terms served the town of 
Meriden in the state Legislature, 
his service comprising the years 1849, 
1 88 1 and 1882. He also served as a 
member of the Common Council from 
the Fifth ward. 

He was married in 1844 to Roxanna 
G. Frary, daughter of James Frary, a 
leading dry goods dealer of his day, 
and is now survived by one daughter, 
Mrs. Henry Warren (formerly Miss 
Josephine Griswold Lyman) who re- 
sides on Britannia street with her hus- 
band and dauarhter. 



BIOGRAI'IIIKS. 



299 



THE LATE KLl C. lURDSEV. 



One of the noted citizens of Meriden 
in his time was the late Eh C. Bird- 
se> . known as Squire llirdsey. mer- 
chant, pubhc official and churchman. 
who during" his life stood high in th.e 
estimation of his fellow townsmen. 
He was born in Meriden December 21, 
1799. and was the oldest son of De'i- 
con Gershom and Lucy P. P.irdsey. 
After an eventful life of usefulness he 
passed away October 9, 1S43. He re- 
ceived his education in the schools of 
Meriden, and when a very young man 
engaged in business at the corner of 
East Main and Broad streets, but after 
having had a practical experience pre- 
viously in manufacturing, purchased 
the brick building now demolished, 
previously occupied by Potter, Ship- 
man & Lewis, the site of which is 
near the present stately residence now 
occupied by his son, Eli C. Birdsey. 

Squire Birdsey was knuwn as the 
leading merchant of his day, and over 
his counters was sold nearly every- 
thing in the way of mercliandisc to be 
procured at that time except groceries. 
The store and the strong personality 
of its [)roprietor attracted the leading 
men of Meriden who for years con- 
gregated there, esi)ecially in the win- 
ter time, ancl many matters of public 
interest were there discussed, .'^tjuire 
Bird.sey usually taking the leading 
part. That he held the entire confi- 
dence of the comnumity seems also to 
be proven by the fact that he kept the 
savings of many of his friends and 
acted as banker before the establish- 



ment of local banks, and he was 
known to be the only possessor of an 
iron safe for "some years in Meriden. 
lie was a natural born leader of men 
and his judgment and foresight were 
nuich relied upon. Although Ijy no 
means stubborn or arbitrary he had a 
quiet faculty of leading others t(j his 
way of thinking rather than being one 
who changed his mind easily without 
just cause. Early in life he identified 
himself with the Baptist Church, of 
which he was an active member, and 
of this society he was for some years 
treasurer, and permanently identified 
with its growth and prosperity dur- 
ing his life. He was first selectman 
in 1833 and clerk of the town of Mer- 
iden continuously from 1S34 to 1S43, 
and served the town in the Legislature 
in 1834 and 1835. He was a man 
who never shirked his diUy. and ever 
had in mind the Golden Rule and the 
just dues of his friends and neighbors. 
S(|uire liirdsey was of a genial, kind- 
ly ami benevolent disposition, and was 
highly esteemed by all who knew 
him. 

He was marrieil June 3. 1S24, to 
Rebecca Cook Wilcox and three chil- 
dren blessed the union: Liiuis. born 
.April 13, 1825. married first X'incey 
.\nn Miller, second Julia Davis, and 
now residing in .Meriden: .Min.i. born 
.^e])t. 2-:,. 182^. married John Ives, of 
-Meriden, and die<l .March 13. 1855; 
I-'li Coe Birdsey, now a leading resi- 
dent and busijiess man of .Meriden, 
born I-'ebruary 2^. 1843. .^cpiire P.ird- 
sey was buric<I in the family lot at the 
East Cemetery. 



300 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




t^' C ^^^^^^^ 



BIOGRAl'IIIES. 



^OI 





-/ .y^ 



^ 






302 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ELI COE BIRDSEY. 

A life-long identification with ]\Ier- 
iden, following that of his father, 
whose full name he bears, has made 
the name of Eli C. Birdsey one most 
familiar to both present and past res- 
idents of the town. He was born in 
Meriden February 25, 1843, ^"^1 still 
resides in the stately Colonial mansion 
built in 1830, at the corner of Broad 
and East Main streets, and which 
from its prominent location and pleas- 
ing style of architecture has been for 
many years one of the most conspic- 
uous landmarks of the town. His 
father, of whom a biographical sketch 
is given elsewhere, died when Eli was 
an infant and he was trained early to 
paths of rectitude by his mother. He 
attended the schools of Meriden and 
later took a course at Pierce Academy 
at Middleboro, Mass. He began his 
business career as a clerk in his broth- 
er's general store but at the end of 
four years engaged in business in the 
hardware line for himself, taking as 
a partner the late Wallace A. j\Iiles, 
one of the past mayors of the city. 
Adhering to the same location and 
since having as partners the late Frank 
S. Foster and his present partner, 
John F. Raven, Mr. Birdsey has be- 
come known as one of the most re- 
liable and enterprising merchants of 
the locality and the large trade the 
firm of Birdsey & Raven enjoys is the 
result of a long and uninterrupted 
period of a carefully conducted busi- 
ness during which the confidence of 
the buying public has been justly mer- 



ited. In matters of public interest 
concerning the town and state Mr. 
Birdsey has shown a conscientious re- 
gard. During its existence he was 
secretary of the Meriden Merchants' 
Association, and upon the organiza- 
tion of the Meriden Board of Trade 
he became a director and was its first 
secretary. Since its organization he 
has also been vice president of the 
Connecticut State Board of Trade. 

Mr. Birdsey has always taken much 
interest in historical research and is 
considered an authority on many sub- 
jects relating to the past. He is a 
valued member of the Hartford His- 
torical Society and one of the state 
managers of the Sons of the American 
Revolution, a society to which he is in 
several directions eligible owing to his 
distinguished ancestry. In his polit- 
ical affiliations Mr. Birdsey is a Re- 
publican and while he has ever been 
willing to further the political ambi- 
tions of his friends has never sought 
nor accepted any public office. 

His prominent connection with the 
Masonic order dates back many years 
and brings no little distinction to 
Meriden. A thirty-third degree mem- 
ber of that order, he entered the blue 
lodge (Meridian) as far back as 1864 
and since has devoted much time to 
the work in the various branches of 
the order, being, at the present writ- 
ing, one of the best known members 
in the country. He was a charter 
member of Center Lodge, of which he 
has also been secretary, junior and 
senior wardens and treasurer at dif- 
ferent times ; he has also held several 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



303 



offices of honor and trust in Keystone 
Chapter, R. A. j\l. ; and was one of 
the organizers and the first gcnerahs- 
simo of St. Ehno Conimandery, of 
which he is also a past eminent com- 
mander. He has further l)een hon- 
ored with the offices of grand warden 
and grand commander of the Grand 
Commandery of Connecticut and since 
1894 has continuously been elected 
grand recorder of the Graiivd Com- 
mandery in this state. In addition, 
he is. at this writing, secretary and 
treasurer of both the Connecticut and 
New England associations of past 
grand commanders of K. T. and is 
the grand representative of the Grand 
Conimandery of the District of Col- 
lumbia near the Grand Commandery 
of Connecticut. Mr. Birdsey is grand 
treasurer of the Council of Deliber- 
ation of the A. A. S. R. 

That he should be known among 
members as one of the best authorities 
in the state on Masonic law, methods, 
legislation and discipline and that the 
work of his pen has ever been appre- 
ciated to the fullest extent by his 
brother members in the various 
branches of the order are facts con- 
ceded by all familiar with his honor- 
able record and standing as a Mason. 
As a resident of Meriden he is 
highly esteemed in the community rmd 
deserves that regard which is accordrd 
men in any community only when 
they have won it by good citizen and 
fellowship. Mr. Rirdsey was married 
I in 1864 to Miss Catherine P>utlcr, a 
jdaughter of Lyman and Mary Anne 
riark) Butler, and has no children. 



HON. GEORGE S. SEELEY 



Hon. George S. Seeley, mayor of 
Meriden in 1902-3-4 and 5, like sev- 
eral of his antecedents, was born in 
Waterbury. He first saw light Feb- 
ruary 2, 1846. His ancestors on the 
paternal and maternal sides comprised 
old Connecticut stock. His great- 
grandfather was one of the patriots 
who fought in the Revolutionary War 
and his grandfather, Roger Pritchard, 
saw active service as a continental sol- 
dier in the War of 181 2. 

The subject of this sketch and his 
mother were born at the old Pritchard 
homestead, and he received his edu- 
cation by attending the public schools 
of Waterbury and Meriden. When he 
was 12 years old, his parents removed 
to Meriden, his father purchasing the 
farm at East Meriden, now owned by 
Edwin Birdsey, where for some years 
he continued in agricultural pursuits, 
later engaging in business as a stone 
mason. 

At the age of 19 George S. Seeley 
began to learn his trade and after 
serving his apprenticeship pursued 
the calling of a metal turner with 
marked perseverance and industry for 
twenty-five years. For the past eleven 
years he has devoted his energies to 
the handling of real estate. His wide 
kn(iwle(lge of public afiairs has been 
gained by ])ractical experience ac- 
c[uired by his repeated election to 
town and city offices. Affiliated 
closely with the Republican party, 
Mr. Seeley. although a strong organ- 
izer, has never been classed a politi- 



304 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 





^ 



/J^ 



CIOGRAPIIIILS. 



J^D 



cian in the generally accepted sense of 
the term, and his public record and 
private life have ever been above re- 
proach. He served creditably as a 
member of the Common Council and 
later of the Board of Aldermen from 
the third ward and in 1898, 1899, 1900 
and 1 901 as second selectman and sev- 
eral years as chairman of the Repub- 
lican Town Committee. 

After the city had gone Democratic 
two municipal elections, the Republi- 
cans of ]\Ieriden chose Mr. Seeley for 
their standard bearer and his election 
was a high personal tribute to his pop- 
ularity. 

Subsequent to his election it was 
pro\'en that the people of the city had 
made no mistake, for both his terms 
as mayor were marked by wise ap- 
pointments and an administration of 
public affairs which reflected credit 
upon the city as well as its mayor ; 
for the city's business was conducted 
in the interest of the taxpayer and 
property owner. During his four 
years as mayor he was accredited a 
most loyal support from the various 
commissions of his appointment and 
his management of the city's finances 
was most pleasing and gratifying to 
the citizens. Mr. Seeley is a promi- 
nent ()(\i\ I'Vllow, and since 1888 has 
served that fraternity as treasurer of 
Meriden Center Lodge, of which 
lodge he is also a past grand, lie is 
a member of the Arcanum Club; one 
of the vestrymen of St. Andrew's 
Episcopal church of Meriden. of which 
parish he has also been treasurer since 
1900: he is also a member ami a di- 



rector of the Meriden Board of Trade ; 
member of the Meriden Business 
Men's Association, and as a member 
of the General Committee has shown 
an active interest in the Centennial 
celebration. 

November 24, 1867, he was united 
in marriage with Anna G., daughter 
of Melvin C. and Esther (Guy) Lee, 
of ]\Ieriden, and three children have 
blessed the union ; Frank Guy, wIkj 
now resides with his wife and lw<j 
children in Mt. X'ernon. X. ^'. : Mrs. 
James H. Guernsey, of Ansonia, and 
Arthur D. Seeley. a promising young 
man in liis seventeenth year. 



GEORGE REDFIELD CURTIS. 



The subject of this sketch, George 
Redfield Curtis, was a descendant of 
John Curtis, who. with bis motiiei, 
IClizabeth, and his brother, William, 
was among the first settlers of Strat- 
ford. Conn., in the year 1639. ^^'"^ 
line of descent is as follows: Widow 
Elizabeth. John, Thomas (who settled 
in Wallingford. Conn., in 1670, as 
an original planter), Xathaniel, Ben- 
jamin, r>enjaniin. .\sahel. In 1670 
the territory now comprised in Meri- 
den was a jiart of Wallingford. and 
so for over two hundred years tli:.> 
branch of the Curtis family haye lived 
l)ractically in the same locality. 
( "leorge Redfield Curtis was" the 
youngest child of Asahcl Curtis and 
his wife. Mehitabel Redfield. of Clin- 
ton. Conn., through whom he was a 
lineal descendant of John Alden. of 
".MaNtlower" fame. lie was born in 



3o6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Meriden, Conn., on Christmas Day, 
December 25, 1825, and received his 
education principally in the schools 
of that place. He left school at the 
age of eighteen, and took a position 
in a dry goods store in Middletown, 
Conn., where he remained four years. 
In 1847 lis went to Rochester, N. Y., 
and for one year taught school in a 
town near that city. During the year 

1848 he taught school in Meriden. In 

1849 ^''6 became bookkeeper for Ju- 
lius Pratt & Co., of Meriden and con- 
tinued with them until October, 1850, 
when he became teller of the Meriden 
Bank. On January 7, 1853, the 
month following its organization, he 
began work with the Meriden Bri- 
tannia Company. The following 
April he was elected its treasurer, 
which position he held until his death ; 
he was also for some time its secre- 
tary. For many years his life was 
bound up in the increasing interests 
of that company and his labor and 
care contributed largely to the pros- 
perity of the corporation. He was an 
ideal business man and the financial 
affairs of the company were admir- 
ably conducted under his personal di- 
rection for many years, until advanc- 
ing age and many outside interests 
made him gradually withdraw from 
their administration. He was always 
interested in whatever increased the 
prosperity of his native town, and his 
connection with the financial and man- 
ufacturing concerns of Meriden is in- 
dicated by the following list of of- 
fices held by him: He was treasurer 
of the Meriden Britannia Company, 



president of the Meriden Silver Plate 
Company, Meriden Horse Railroad 
Company and Meriden Gas Light 
Company ; director in the Wilcox Sil- 
ver Plate Company, Chapman Manu- 
facturing Company, Manning, Bow- 
man & Company, Home National 
Bank, Meriden Trust & Safe Deposit 
Company, R. Wallace & Sons Manu- 
facturing Company of Wallingford, 
Rogers & Brother of W^aterbury, and 
William Rogers Manufacturing Com- 
pany of Hartford. He was trustee in 
the Meriden Savings Bank and the 
Curtis Home for Orphans and Old 
Ladies. Mr. Curtis married May 22, 
1855, Augusta Munson, youngest 
child of Jesse and Sophia (Talmadge) 
Munson, of Bradford, in western 
New York. Of this marriage were 
born three children — George Munson, 
Frederick Edgar (who died in child- 
hood), and Agnes Deshon. 

Mr. Curtis was a Republican in pol- 
itics but he was never a politican, al- 
though he served his city as council- 
man and alderman, and finally as 
mavor during two terms, from 1879 
to 1881. Of the social, domestic and 
religious characteristics of Mr. Curtis, 
it is difficult to speak truthfully and 
justly without seeming over-eulogis- 
tic. Litellectual in his tastes and wide- 
ly read in general and historical lit- 
erature, he was a most genial and re- 
sponsive companion and acquaintance. 
As a husband and father, he was most 
loving and indulgent ; as a son, most 
filial in his devotion to his mother, 
whose life almost reached a century of 
years. His religion seemed to be in- 



BIOGRArillRS. 



307 




^.Z^A^^ , y\i. , CJ^ --t 't-J-^Zv*' 



3o8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



nate. An elderly person who had 
known him from childhood says of 
him: "The peace of his natal Christ- 
mas-tide seemed to have influenced his 
mind and character." His interest in 
St. Andrew's Episcopal church in 
Meriden and in the church at large 
was very strong. For years he rep- 
resented his parish at the diocesan con- 
ventions, and in 1892 he was a dele- 
gate from Connecticut to the general 
convention of the Protestant Episco- 
pal church held at Baltimore. For 
about forty-five .}'ears he was an offi- 
cer of St. Andrew's parish, and for 
many of them either senior or junior 
warden. As the years went on and 
his means enlarged, he gave to his be- 
loved church munificently. In 1891 
his sister, Mrs. Hallam, died and left 
the bulk of her property to build a 
church in a new parish in Meriden, as 
a memorial to her husband. Mr. Cur- 
tis supplemented this gift largely, and 
two days before his death added to his 
generosity by presenting to the new 
parish a house and lot for a rectory. 
Mr. Curtis first became seriously ill 
at the time of the convention in Bal- 
timore. A trip south in the early 
spring of 1893 failed to materially 
benefit him and he died suddenly May 
20, 1893, at his home in Meriden. aged 
sixty-seven vears. 



GEORGE MUNSON CURTIS. 



George Munson Curtis, treasurer of 
the International Silver Company and 
one of the most valued citizens and 
active men of afifairs of Meriden. is 



a son and the onl}- living child of Hon. 
George Redfiekl, and Augusta (Mun- 
son) Curtis. He is a worthy repre- 
sentative of the eighth generation of 
one of the oldest families of Connec- 
ticut. His paternal ancestor, John 
Curtis, came to this country from 
England, settling in Stratford, Con- 
necticut, in 1639, and since 1670, 
when Thomas Curtis, son of John, lo- 
cated in Wallingford. the family have 
been prominent in the affairs of this 
immediate vicinity. The subject is 
also descended in the eighth genera- 
tion from William Redfiekl, one of 
the earliest English settlers of the 
Massachusetts Bay Colony,, and on 
the maternal side of the ninth genera- 
tion from Thomas Munson, a pio- 
neer of Hartford and New Haven. 

George M. Curtis attended the pub- 
lic schools of Meriden, military 
school of Cheshire and Trinity col- 
lege, Hartford, with the class of 1880. 
He entered business life as a clerk in 
the office of the Meriden Britannia 
Company immediately after leaving 
college ; and of this company he was 
elected assistant treasurer five years 
later. Upon the death of his father 
he was chosen treasurer of the con- 
cern which office he held until tie 
Meriden Britannia Company was 
merged into the International Silver 
Company in 1898 when he became its 
first assistant treasurer. Two years 
later he was elected treasurer of the 
company which ofiice he has since 
held. In addition to the responsible 
duties of that important position he 
serves as a director of the Interna- 



iU()(^,R.\pniKs. 



309 




3IO 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



tional Silver Company, Home Nation- 
al Bank, Meriden Savings Bank, Mer- 
iden Trust & Safe Deposit Company 
and Meriden Gas Light Company. 
He is also secretary of the Curtis 
Home of Meriden ; treasurer of the 
New Haven Anti-Tuberculosis Asso- 
tion which maintains a most humane 
sanatorium at Wallingford, and treas- 
turer and one of the directors of the 
Curtis Memorial Library. The 
last named institution, a handsome 
and costly marble structure, was pre- 
sented to the Town of Meriden by his 
mother and built solely vmder his per- 
sonal supervision. He is also chair- 
man of the committee to select the 
books of the library. 

Mr. Curtis has always been a great 
lover of literature and is also one of 
the best authorities on historic mat- 
ters. He is a member of the Con- 
necticut Historical Society, of Hart- 
ford ; New Haven Colony Historical 
Society and American Historical As- 
sociation. Through his love for dili- 
gent historical research he has con- 
tributed much, not only to the socie- 
ties of which he is a member, but to 
his native town. The early historical 
section of this book is from his ver- 
satile pen in which his accuracy of re- 
search is made fully manifest. 

When the citizens of Meriden be- 
gan to plan for the one hundredth an- 
niversary of the incorporation of the 
town Mr. Curtis was their most hap- 
py choice for chairman of the general 
committee ; and his efforts in behalf of 
the celebration have been productive 
of the most pleasing results. 



Mr. Curtis in his religious affilia- 
tions is associated with St. Andrew's 
Episcopal church, of which he is jun- 
ior warden. He is also secretary and 
treasurer of John Couch Branch, Sons 
of the American Revolution, and one 
of the most influential figures of the 
Home Club, of which he was one of 
the charter members. 

He married November 30, 1886, 
Sophie Phillips, only daughter of the 
late Thomas Trowbridge Mansfield, of 
this city. They have one child, Agnes 
Mansfield Curtis, born September 6, 
1887. 



CHARLES PARKER. 



The name of Charles Parker is not 
only indissolubly connected with that 
of Meriden but is properly recognized 
throughout the country as that of one 
who during his long and useful life 
was a leader in the manufacturing 
world. 

He was the founder of the Charles 
Parker company, the first mayor of 
the city of Meriden, and lived to the 
extraordinary age of 93 years. He 
was born in Cheshire, January 2, 
1809, and was the son of Stephen and 
Rebecca Parker. He was descended 
in the sixth generation from \\^illiam 
Parker, who in 1636, was one of the 
proprietors of Hartford, but who af- 
terwards removed with his wife, Mar- 
gery, to Saybrook. 

Their son, John, was one of the 
earlv settlers of Wallingford, a por- 
tion of which is now called ^^leriden. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



311 



and the Parker farm was first oper- 
ated by him. 

IMward Parker, son of John, born 
in 169 J ; Joel Parker, son of John and 
Jernsha, born in 1723; and Stephen 
Parker comprise his paternal ances- 
tors. Stephen Parker, son of Joel 
and the father of Charles Parker, a 
soldier in the Revolutionar\' army, 
was born Ang. 8, 1759, and was twice 
married, first in 1787, to Sallie, 
daughter of Joseph Twiss, and sec- 
ond to Mrs. Rebecca Stone, daughter 
of Joshua Ray, who died in Meriden 
July I, 1846. 

Charles Parker was the second son 
born to the second marriage and like 
many boys of that period began his 
battle of life early. At nine \ears 
of age he was placed on a farm own- 
ed by Porter Cook with whom he 
lived until fourteen years of age. He 
did the chores and attended the vil- 
lage school and made himself gener- 
ally useful to his employer. 

His first insight into manufacturing 
was at the shop of Anson ?^Iatthews 
in Southington. which he entered in 
1827. where he went to work cast- 
ing pewter buttons, his wages being 
but S^i a week. Although a poor boy 
he was full of ambition, good health 
aufl a strong determination to succeed. 
I'.vfu liiDUgb he received but a ])it- 
tance f(ir his hard a^d conscientious 
labor, with the practice of self-denial 
and strict economy he saved the sum 
of $70. 

After remainiu'^f in the .^^oiUhing- 
ton I'.utton sho]) for a year and later 
being employed by Horace and Har- 



ry Smith in Xaugatuck, in August, 
1828, he came to Meriden and went 
to work for Patrick Lewis. 

His first manufacturing venture 
was making coffee mills on a contract ; 
and during the next thirteen months 
by good management and close ap- 
plication he cleared $1,800, a large 
portion of which he was able to save. 
He then took in as a partner Jared 
Lewis and assumed another and 
larger contract from Lewis & Holt, 
manufacturing coffee mills, ladles and 
skimmers. 

In 1831 he sold out to Jared Lewis 
and purchased an acre of land upon 
which was situated an old brown 
house for which he paid $650. On 
this land he built a stone shop which 
was finished in the spring of 1832, in 
which he itianufactured coffee mills 
and wat'de irons and from which 
sj^rung the several plants of the 
Charles Parker Company of the 
l)resent day, the interesting history of 
which is given elsewhere in this vol- 
lune. He later took in as partners 
his brother. Edmund Parker, and 
Heman White. 

'I'hat he was a ])i(^neer in the man- 
ufacture of hardware in this coun- 
try and that he was the first man to 
introduce steam power in Meriden are 
matters of record. That he also over- 
came, it would seem almost miracu- 
lous] v. obstacles which would have put 
n stop to the operations of any ordi- 
nary man, is shown several times dur- 
ing his remarkable business career. 

The panic of 1837 affected him 
temporarily but he rallied rpiickly anrl 



312 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



3IS 




1> 



T^t^CU^ }t J ayiy^u^i^ 



314 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



within five years he had repaid to his 
creditors every penny of his indebt- 
edness including" the interest. That 
Mr. Parker knew his own business 
capacity and never undertook that 
which he could not accomplish him- 
self alone, seems also to be proven by 
the fact that his great success seems 
to date from 1845 when he dissolved 
the partnership then existing with his 
brother and Mr. White. Mr. Parker 
was a man who relied entirely upon 
his own judgment and, possessing re- 
markable foresight and almost bull- 
dog tenacity, having once decided ur- 
on a course of action, always san- 
guine of ultimate success, he was nev- 
er dissuaded from his purpose either 
by seeming adversity or the well in- 
tended advice of his friends. 

His business grew year by year to 
mammoth proportions. The great di- 
versity of product of the several scat- 
tered factories, called for a display of 
his remarkable ability as a financier, 
yet it is stated that there never was a 
time during his whole business ca- 
reer that he could not tell how he 
stood. 

The evolution of his business life 
from an apprentice boy to a captain 
of industry, according to one of his 
biographers, would be "the story of 
the growth of a small inland Connec- 
ticut town possessing a few local ad- 
vantages developing in a compara- 
tively few years into a thriving and 
prosperous city, prominent among the 
residents of which he w'as a prince 
among his equals." 

About twenty vears before his 



death he was stricken with an illness 
which alTected his strong physique 
but not his unusual mental attain- 
ments and which confined him much 
of the time to his home. Notwith- 
standing this he continued to direct 
his several large enterprises and up 
to the very last of his long and use- 
ful life his counsel was that which de- 
cided the more important matters of 
the company. Few men, indeed, have 
made such a record for a continued 
business service for the benefit of the 
town, and no man's business credit 
in the history of Meriden was rated 
higher than that of Charles Parker. 
As a resident of jMeriden Mr. Par- 
ker w^as naturally a foremost citizen. 
He took an active interest in all pub- 
lic aft'airs both locally and otherwise. 
In his early life he was a Democrat 
and after the Civil war broke out he 
showed his loyalty to the Union by 
helping to equip companies of mili- 
tia in response to President Lincoln's 
call for troops, and thereafter identi- 
fied himself permanently with the Re- 
publican party of which he became a 
staunch supporter and, although one 
of the presidential electors wdio voted 
for Franklin Pierce, he became an ar- 
dent admirer of Abraham Lincoln and 
was a delegate at both the conven- 
tions in Chicago and Philadelphia 
where General Grant received re- 
spectively his first and second nomi- 
nations for President. 
. When Meriden received its city 
charter in 1867 Air. Parker was 
shown the confidence and esteem of 
the peojile by being chosen the first 











,^/ ..^ 



If 



3i6 



A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 



mayor. During his administration 
he conducted the affairs of the then 
infant city not only wisely but with 
as much care as he did his own pri- 
vate business. 

As a result Meriden as a city es- 
tablished a remarkable precedent, 
which its citizens look back upon 
with pride. 

Mr. Parker was a member of Mer- 
idian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and held 
the distinction of being the last sur- 
viving charter member of that Ma- 
sonic lodge. He was also a member 
of St. Elmo Commandery to the 
members of which before his death 
he presented a beautiful banner in 
memory of his brother. Rev. John 
Parker, his son, Wilbur Parker, and 
his nephew, George White Parker, all 
of whom were active members of that 
high branch of the order. 

He was a true member of the Sons 
of the American Revolution from 
1893. From early manhood until 
his regretted decease he was a 
devoted and influential member of the 
First Methodist church to which so- 
ciety at one time he gave the prince- 
ly sum of $40,000 towards building 
the present handsome edifice. He 
also gave to the city of Meriden eight 
acres of land now contained in the 
beautiful public breathing place 
known as Hubbard Park. 

His late residence on Broad street, 
an illustration of which is presented, 
is still one of the grandest in Meri- 
den, and since his death has been oc- 
cupied by his son, Dexter W. Parker. 

Mr. Charles Parker was married 



in 183 1 to Abi Lewis Eddy and to 
that union ten children were born, of 
whom Dexter W. Parker is now the 
only one survivins:. 



DEXTER W. PARKER. 



Dexter Wright Parker, president of 
the large manufacturing corporation ' 
known as the Charles Parker Com- 
pany, is the only living son of the 
late Charles and Abi Lewis (Eddy) ' 
Parker. He was born at the corner 
of Main and High streets, Meriden, 
November 23, 1849, and received hisi 
early education at Russell's Colle- 
giate and Commercial School. ThisI 
was supplemented by an attendance 
at the government military academy 
at West Point, the appointment as a 
cadet to which came to him through 
Congressman Warner, of Middle- 
town. 

He graduated from West Point in 
1870 and, with the commissioned rank 
of second lieutenant, saw active ser- 
vice with the Sixth U. S. Cavalry on 
the frontier of Texas, Indian Terri- 
tory and Kansas. 

After a creditable service in the 
regular army he returned to ]\Ieriden 
and began his extended business ca- 
reer as his father's partner. In 1878. 
when the firm was merged into a cor- 
poration, he became one of the offi- 
cers and gradually his father came to 
rely more and more upon him until ni 
his old age the entire management of, 
the large business finally devolved up- 
on him and his brother, Charles I'- 
Parker. 



BIOGUAPlIIliS. 



i^7 



111 rcakh finally conipclk'tl him in 
take an extended rest, which was con- 
tinued until after his hrother's death 
when W. l\. Lyon assumed the man- 
agement (.»f the business and the sub- 
ject of this sketch became treasurer of 
the company. This office he lield un- 
til the death of his father in 1902, 
whom he naturally succeeded as pres- 
ident of the compan\ . 

Mr. Parker resides in the impos- 
ing j'arker homestead on liroad 
street and is lield in lii.i^h rej^ard in 
the communit}'. His i)rominence in 
the manufacturing" world makes him 
one I d" the ])rime factors of the wel- 
fare of Mcriden and his concern in 
the progress of his native town has 
ever been conclusively shown. 

In addition to filling the important 
office of president of the Charles Park- 
er Cdmpanx he is one of the direct- 
ors of the City Savings Bank and for- 
merly was one of the directors of the 
I-ir^t N'ational I'.ank. lie is also a 
member of the Home Club. 



.\xnRi:\v j. coi:. 



.\n<lrew J. Coe. the first judge of 
the Municipal Court of Meriden. was 
born in this town September 15, 1834. 
He was a son of Calvin and Harriet 
( Rice) Coe and the sixth of a family 
of nine children who reached matur- 
ity. He flied I'ebruary 2^. iHi^j. af- 
ter a life fully identified with Meri- 
dens welfare, and his death was a 
personal loss to an unlimited circle 
of intimate friends. Piorn on tlie Coe 
farm, which was alwa\s his home. 



lu' lirst left it fnr a college course and 
graduated from • W'esleyan L'niver- 
sity with honors in the class of 1S55. 
Deciding to establish himself in the 
west, he commenced the stud\' of law 
in Iowa. ])ut being unable to endure 
the malarial climate there, he returned 
to Aleriden, and completed his law 
studies in the (jffice of the late Col. 
Dexter K. Wright, being adnntted to 
the Xew Haven county bar in 1858. 
Another effort to locate in the west 
was frustrated by a long illness fmm 
which he never quite regained his 
early vigor. After three years of pro- 
gressive law practice in Xew York, 
Mr. Coe returned to the farm which 
he carried on for .some years but 
spending most of his winters in the 
south. 

He became the sole owner of the 
Coe ])roperty in 1873. having bought 
out the interests oi his brothers. Henry 
and W'infield. It was Judge Coe who 
conceived the building of the famous 
Coe "Castle."' This and the old Calvin 
Coe homestead, is described else- 
where in these pages. 

In 1860 Judge Coe was elected rep- 
resentative to the legislature and 
served on the iu<liciary committee. 
Again elected, in 1867. by the Repub- 
lican ])arty. although himself a Dem- 
ncrat. he was made chairman of the 
fniance comnn'tlee. During his ser- 
vice in the state legislature, he was 
ap|)iiinted to adiiist the court house 
contest between the towns of Dan- 
bury and P.ridgcport, and also served 
as chairman, the same year, of the spe- 
cial committee that examined the ac- 



3i8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 




BIOGRAPHIi:S. 



319 




/^^j: K^rC c^ 



320 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



counts of the state treasurer. When 
the Meriden Municipal Court was es- 
tabhshed, by the unanimous nomina- 
tion of the citizens, he was appointed 
the first judge. This office he re- 
signed in 1869 to engage in the fer- 
tihzer business and assumed the 
charge of the Southern Department of 
the Bradley Fertilizer Company, with 
headquarters at Charleston, S. C, 
where he remained for sixteen years. 
He was also one of the founders of 
the Dryer Company of Cleveland, 
Ohio, also manufacturers of fertiliz- 
ers. Judge Coe was descended from 
a long line of ancestors famous for 
patriotism, integrity and independence 
of thought and action. A lifelong 
friends says, "He inherited in marked 
degree characteristics that gave him a 
strong and uncompromising individ- 
uality. Of rare intellectual tastes, he 
found time for a vast amount of study 
and research. Broad and liberal in 
his views, his convictions, always 
strong and the result of serious 
thought, once formed he yielded them 
to none ; yet with the rare consistency 
that advanced with further accession 
of knowledge he was always in the 
line of progress." 

"Two years before his death Judge 
Coe had a severe attack of pneumonia 
and hoping to avoid the recurrence of 
it, spent the succeeding winter in Car- 
acas, Venezuela. About the same time 
his marriage with Miss Kate Foote. 
of Guilford, took place, and his 
friends looked for a bright afternoon 
to crown his life but his honeymoon 
was marred bv ill health which did 



not improve. His last illness was of 
about six months' duration and his 
death was peaceful and painless. He 
was laid at rest in Walnut Grove cem- 
etery. His home life, his untiring de- 
votion to his mother and his loyalty 
to his friends and relatives was ad- 
mirable and those who knew him es- 
teemed him as a peer among men." 

Judge Coe is survived by his wid- 
ow, Mrs. Kate Foote Coe, now of 
New Haven, a woman of charming 
personality, superior intellect, and 
cultivated mind. 



KATE FOOTE COE. 



Kate Foote Coe, widow of Judge 
Andrew J. Coe, was born in Guilford, 
Conn., May 31, 1840. She is one of 
a family of ten children, a daughter 
of George A. and Eliza (Spencer) 
Foote ; and her mother, still living, 
is possessed of good health and all 
her faculties at the age of 93. 

Her ancestry on her father's side 
includes General Ward, of Revolu- 
tionary fame, and Colonel Andrew 
Ward, an officer in the French and 
Indian wars. The place at Nut 
Plains, Guilford, on which she was 
born, has been in the possession of 
the family for many generations and 
the first apple trees planted in New 
Haven county were brought here by 
her forefathers. 

As a girl she attended the Guil- 
ford district school, afterwards Miss 
Dutton's Private School at New Ha- 
ven, and later the Guilford Institute 
and High School. After having ac- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



321 



quired sufficient training" she began 
her career as a teacher. 

The first school over which she 
presided was the district school of 
her native village ; later she taught at 
the Hartford Female Seminary. In 
1863 she went south and during the 
latter part of the Civil war taught 
among the blacks. 

One of her sisters was Harriet 
Ward Foote, who died in 1885 and 
was the first wife of General Haw- 
ley who later became United States 
senator from Connecticut. During 
the war she with ]\Irs. Hawlcy joined 
him at dififerent points. 

From Beaufort, S. C, where she 
first taught the negroes, she went to 
St. Augustine, Fernandino and Jack- 
sonville, Fla., in all of which both 
she and Mrs. Hawley did their ut- 
most in a noble, womanly way to al- 
leviate suffering humanity and en- 
lighten the heli)lessly ignorant. Af- 
ter the close of the war Miss Foote 
continued teaching. 

The work of her pen has ever de- 
lighted the reading public and for 
many years she has contributed fic- 
tion to the best magazines. For fif- 
teen years she was the Washington 
correspondent of the "Independent" 
and during her extended stay at the 
national capital she secured the full- 
est confidence of many of the coun- 
Itry's famous men and women ; and to- 
Iday it is probable that she enjoys as 
Iw'ide an acquaintance as any woman 
>f Xew England. This acquaintance. 
:oupled with the knowledge of the 
)eople of this and other countries, in 



which hhc has traveled extensively, 
has been of profit to the readers of 
her writings. 

While in Washington she became 
interested in the welfare of the In- 
dians and after the death of her sis- 
ter, Mrs. Hawley, who was the first 
president of the Washington branch 
of the National Indian Society, she 
became the head of that society. In 
carrying out the duties of the office 
from 1886 to 1895 she traveled exten- 
sively over sections of the country in- 
habited l)y the Indians, and accom- 
plished much in establishing schools 
and hospitals for them. 

In 1886 she accompanied Miss 
Alice Fletcher, who had previously 
done much for the Indians, to Alas- 
ka. The party sailed from Port 
Townsend in a schooner and made the 
extended and somewhat perilous trip 
only under difficulties ; and her com- 
panions, upon the advice of Charles 
Dudley Warner and General Hawley, 
were sent by the government to study 
the customs and needs of the nations. 
It is needless to state that they were 
greatlv aided in the work by Miss 
Foote, whose observations were also 
helpful in her literary work. 

1 Icr extensive travels to other qtiar- 
ters of the globe have also broadened 
her scope of information. Her first 
trip abroad was in 187J wlun she 
spent a year in I'.urope. Some time 
after her celebrated trip to Alaska 
she visited Japan in company with the 
daughter of Moses Beach, of Peeks- 
kill, X. v.. and while there making 
her headquarters at the .American Le- 



322 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



gation, was also entertained by the 
wives of leading Japanese officials, 
including Baroness Matsuki, in whom 
she found a constant friend. 

In her travels Mrs. Coe has found 
and improved the opportunity of 
studying the people also in the Phil- 
ippine Islands, Mexico, Jamaica and 
Trinidad and upon her marriage with 
Julge Andrew J. Coe she spent a win- 
ter in Caracas, Venezuela. Her mar- 
ried life, which was highly congenial, 
was saddened only by the poor health 
of her husband which in two years 
was ended by his death, a sad blow 
from which she has never fully re- 
covered. 

Upon the death of her husband she 
returned to Meriden and for some 
time thereafter conducted the Coe 
farm from which she held a life in- 
come, but a few years later she sur- 
rendered her interests to the future 
heirs and removed to New Haven, 
taking up her residence with her sis- 
ter, Mrs. Edward H. Jenkins, whose 
husband. Dr. Edward H. Jenkins, is 
director of the Agricultural Experi- 
ment station of Connecticut, and 
where she has since resided also with 
her aged mother. 

Mrs. Coe has for many years been a 
leader in the Daughters of the Amer- 
ican Revolution. After having been 
one of the charter members of ]\Iarv 
Washington chapter, D. A. R., of 
Washington, D. C, she became a 
member of Susan Carrington Clarke 
chapter, D. A. R., of Meriden. Of 
this chapter she has been the regent 
since 1895. She is also a member of 



the Washington Ladies' Club of 
Washington, D. C. Her interest in 
Meriden is unbounded from her pleas- 
ant associations with it and Meriden 
is proud to claim her as its own. 



JOHN DENTON BILLARD. 



John Denton Billard, who died on 
February i, 1902, w'as one of Meri- 
den's most respected and prominent 
citizens. His long life was a success- 
ful one, and in his death Meriden sus- 
tained a genuine loss. Not only was 
he a shrewd, broad-minded man of 
business ; but he possessed a personal- 
ity that won for him many and true 
friends. He did not herald his good 
deeds, but they were not few. He 
was, in fact, an unostentatious Ameri- 
can gentleman. 

John D. Billard was born in New 
York City, February 28, 18 19. At the 
age of fourteen he removed to Say- 
brook, Conn. After attending school 
two years, he was apprenticed to Jere- 
miah Gladwin to learn the carpenter's 
trade. At this time he became ac- 
quainted with a fellow employe of .Mr. m 
Gladwin, George W. Lyon, with whom 'f 
later he was to form the firm of Lyon 
& Billard of Meriden. When his five 
years' apprenticeship was completed 
he continued to work for Mr. Gladwin 
as foreman, and superintended the 
building of some of the best houses in 
Essex, iD'eep River, Saybrook, and 
Lyme. 

In 1847 ^fr- Billard came to Meri- 
den, and with ^Ir. Lvon formed the 



niOGRAPHIES. 



323 




324 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



firm which became so successful aud 
which is now oue of the most impor- 
tant business institutions of the city. 
The company was incorporated in 
1878 as The Lyon & Billard Company, 
with Mr. Bijlard as president, an of- 
fice he continued to hold until his 
death ; although during the last ten 
years of his life he was not actively 
engaged in its management. 

Mr. Billard's financial career was 
highly successful and most honorable. 
He was elected president of the First 
National Bank on April 2, 1881 ; also 
of the City Savings Bank, succeeding 
the late Joel H. Guy. He continued 
to hold these offices during the last 
twenty years of his life, devoting 
practically his entire attention to their 
interests and developing a knowledge 
of the business that gave him high 
rank in banking circles as a man of 
sound judgment and keen discern- 
ment, cjualities that made him a safe 
and conservative executive for those 
two important and prosperous insti- 
tutions. He was one of the organiz- 
ers and original stockholders of both 
these banks and of the Meriden Trust 
and Safe Deposit Company. 

Mr. Billard took an intelligent and 
active interest in the affairs of the 
city and town, serving the city as 
councilman and alderman. For over 
twenty years he was a member of 
the board of compensation, a position 
in which he rendered valuable service 
to his fellow-citizens. 

Mr. Billard was married Septem- 
ber 8, 1 84 1, to Emeline E. Spencer, 



daughter of Captain Samuel Spencer, 
of Saybrook. She died in December, 
1887.' 

Mr. Billard's home life was a hap- 
py one. He loved his home, and his 
beautiful house and grounds on Col- 
ony street gave him a vast amount 
of pleasure. The only social organ- 
ization to which he belonged was the 
Home Club. Notwithstanding his 
quiet and simple tastes he was far 
from being a recluse ; and his friends 
and acquaintances knew his as a pleas- 
ant and affable gentleman, kind of 
heart, and constantly doing little act:' 
of kindness that showed the true spir- 
it of charity. 

At his death Mr. Billard left one 
son, John L. Billard, one of Meriden's 
leading citizens, who has followed 
in his father's footsteps as business 
man and banker ; three grandsons, 
Herbert M., who died on October 14, 
1902 ; Walter S. and Fred H. Billard, 
engaged with their father in the Lyon 
& Billard Company ; and a great- 
granddaughter, Mary E., daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert M. Billard. 



BERTRAND L. YALE. 



Bertrand L. Yale, a successful gen- 
tleman farmer, prominent in business 
and politics at the time of his death, 
October i, 1902, was born in Meri- 
den November 17, 1820, the son of 
Levi and Anna (Guy) Yale. Mr. 
Yale's family was of Welsh and Eng- 
lish descent, two of his ancestors, 
Bishops Morton and Bonner, being 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



3-'5 




326 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



high in ecclesiastical circles. ]\Ir. 
Yale's father was an ensign in the 
war of 1 812 and commissary of the 
troops stationed along the coast from 
New Haven to Branford. For twelve 
years he was postmaster of Meriden. 
He also represented the town in the 
General Assembly and held many oth- 
er positions of trust. 

Bertrand L. Yale spent his early 
life on the farm to which he was to 
return in later years. At the age of 
twenty he began the manufacture of 
cigars which he carried on for some 
time in a small way. From cigar 
making he turned his attention to the 
business of a merchant tailor and deal- 
er in furnishing goods. While thus 
employed he received the appointment 
of postmaster, a position of honor and 
responsibility his father had likewise 
held. He held office for eight years 
and fulfilled the exacting duties with 
credit to himself and to the satisfac- 
tion of his fellow townsmen. 

j\Ir. Yale, while still a merchant, 
had entered the fire and life insurance 
business which grew so rapidly that 
he was compelled to dispose of his 
store. He carried on the insurance 
business for about twenty-five years. 
The latter part of his life he spent up- 
on his farm. 

Mr. Yale became interested in poli- 
tics early in his career, taking an en- 
ergetic part in the work of his party 
in the city and town. Later his bus- 
iness interests for many years pre- 
vented so active participation. In 
1888, however, he was induced to ac- 
cept the nomination for alderman. He 



served on the finance and water com- 
mittees and in 1889, in addition to 
these, on the committee on by-laws. 
During his last term in the council 
he acted as mayor pro teni. 

j\Ir. Yale was recognized as a man 
of sound and conservative business 
judgment. His financial ability was 
held in high regard, and for many 
years he was a director of the Meri- 
den National Bank, a position he 
ceased to hold only when he declined 
a re-election. 

Mr. Yale had a remarkably reten- 
tive memory. A lover of sound and 
elevating literature, he was an author- 
ity on the political and general history 
of our country. 

Mr. Yale's life furnishes an example 
of success won by industry and integ- 
rity and a determination to succeed. 

His boyhood on the farm, no doubt, 
helped to supply the physical strength 
necessary, and the good old New Eng- 
land stock from which he sprang, fur- 
nished the inspiration and ideals that 
played no small part in his advance- 
ment. 

r\Ir. Yale married on February 4, 
1 86 1, Chloe Elizabeth Holcomb, 
daughter of Honorable Raynor Hol- 
comb, of East Granby, Conn. Mrs. 
Yale survives her husband. Their 
only child, Jennie Holcomb Yale, is 
now the wife of John B. Hall, of 
Meriden, 



HIRAM AUGUSTUS YALE. 



Hiram Augustus Yale, who was 
born in Meriden November 5, 1825, 



niOGRAPrilKS. 



327 







328 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



and died July 19, 1887, was a repre- 
sentative of one of the oldest and most 
distinguished families of Connecti- 
cut. He was a son of Samuel Yale, 
third, and a grandson of Samuel Yale, 
second, who was the first manufactur- 
er in Meriden. 

In 1 79 1 he began to make cut nails 
in a small shop which stood on the 
hill near the present location of the 
Center Congregational church, he and 
his oldest son working their machine 
by hand and heading each nail sepa- 
rately. In 1794 he commenced the 
manufacture of pewter buttons, in 
which he was successful, employing 
several hands and accumulating a 
handsome estate. The business 
founded by him developed into the 
manufacture of pewter cups, teapots 
and other articles and grew to large 
proportions. It was continued after 
his death by his six sons, by whom 
other factories were established else- 
where. The industry prompted the 
foundation of the Meriden Britannia 
Company, of which a sketch is given 
on other pages. 

Hiram A. Yale was a descendant in 
the eighth generation of Thomas Yale, 
one of the first settlers of Walling- 
ford, who came to New Haven from 
England in 1637, and was one of the 
principal men of the colony. He was 
one of the signers of the Plantation 
Covenant, of New Haven, who, re- 
moving to what is now Wallingford, 
filled there many offices of public 
trust. 

The father of Hiram A. and Sam- 
uel Yale finally settled in Meriden and 



continued the japanned tin and bri- 
tannia business, having a shop for 
some time on Liberty street and later 
at the corner of East Main and Broad 
streets. He retired from business in 
1858. 

Hiram A. Yale's mother was La- 
minta Clark, daughter of Jahleel and 
Esther (Law) Clark, a lineal descend- 
ant of Jonathan Law, governor of 
Connecticut from 1742 to 1751. 
Jahleel Clark and his eldest son were 
in the battle of Bennington while Mrs. 
Clark and her younger sons were at 
Lanesboro, Mass., gathering in the 
wheat harvest, a duty which devolved 
on many a mother during the Revo- 
lutionary war. 

Hiram Yale was educated in the 
schools of Meriden, fitted for college 
at the Episcopal Academy, of Chesh- 
ire ; entered Washington, now Trinity 
College, at Hartford, in 1842, and 
graduated with the degree of A. B. 
in 1846. During his young manhood 
he was associated with his father in 
the manufacturing business and was 
at times his traveling representative. 
After his father's decease in 1864, up- 
on him devolved the management of 
the estate which included much busi- 
ness property, besides a farm, all of 
which he managed successfully. Mr. 
Yale represented Meriden in the state 
legislature in 185 1. In 1870 he was 
elected to the common council and 
was for four years a member of the 
finance committee. He was also one 
of the trustees of the Connecticut 
School for Boys from 1873 to 1877 
and for manv vears one of the direct- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



3^9 



ors of the Meridcn Xational aiul also 
ot the Meriden Saviiiijs bank. Mr. 
Yale was one of the vestrymen of St. 
Andrew's Episcopal church, of which 
he was both a liberal supporter and a 
member held in his^h regard. 

In i8C)6 -Mr. Yale married Miss 
Mar\ (fatharine Welles, of Wethers- 
field, daughter of John Welles (who 
traces his ancestry back to Gov. 
Thomas Welles) and Mary W. Wol- 
cott. a descendant of Henry Wolcott, 
i>ne of the first settlers of Windsor. 
He is survived by his widow and one 
daughter, Mary Welles, both of whom 
are active members of St. Andrew's 
church, and belong to the Daughters 
of the American Revolution. The 
formtT has been also one of the man- 
agers of the Curtis Home from its 
opening and president of the board 
since the death, in 1893, of Miss Celia 
Curtis, daughter of the founder. 



HENRY T. WILCOX. 



Henry Truman Wilcox (deceased) 
was born in Westbrook, Conn., Feb. 
7, i8ir. He removed to Meriden in 
1829, entering the employ of Julius 
Pratt & Co., comb manufacturers. 
The same year he united with the 
Congregational cliurch, and remained 
a faith fid member as long as he lived. 

Dn May 9. 1832. Mr. Wilcox mar- 
ried Elizabeth White Scovil, daughter 
of Fllcazer Scovil, and a great-grand- 
daughtrr of James Scovil, who settled 
fin Meriden about 1722. 

In 1836. Mr. Wilcox bought the 
Ipiece of land on the HM Colony Road 



on which the famil\- has lived since 
1837. His house then stood at the 
northeast corner of said lot, and 
at the MUilhea^t corner he built a 
small shop about 1845, and manufac- 
tured cofl'ee mills, spring balances, 
steelyards, bit braces and door- 
knockers. This shop burned down in 
185 1, and a second shop, built on the 
same site, was burned in 1853. 



Hi:.\KV .>^. WILCOX. 

Henry Scovil Wilcox, son of Henry 
T. Wilcox, was born in Meriden Jan- 
uary 4, 1835, ^"<^1 received his educa- 
tion at the Old Road school and the 
West Meriden Institute — the latter lo- 
cated on the site of the present Church 
street school. Before leaving school 
he was employed in his father's shops 
part of the time and was bookkeej)- 
er there in 1848. 

In 1854 H. T. and H. S. Wilcox 
were associated with the Meriden 
Hardware Co., located on the site 
now occupied by the M. H. Schenck 
Co.'s factory. This shop also suf- 
fered from fire, after which Messrs. 
Wilcox retired from manufacturing 
and in 1855 bought of Couch & 
Blakeslce a grocery store located at 
the south corner of Colony and I'ri- 
tainiia streets. There they conduct- 
ed a prosperous business under the 
firm name of H. T. Wilcox & Co. 

In 1857, they moved the grocery 
business to the .\ndrews' block, lo- 
cated where the Grand .\rmy hall now 
stan<ls. That brick block, built al)Out 
1847. was owned by James F. G. An- 
drews, and was also occupicfl by .\1- 



330 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



mon Andrews' flour and feed store. 
On March 9, 1864, the building was 
burned down, whereupon H. T. Wil- 
cox & Co. bought the land and ruins 
of the old building and erected the 
present block in 1865, which H. S. 
Wilcox sold to Merriam Post, G. A. 
R., in 1895. Upon the completion of 
this block, B. P. Foote, drug and 
hardware merchant, rented the north 
store and H. T. Wilcox & Co., con- 
ducted the grocery business in the 
south store. 

About February i, 1867, H. T. Wil- 
cox & Co. bought the drug and hard- 
ware business of B. P. Foote. Ten 
years later they sold the hardware 
business to Church & Sprague, and 
retained the drugs together with man- 
ufacturers' supplies. 

H. T. Wilcox died January 7, 1885, 
after which event, H. S. Wilcox con- 
tinued the business until March 15, 
1899, when as his health became im- 
paired, he sold out to Edwin A. Wat- 
rous, after having occupied the same 
store thirty-two years. 

In public matters H. T. Wilcox held 
the office of town treasurer from 1863 
to 1874, and H. S. Wilcox held tlie 
same position from 1878 to 1879. 
The latter also served as councilman, 
as assessor, and as a member of the 
board of compensation and the boa^d 
of relief. 

In 1886 he was chosen a trustee of 
the Meriden Savings Bank, and the 
vear following a director of the same 
institution. 

Mr. Wilcox united with the First 
Congregational church in 1852, and 



at various times was chosen to fill the 
offices of secretary and treasurer of 
the Sunday school, also of the Eccles- 
iastical society. In 1889 he was elect- 
ed a deacon, which office he held till 
the date of his death, December 8, 
1900. 

Mr. Wilcox married December i, 
1869, Jane E. Merriman (daughter of 
Ira and Elizabeth Alerriman), who, 
with his son, Albert H. Wilcox, sur- 
vives him. 



WILLIAM G. WARNOCK. 



William George Warnock, a strik- 
ing example of the self-made man of 
afifairs of this vicinity, one of the 
largest taxpayers of Meriden, was 
born April 25, 1849. ^^^ parents, 
poor but \vorthy people, made their 
home in IMeriden when he was three 
years old, and taught their children 
to be honest and industrious. Owing 
to the somewdiat straitened circum- 
stances of the family, the education 
of our subject, obtained vmder diffi- 
culties, was interrupted at the age of 
nine years when he left the East Mer- 
iden district day school and went to 
work on a farm. With an ambition 
and determination to get an educa- 
tion, later while working days at his 
trade in the factory of the Meriden 
Britannia Co., he studied evenings, 
until by self-denial and prudence he 
had saved enough of his earnings to 
take a course at Potter & Hammond's 
Business College, Hartford. Later 
he read law evenings in the office of 
the late Cook Lounsbury. At nine- 



Di()r,u.\i'iiii:s. 



331 




332 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



teen, with his brother the late J. C. 
Warnock, afterwards head salesman 
of the Meriden Britannia Company, he 
started the Chicago Silver Plate Co., 
now the Aurora Silver Plate Com- 
pany, one of the most prosperous con- 
cerns in the west, competing with 
Meriden's main line of manufacture. 
Two years later, in 1870, the War- 
nock Brothers sold their interests in 
Chicago advantageously and returned 
to Meriden, resuming their important 
positions in the Britannia factory. 
His brother, who had accumulated no 
inconsiderable fortune and acquired a 
high standing in the community, died 
at the age of 34, beloved and respect- 
ed by all who knew him. 

William G. Warnock gradually be- 
came interested in real estate brok- 
erage and for many years has devoted 
his entire attention to the care and 
improvement of local property in 
which his keen foresight, sound judg- 
ment and careful movements have 
made him unusually successful. His 
knowledge of property values has for 
some years been much relied upon by 
others who have sought his advice. 
Perhaps one of the most conclusive 
instances of his judgment was his 
erection of the Warnock block on 
West Main street in which is situated 
the Hotel Bloxham. This stately 
business block has proven a wise and 
profitable real estate investment and 
was built by Mr. Warnock in 1887, 
under his own personal supervision, 
he furnishing material and labor. 

Mr. Warnock having large inter- 
ests in this locality and being natural- 



ly possessed of public spirit, takes no 
little pride in the rapid progress of 
Meriden. Among his real estate pos- 
sessions is what was formerly known 
as the John Yale farm, situated on 
North Colony Road. 

Mr. Warnock is a stockholder in 
several enterprises but has never 
sought prominence in public life, be- 
ing" devoted entirely to his business 
and his home. His love for good 
horse flesh has ever been his one 
weakness and he has always owned 
well-bred equines ; and in years 
gone by he has had in his stables sev- 
eral celebrated trotting horses. 

He was married Jime 2, 1885, to 
Miss Avilla M. Tinker, formerly as- 
sistant principal of the Church street 
school, of Meriden, in whom he has 
a most congenial, intelligent and able 
helpmate. Her father, the late Wil- 
liam R. Tinker, removed to Vineland, 
N. J., in 1884, where he died March 
13, 1905. He was well known in 
musical circles and was, in his day, 
a skillful player of the violin and a 
vocalist of note, which talents were 
inherited in the fullest degree by his 
children. 

His daughter, Mrs. Warnock, be- 
fore her marriage, was one of Meri- 
den's most promising vocalists and 
her well-trained contralto voice was 
often heard in unprofessional con- 
certs and private entertainments. 

Mr. and Mrs. Warnock have been 
blessed with the following children: 
Harold, who died April 23, 1887, at 
the age of eleven months, John Ches- 
ter, graduate of the Meriden High 



Di()GR.\r*iiii:s. 



scliool in lyo'); William George Jr., 
attending' Hopkins (iranimar scliool, 
Xew Haven, hoth i)rei)aring for Vale 
college, and Katherine Avilla, a bright 
young miss just entering her teens. 
All the chiUlren are musical, making 
home most attractive, and Mr. War- 
nock tinds his greatest pleasure at the 
family fireside. 

He is a member of the Pilgrims' 
Harbor Council, Royal .\rcanum, but 
besides being a member of the .\rca- 
nuni Club, is not affiliated with any 
other s(jcial or fraternal organizations. 
Both he and Airs. W'arnock are mem- 
bers of the First Congregational 
church, in the welfare of which they 
take deep interest. 



EDW'IX CADV. 



Edwin Cady (deceased) was one of 
Meriden's most upright and respected 
business men. For a period of over 
twenty-seven years, during which he 
held the responsible position of su- 
perintendent of the Meriden Cutlery 
Company, at South Meriden, he was 
looked up to as a man who stood for 
the very best and most honorable 
methods. 

Mr. Cady was born in Woodstock. 
Connecticut, October 21. 1833. a son 
of Charles Edwin and Clementine 
(Cheney) Cady. His father. Charles 
Edwin Cady. was born June 3, 1804. 
in Killingly. Charles Cady followed 
his trade of blacksmith in his native 
place until 1S37 ^vlien he removed to 
Southbridge. Massachusetts, where he 



slartet-l a machine shoj) in a place now 
called Saundcrsdale. lie retired in 
1857, but continued to live in South- 
bridge until he died, August 7, 1893, 
respected and beloved by all who 
knew him. His wife, Clementine 
Cheney, was the daughter of Captain 
Joel Cheney, of Southbridge, and died 
in 1871. They had live children, of 
whom Edwin was the oldest. 

J-!dwin Cady received the ordinary 
education in the public schools of his 
native place, followed by a course of 
study in W^ilbraham Academy. After 
leaving school he learned the trade of 
a machinist in his father's shop, and 
in a factory at Worcester, Massachu- 
setts. In June. 1856, he went to Buf- 
falo. Xew York, where he entered the 
employ of George Parr, as superinten- 
dent of his factory, and where he re- 
mained two years. Owing to the fail- 
ure of Mr. Parr, he lost this position 
and soon acceptetl one with the firm of 
Pitts Bros., manufacturers of thresh- 
ing machines. In \Xy) he returned to 
Southbridge an<l after two years more, 
in 1 861, he entered the government 
armory to engage in gun making. He 
filled this position acceptably for .-^even 
vears. when he moved to South Mer- 
iilen. Connecticut, and accepted the as- 
.-istant superintendency of the Meriden 
Cutlery Company. .\ year later, on 
the death of the superintendent, he 
was promoted to that position atid 
held it up to the time of his death, in 
i8(>5. His training as an expert ma- 
chinist was of great value to him in 
his work, and his genial manners 



334 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




^P^-LAJT-t^ AO'il^^ 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



335 



and impartial judguKnt won fur him 
the respect of all those who worked 
iimier him. 

Mr. Lady was a Repuhlicaii in \)o\- 
itics, and although never seeking no- 
toriety, did his duty in the community 
by serving for some time in the Com- 
Mon (."onncil in which he admirably 
iurthertd the best interests of his 
ward. 

He was always much interested in 
iraternal organizations and gained 
many friends through the lodges of 
which he was a member. These in- 
cluded Meridian Lodge, Xo. jy, A. F. 
& A. M. ; Keystone Chapter, Xo. 2y, 
R. A. M. ; St. Elmo Commandery. 
Knights Templar, Xo. 9 ; Hancock 
Lodge. L O. O. F. ; Montowese Tribe, 
Xo. 6. L O. R. M.. and Columbi.. 
Council, Xo. 5. (). U. A. M. In n^- 
ligious views he was a Congregation- 
alist. Kindly and affectionate in dis- 
position, he treated every man as if 
he were a brother so that many a fel- 
low citizen felt a keen personal loss 
at his death which occurred Tune 6. 

On December 25. 1856. Mr. Cady 
was married to Rosclia Marble Lathe, 
daughter of Levi Lincoln and Fran- 
cis (Marble) Lathe, of Southbridge. 
They had only one child, which was 
bom July 22, 18^)2. and died .\ugust 
14. 1865. Mrs. Cady still survives her 
hu.sband, and has ever been most de- 
voted to his memory as she was to 
him while he was still with lur. Her 
bf)nie was ever her chief coi.rern in 
life and to make that home a hapfiy 
place was her great aim. 



CllAKLi:.s .\. WlX.sI.oW 



ihe death of Charles X. W'inslow 
on December 29, 1904, at the age of 
60 took from Meriden's daily life a 
good citizen and a trusted business 
man. Mr. W insNjw had been iden- 
tified with the business life of the 
city for forty years, during which time 
he had been agent for the Meriden 
branch of the .\dams IC.xpress Com- 
])any. He was the oldest agent in the 
.W'w Ijigland division of the com- 
pany and was justly regarded as one 
of the most faithful and efficient. 

Mr. W'inslow was born in Xew- 
])ort. k. 1. After completing his 
school career he was employed in the 
office of the Adams Express Com- 
pany, in llridgeptjrt, to which city his 
faiuily had removed. After two 
years he was appointed agent in Mer- 
iden. which position he held until his 
death. During the forty years he 
served in Meriden the office grew 
steadily in importance, a fact due in 
no small degree to his energy and bus- 
iness capacity. He ever had the in- 
terests of the company at heart and 
he was recognized as a progressive 
an<l at the same time strictly conscien- 
tious executive. 

Mr. W'inslow .served as alderman 
in the Meriden Court of Common 
Council in 1880 and 1881. That was 
the only public office he ever held, al- 
though urged on more than one occa- 
sion to accept political honors. I""ar 
from .seeking n<»toriety. he sought 
rather to devote himself to his home, 
hi> br>iness an<l his church. 



336 



A CE.YTURY OF MERIDExX. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



337 



Mr. Winslow was closely identified 
with the Center Congregational 
church, serving as deacon, member of 
standing committee and of the Ec- 
clesiastical society's committee. For 
years he taught in the Sunday 
school. Of him his pastt r. Rev. J. 
H. Grant, wrote: ".Mr. Winslow was 
a pillar of the church in the fine old- 
fashioned sense. Xext to his family 
came the church in his afifection and 
in his loyal devotion. No succession 
of ministers in any church, I venture 
to say. was ever given a more gra- 
cious, practical and steadfast loyalty 
than he gave his ministers ; nor has 
a generation of members in Center 
church often had before its eyes an 
example of such fine courtesy, honor 
and integrity as a man, a counselor 
of such ripe and trusted judgiuent, a 
Christian of such piety, and a chitrch- 
man of such utter fidelity to the wel- 
fare of his church." 

He was a member of no fraternal 
organization. In the year 1874 Mr. 
Winslow married Miss Henrietta E. 
Baldwin, of Mcriden, who survives 
him. Mr. W'inslow's home for thir- 
tv-one years was at 750 Broad street. 

LE GRAND BEVINS. 



The death, on January 12, 1905, 
lof LcGrand Bevins took from Meri- 
ien one of her best known and most 
Inghly respected citizens, one who for 
learly twenty years was prominent in 
^he public life of the city, and during 
[hat f)eriod earned the esteem of all. 

22 



Mr. P>evins was born in Meriden 
February 2, 1839, the son of 
Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Bevins. He 
lived in his native town until he was 
nineteen years of age, when he went 
to Ohio, irom which state he enlist- 
ed and was first sergeant of Co. E 
in the Twenty-nhith Ohio Volunteers, 
leaving a position of railroad fireman 
to enter the service of his country at 
the breaking out of the Civil War. 
His record as a soldier from lUill Run 
to Appomattox was a splendid one. 
At the close of the war he returned to 
his old home and entered the employ 
of the Meriden Silver Plate Company, 
with which concern he remained un- 
til he was elected first selectman of 
the town in October, 1887. 

Mr. Bevins was most devoted to his 
family, advancing years only adding 
to the pleasure he found in the fam- 
ily circle. In 1887 Mr. P.evins was 
elected selectman on the Democratic 
ticket and held the office continuously 
until ( )ctober, 1893. making a record 
never surpassed by any Meriden gov- 
ernment official. I'nder his care- 
ful su])crvision a town tax of eight 
mills was the highest rate that the 
town was obliged to make during 
his incumbency of office. He had 
previously served the city from the 
I'irst ward as councilman and 
alderman, being mayor pro lem 
under Mayor C. H. S. Da\is. 
.\fter retiring from the office of se- 
lectman. Mr. r.evins was a member 
of the board of assessors for five 
vears, at one timi- Iiiiiu' it's rh.iirnian. 



338 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 





-fyoOn^yOC 0^ oUyu-i"*^^^ 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



339 





t^A-(A' -^ (yJ-e^^^^ 



340 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



He was re-elected assessor in the Oc- 
tober preceding his death. 

He was a member of the special 
committee that revised the assessment 
of Meriden property, making out a 
new list at which real estate was put 
at its market value. 

Mr. Bevins was a conservative man 
in all affairs, both public and private, 
and could always be counted upon 
to stand for the best interests of the 
town and city. He was a candidate 
for the Democratic nomination for 
sheriff at one time. In politics he 
was one of the old school Democrats, 
whose devotion to party was unwav- 
ering at all times. "' 

Mr. Bevins was for a number of 
years before his death a trustee of 
the Meriden Savings Bank. In fra- 
ternal circles, he had held membership 
in Merriam Post, G. A. R., of which 
he was at one time a trustee. He was 
one of the organizers of Lincoln Com- 
mand, U. V. U., and held its highest 
office, that of colonel. He was also 
prominent in the state organizations. 
He was at the time of his death treas- 
urer of Alpha Lodge, Knights of Hon- 
or. He was also a member of Cen- 
ter Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; Silver City 
Lodge, A. O. U. W. ; Pacific Lodge, 
I. O. O. F., and Center Congrega- 
tional church. 

Mr. Bevins was deeply interested in 
school matters and for several years 
was chairman of the Corner School 
District Committee, before the con- 
solidation of the districts took place. 
He managed the affairs of the large 
district most judiciously and had the 



confidence of the majority of the tax- 
payers, who insisted upon his retain- 
ing the office of chairman year after 
year. He was also prominently men- 
tioned for other political honors and 
was a candidate for the legislature. 

Shortly after leaving the army, Mr. 
Bevins married, May 17, 1865, Miss 
Jane L. Stiles, daughter of Captain H. 
H. Stiles, of North Haven, and be- 
sides his widow at the time of his la- 
mented decease, was survived by three 
children : Miss Edith L. Bevins, prin- 
cipal of the Willow street school ; 
Miss Anna L. Bevins and Attorney 
Walter L. Bevins, whose death, how- 
ever, followed a few days after that 
of his father. 



WALTER L. BEVINS. 



A most promising life was cut short 
when on January 18, 1905, Walter 
L. Bevins died of pneumonia con- 
tracted while caring for his father, 
LeGrand BeVins, who died 'of the 
same disease January 12. Seldom 
has the death of so young a man 
caused such a genuine grief in a com- 
munity. Not only was it particularly 
sad, coming so soon after that of his 
father ; but Meriden citizens felt that 
Mr. Bevins was a young man who 
could ill be spared. He had crowded 
much into his brief career and had 
made for himself an enviable position 
in the life of the city. 

Mr. Bevins was born in Meriden, 
August 4, 1876, in the house in which 
he died, and except for a short time 
when he resided in Winsted had lived 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



341 



in Mcriden all liis life. He altciided 
the Corner school, and later the High 
school, graduating in 1895. While 
there he was the first business mana- 
ger of the school paper, TJie Pennant, 
and a member of the Alpha Delta 
Sigma. He was also organizer of the 
Clio Debating Club, a school organi- 
zation, and after graduating, he went 
to Winsted, and for considerably over 
a year was editor of the Citizen 
there. He always evinced a liking 
for newspaper work, and had unusual 
talent in that direction, writing much 
for the local papers until his law prac- 
tice became too engrossing. Leaving 
Winsted. having decided to adopt the 
legal profession, he entered the Yale 
Law School. During his attendance 
there he was editor of the Yale Shin- 
gle and was a student there when the 
Spanish War broke out. With the 
spirit of patriotism imbibed from his 
father and ancestors who had served 
their country in the Revolution, he 
enlisted in Company L, First Infantry, 
and was made orderly sergeant. He 
served with that company until peace 
was declared, and then resumed his 
law studies at Yale, graduating in 
1900. In October of that year he 
opened his office in Meriden, meeting 
with deserved success. He was the 
first captain of the local Spanish Wnr 
Veterans' Association, an active mem- 
er of C. L. I'pham Camp, Sons of 
'^cterans, and was the promoter of 
ompany L, Second Infantry. He 
vas chosen first lieutenant of this or- 
ganization, having declined to serve 
,s captain. 



lie had been for some years ])rior 
to his death actively identified with the 
Center Congregational Church, and 
had been chosen deacon, an umisual 
honor for one of his youili. Death 
I)reventcd his fulfilling the duties of 
the office. He w^as at one time su- 
perintendent of the Sunday School, 
and was the organizer of the Lyceum, 
a successful literary and debating so- 
ciety of the i)arish. 

Mr. Lievins was the attorney for 
the Mcriden Business Men's Associa- 
tion, and served it most efficiently. 
He was president of the Young Men's 
Christian Association and his deep in- 
terest in the work, and his executive 
ability made him one of the best pres- 
idents the association ever had. He 
was a member of Center Lodge, A. F. 
& A. M., the Arcatuim Club, and the 
Meriden Wheel Club. 

In politics, Mr. Bevins, like his 
father, was a Democrat. He served 
his party as councilman and alderman 
from the b'irst Ward, and in the elec- 
tion in the fall before his death, was 
the nominee for representative to the 
general assembly. 

.Attorney Bevins was one of the 
best known and most highly respected 
young men in Meriden and none had 
a brighter future. He was able, ener- 
getic, lumest and reliable in every re- 
spect. He was the soul of honor, a 
most faithful and r.bedient .<;on. de- 
voted to his home, taking interest in 
matters that offered rational amuse- 
ment, and thoroughly devoted to any- 
thing that tended to help or advance 
his native town. 



342 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



JOHN EDWARD DURAND. 



Among those who were prominent 
in the affairs of Meriden must be 
reckoned John Edward Durand, de- 
ceased. Mr. Durand was a native of 
Cheshire where he was born April 9, 
1833, one of a family of fourteen chil- 
dren. His father, George A., was of 
French descent and his mother, Eu- 
nice, a member of the Clark family. 

Mr. Durand's school life was short. 
At the age of fourteen the desire to 
take his small part in the great busi- 
ness of life seized him and he entered 
the employ of his brother who was a 
carpenter and joiner in Meriden. 
During his six years of manual la- 
bor the longing to secure more edu- 
cation took possession of him and 
was manifest in his frugality, which 
enabled him to attend a select school 
in the Hanover district for a year. 

While employed in a sash and blind 
factory in Waterbury there came to 
Mr. Durand that urgent call to de- 
fend the Union, and it was the pleas- 
ure of this loyal son and good patriot 
to exchange the instruments of peace 
for those of war. He enlisted as a 
soldier in Company C, 14th Conn. V. 
T., and was in some of the fiercest 
conflicts of the Rebellion, taking part 
in the battles of South Mountain, An- 
tietam, Fredericksburg and Belle 
Plain Landing, where he was wound- 
ed. 

Returning to his old employers he 
remained with them until 1867, then 



worked in a clock factory and came 
to Meriden in 1868. He was stock- 
holder, secretary and treasurer of the 
Steam Mill Lumber Company and its 
superintendent for three years. 

He also traveled extensively 
throughout the state selling drugs 
and medicines for C. P. Colt until the 
possibilities of the real estate business 
claimed his attention and for twenty 
years in his capacity as agent for Hon. 
Ratcliffe Hicks, lawyer and real estate 
dealer, he was thoroughly convers- 
ant with all the vital interests con- 
nected with buying and selling lands 
and buildings. 

Amid the laborious cares of his 
daily life Mr. Durand found time to 
cultivate the religious side of his na- 
ture. He was converted and joined 
the Center Baptist church at the age 
of fifteen years ; but on his return 
from Waterbury he became a member 
of the Main Street Baptist church. 

Mr. Durand was connected with 
Meridian Lodge, No. ']'], F. and 
A. M. ; Merriam Post, No. 8, G. A. 
R., of Meriden ; the Knights of the 
Golden Eagle, and Hawley Division 
of the Sons of Temperance, Hartford. 
He was the first pension agent in 
Meriden and for years a notary pub- 
lic. 

Mr. Durand's wife was Miss Rox- 
ana Sophia Root, daughter of a land- 
owner and farmer in Waterbury. 
She survives her husband and resides 
in this city. He died July 29, 1899, 
and was buried in the Brockett cem- 
etery at Waterbury. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



343 




344 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



CHARLES A. KING. 



Charles Alonzo King, superinten- 
dent of the gun shop of the Parker 
Bros., and one of the poHce commis- 
sioners of Meriden, was born in 
FrankHn, New London county. Conn., 
February lO, 1837. He received his 
education in the schools of Franklin. 
Lebanon and Norwich, and in the 
last named city learned his trade as a 
machinist in the works of J. S. and S. 
J. Mowry. He worked at his trade 
next in the machine shops of Tracy 
& Brand where were manufactured 
whaling guns and projectiles for kill- 
ing whales. His next employment 
during his younger manhood was at 
the works of Pratt & Johnson, manu- 
facturers of sewing machines in Mid- 
dletown. Conn., afterwards securing a 
more lucrative position in the factory 
of the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Ma- 
chine Company, at Bridgeport. 

At the age of twenty-five he en- 
gaged in business for himself at Mid- 
dlefield, forming a partnership with 
Otis A. Smith and at the breaking out 
of the Civil war leased the old John- 
son & Pratt works and manufactured 
by contract for the government, parts 
of the regular standard government 
rifles that were used in the Rebellion 
by the Union army. This partnership 
was dissolved in 1865. 

Immediately after the war Mr. King 
devoted his attention to designing 
small models of the various cannon, 
Columbiads, Dahlgrens, Rodmans, 
etc., used during the strife and which, 
it was thought by General Hawley 



and others, were to be continued in 
use at the U. S. armories for military 
drill throughout the country. With 
the prolTered financial support of 
these moneyed men a corporation was 
formed at Hartford of which Mr. 
King was the practical head. The en- 
terprise failed of any great success, 
however, owing to the lack of sup- 
port accorded, at the time, to the mil- 
itary necessities of the various states. 
There was sufficient demand, never- 
theless, to keep the plant busy until 
1867 when Mr. King was called to 
Springfield, Mass., to become super- 
intendent of the Smith & Wesson Fire 
Arms works, it being the ambition of 
that company to put on the market a 
higher grade of goods than they had 
formerly manufactured. In Mr. King 
the company soon found they had a 
man who could bring about the de- 
sired results and the world-wide fame 
of the Smith & Wesson revolvers is 
due to his ingenuity as a designer and 
practical thoroughness as a superin- 
tendent. He designed the army size 
revolver now largely used in the Rus- 
sian and other armies and patented 
and sold to Smith & Wesson the im- 
provements that made the weapon 
the leading revolver of the world and 
as such it is still recognized. 

Mr. King was called to Meriden in 
1874 to assume charge of the Parker 
Bros.' gun shops. Since coming to 
this city Mr. King has devoted hi.s 
entire efforts to the making and im- 
provement of the Parker shot gun 
which, tmder his watchful eye and 
studious brain, has for manv vears 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



345 




c ^/c^: 




346 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



been known as the best shot gun in 
the world and is used by leading 
sportsmen in every quarter of the 
globe. 

During his residence in Springfield 
in 1873 and 1874 he served as a mem- 
ber of the Common Council there and 
after coming to Meriden in 1875 was 
chosen a member of the local Board 
of Aldermen from the Third ward, 
where he looked well after the inter- 
ests, not only of his constituents, but 
the whole city. He was appointed to 
fill an unexpired term in the board of 
police commissioners in 1903 by May- 
or Seeley and the following year was 
reappointed by the same mayor for a 
full term. 

Mr. King's family numbers, beside 
himself and wife, one daughter and 
three sons: Mrs. G. E. Gaskell, of 
Mystic, Conn. ; Charles Winfield, as- 
sociated with The H. Wales Lines 
Co. ; Walter A., with Parker Bros., 
and Raymond Earle King, a student 
at the Meriden High school. Mr. 
King's three sons all reside in Meri- 
den. 



HENRY WARREN. 



Henry Warren, a retired manufac- 
turer and a well known citizen of Mer- 
iden, was born in Watertown, Conn., 
September 17, 1837. He is the son of 
Alanson and Sarah M. (Hickox) 
Warren and is descended from early 
English and American ancestry. 
William De Warenne, Earl of Nor- 
mandy, who died in 1088, and who 
married the vounsfest daughter of 



William the Conqueror, is one to whom 
he traces his lineage. Richard War- 
ren came over on the Mayflower, 
landed at Plymouth in 1620, and died 
there six years later. 

In the seventeen hundreds the fam- 
ily moved to Woodbridge, Conn., and 
Abigail Warren, wife of James War- 
ren, died in Watertown, September 13, 
1800. Edward Warren, his ancestor, 
fought in the Revolutionary War, was 
drowned in the Naugatuck river in 
1814. and his wife, Mary (Steele) 
Warren, died in Watertown, February 
26, 1849, ^t the age of 85 years. 

Alanson Warren, father of the sub- 
ject of this article, was one of the 
founders of the Wheeler & Wilson 
sewing machine industry and died at 
Watertown, October 20, 1858. 

Henry Warren, following in his 
father's footsteps, identified himself 
with manufacturing enterprises and 
for many years has been one of the 
directors of the Bridgeport Wood Fin- 
ishing Company. He has until recent- 
ly been president of the Butler fe Ly- 
man Land Company of Meri(|en, a 
company which has (lone much in the 
development of real estate and the im- 
provement of property. Mr. Warren's 
business acumen and clear-headed 
foresight have made his advice in en- 
terprises in which he has become in- 
terested trtuch relied upon by his bus- 
iness associates. 

Since taking up his residence on Bri- 
tannia street, which is one of Meri- 
den's most comfortable abodes, 
he has won the esteem of the 
community and the respect of his fel- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



347 




^ 



^yi^-k-L 



348 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



low townsmen. He is one of the at- 
tendants of St. Andrew's Episcopal 
church and has shown an active inter- 
est in the affairs of that parish. In 
recent years, with his charming wife 
and daughter, he has spent much of 
his time in travel. Mr. War- 
ren is a great lover of athletic sports 
and in various ways has encouraged 
baseball and other similar enterprises. 
May 5, 1868, he was united in mar- 
riage with Josephine Griswold Lyman, 
daughter of William Worcester and 
Roxanna G. (Frary) Lyman, and 
they have one daughter, Miss Etta 
Warren, born some years after. The 
Warren home has for several years 
been much frequented by Meriden's 
society folk, and many delightful 
home affairs are arranged by Mrs. 
Warren and her accomplished daugh- 
ter for the entertainment of their large 
circle of friends. Miss Etta Warren 
inherited from her mother her artistic 
tastes and her skill with the violin, 
mandolin and piano has delighted her 
friends upon many occasions at pri- 
vate musicales. She is also possessed 
of a highly cultivated soprano voice 
and is a member of St. Andrew's 
church. 



CORNELIUS W. CAHILL. 



Among those who may be said to 
have amassed a competency in the 
legitimate business life of ]\Ieriden, 
outside of manufacturing, Cornelius 
W. Cahill is one of many. 

He was born in Ireland, Februarv 
12, 1844, and his parents located in 



Middletown when he was three }ears 
old. His father, now deceased, was 
for forty years or more a resident of 
Staddle Hill where he enjoyed the 
entire respect of the community. Cor- 
nelius attended the Staddle Hill 
school, which is still standing and one 
of the landmarks there. 

At the age of fourteen he first com- 
menced to work at his present busi- 
ness and by driving a butcher cart 
in Middlefield laid the foundation for 
future success. 

In 1865 he came to Meriaen and 
became a clerk in the provision store 
of Samuel C. Paddock where by 
courteous attention to patrons he 
made himself not only valuable to his 
employer but popular with a large 
number of customers. When he was 
offered a more lucrative position in 
the same line of business he made 
up his mind that he could be as much 
value in his own store as in that of 
others and encouraged by his custom- 
ers, of whom he had made per- 
sonal friends, established the City 
Market. After carrying on the bus- 
iness for some time alone he took in 
a partner, John W. Coe, and contin- 
ued the business for three -years. 
John W. Coe sold his interest to Pat- 
rick Cahill and M. O'Brien. It then 
became known as Cahill & O'Brien. 
Later with Bartholomew & Coe he 
went into the pork packing business, 
but within a year returned to the re- 
tail business at the City Market. 
Some time afterward he retired from 
the retail business, selling his interest 
in the City Market to B. B. Lane, ancF 



BIOGRAPIIIKS. 



349 





350 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



351 



became again the partner of Barthol- 
omew & Coe, who in the meantime 
had become the Meriden agents for 
Swift's beef. At the end of a year 
Messrs. Coe and Bartholomew retired, 
selling their interest to Mr. Cahill, 
who for the past twenty-five years has 
continued the wholesale commission 
business in handling the Swift beef, 
which at the close of the first century 
of Meriden's history has increased to 
almost mammoth proportions. 

In 1903 Swift & Co. erected their 
present handsome brick building on 
Xorth Colony street which is 
equipped with every modern facility 
for receiving, keeping and handling 
the large amount of beef shipped daily 
from Chicago and supplied by Mr. 
Cahill to the meat markets in the vi- 
cinity of Meriden. Mr. Cahill, hav- 
ing been for so many years engaged in 
the wholesale beef commission busi- 
ness, is known to the trade and is a 
business man of high standing in the 
community. 

In 1895 he erected the Cahill block, 
located on East Main street, one of 
the substantial and most frequented 
business structures. 

He is one of the directors of the 
First National Bank and a trustee of 
the Meriden Savings Bank. 

He was married in May, 1869, and 
has five sons and two daughters: 
Three of his sons, \\'illiam J., Joseph 
and George Cahill, are associated 
with him in business; C. W. CahiU. 
Jr., is a talented musician and organ- 
ist of St. Joseph's church ; Walter Ca- 
hill is .still at school ; Mrs. Jo.seph B. 



Weed, of Xcw York, and Margaret 
Cahill. With the exception of one 
married daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ca- 
hill reside in their comfortable resi- 
dence on Liberty street with their 
children, all of whom give much 
promise. 



ED WIN BROWNSOX l-LX ERl'i T 



Edwin B. Everitt became a resident 
of Meriden in the early sixties. He 
was born in Watertown, Conn., Oc- 
tober 6, 1835, and is the son of Abra- 
ham and Sarah C. (Stone) Ever- 
itt. The family is of English origin 
and has been represented in Xew 
England for nearly three centuries. 
He attended the public schools of his 
native town and completed his educa- 
tion at the Watertown .Academy. At 
the age of twenty he became a ckrk 
in a jewelry house in Hartford, re- 
maining but a .short time. Returning 
home he taught school in his native 
town and also in Northfield. He then 
removed to Waterbury and engaged 
in photograjjhy. Subsequently, he 
oi)ened a studio in Meriden which he 
conducted with success, but on ac- 
count of ill health abandoned that 
calling and became agent for the Con- 
tinental Life In.surance Co.. of Hart- 
ford. So successful was he that he 
was soon made the company's gener- 
al agent for a portion of Connecticut 
and Rhode Island. Some years later 
lir accepted a clerical position with 
the Meridin Britannia Co. (now the 
International Silver Co.) which posi- 
tion he still retains. During the life- 



352 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



time of Horace C. Wilcox he served 
that gentleman in a private capacity 
and since his death has assisted in the 
management of his large estate. For 
more than twenty years he was presi- 
dent of the North American Mercan- 
tile Agency of New York, and at the 
time of the formation of the C. F. 
Monroe Co., of Meriden, became its 
first secretary, which position he still 
retains. 

Mr. Everitt was married in Otis, 
Mass., to Miss Mary A. Thompson, of 
that town, who descended on her 
mother's side from Peregrine White, 
the first child born among the Puritan 
settlers of Massachusetts. 

Mr. and Mrs. Everitt are people of 
culture and refinement and are active, 
consistent members of the First Con- 
gregational church and in 1899 Mr. 
Everitt was unanimously elected a 
deacon. 

Emanuel Swedenborg is his favor- 
ite author and he has long been an ar- 
dent advocate of the beautiful truths 
known as the "Heavenly Doctrines of 
the New Church." He has always 
taken an interest in musical matters 
and for twenty-five years was organ- 
ist and choir master in various 
churches in Meriden. 

In a social way Mr. Everitt has al- 
ways been gladly received by his many 
warm friends. He is one of the char- 
ter members of the Home Club and a 
member of the various Masonic bodies 
of Meriden, also the Scottish Rite 
bodies of New Haven and of Lafay- 
ette Consistory, of Bridgeport, where 



he received the thirty-second degree 
in Masonry. He is a Past Eminent 
Commander of St. Elmo Command- 
ery, No. 9, Knights Templar, and has 
since 1893 filled the responsible po- 
sition of prelate with great credit to 
this organization. He has also for sev- 
eral years been the chairman of the 
committee on Necrology for the Grand 
Commandery of Connecticut, Knights 
Templar, and in this connection has 
written several poems appreciated by 
the order and copied through the oth- 
er grand jurisdictions of the United 
States. He was the poet at the fif- 
tieth anniversary of Meridian Lodge, 
F. & A. M., when he read a lengthy 
poem which was happily received and 
copied by the Masonic publications of 
the country. 
. Having been one of the St. Elmo 
party who visited California in 1883, 
he produced on his return, by request, 
a beautiful souvenir volume entitled 
"From the Nutmeg State to the 
Golden Gate." 

Mr. Everitt has been for many 
years a member of the Sons of the 
American Revolution by reason of the 
service of his grandfather, Abner 
Everitt, \vho was a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary army. 

Edwin B. Everitt is a man of strict 
integrity with high business princi- 
ples, a good citizen, very popular with 
his large circle of friends, a favorite 
among his associates and beloved 
throughout the town as well as at his 
own fireside, where he finds his great- 
est enjoyment. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



353 




&,/S.&. 



?3 



354 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ISAAC CHAUNCEY LEWIS. 



The late Hon. Isaac Chauncey Lew- 
is, whose strong personality was felt 
in almost every walk of life, was one 
of the most public-spirited men that 
have ever been a part of Meriden's 
history. He was born October 19, 
1812, in this city, and was the son of 
Isaac and Esther (Beaumont) Lew- 
is, his first American ancestor, Wil- 
liam Lewis, coming from London in 
the ship Lion arriving at JBbston Sep- 
tember 16, 1632. He settled in 
"Newtown," now Cambridge, Mass., 
in the summer of 1636 and was, lat- 
er, one of a company who became the 
first settlers of Hartford, Conn. His 
name is inscribed on the monument 
erected by the Ancient Burying 
Ground Association of Hartford, in 
the memory of the first settlers of 
that town. 

The subject of this sketch is a de- 
scendant in the eighth generation. 
His father, Isaac Lewis, was born in 
Wallingford and married Esther 
Beaumont. He removed to Meriden 
where, as an inn-keeper and later a 
merchant, he was held in high esteem 
in the community. He was chosen 
town clerk in 1806 soon after the day 
of Meriden's incorporation as a town 
and held that office until his death in 
1823. 

His son, Isaac C. Lewis, had but 
one term of school after his father's 
death, barring an occasional attend- 
ance at evening school. Although 
only eleven years of age at that time 
he secured emplo}'ment on farms and 



in stores until he entered the estab- 
lishment of Charles and Hiram Yale, 
manufacturers of britannia ware in 
Wallingford, in his fifteenth year. 
From then on Mr. Lewis engaged in 
business several times until 1841, 
when he bought the Fordred farm, 
about a mile east of Meriden center. 
He built a factory there and carried 
on the britannia business — the initial 
step in a manufacture which lias 
made Meriden noted all over the 
world. 

He increased his w^orks in 1850, 
bought a larger factory in East Meri- 
den and shortly after, with Daniel 
B. Wells, formed the firm of I. C. 
Lewis & Co. After Mr. Wells' 
death Mr. Lewis purchased his part- 
ner's interests and continued alone. 

In 1852 the Meriden Britannia Co. 
was formed and incorporated with a 
capital of $50,000. For nearly four- 
teen years he stood at the head of the 
new corporation, giving his constant, 
personal attention to the business in 
all its details ; not only did he per- 
form all the onerous duties of the 
presidency, but he exercised a care- 
ful supervision over the manufacture 
of the company's goods which went 
far toward establishing the enviable 
reputation that the product of the 
factory soon gained. 

At the end of this period the af- 
fairs of the Britannia company were 
running smoothly ; and its success be- 
came so pronounced that Mr. Lewis 
felt he should be partially re- 
lieved. He accordingly, in Jan- 
uary, 1866, resigned from the 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



355 




d^^d^^ZCC^i^^ ^^^ 



35^ 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



presidency of the company. The 
office of superintendent, the du- 
ties of which Mr. Lewis had fulfilled 
most practically all these years, was 
then created and Mr. Lewis was 
elected to fill the office which he held 
unti 1874, which he then resigned. 
On the death of Horace C. Wilcox, 
in 1890, at the earnest solicitation of 
the directors, Mr. Lewis again as- 
sumed the office of president, thus 
continuing in that capacity and 
until his death. Though relieved of 
the presidency from 1866 to 1890, Mr. 
Lewis, during this entire period, was 
a potent factor in the management 
of the company's affairs ; and his ex- 
ecutive ability and substantial views 
played an important part in shaping 
the course of the Meriden Britannia 
Company, whose business had grown 
to large proportions, which state of 
affairs was arrived at in no small de- 
gree by Mr. Lewis' practical knowl- 
edge of profitable manufacturing and 
his wise counsel as a director. 

Mr. Lewis became a stockholder 
in a score of thriving concerns and a 
director in many of them. He was 
president of the Meriden Trust and 
Safe Deposit Co., the Miller Brothers 
Cutlery Co., one of the directors of 
the Meriden National Bank, the Mer- 
iden Savings Bank, the Wilcox Sil- 
ver Plate Co., the Meriden Silver 
Plate Co., the Manning & Bowman 
Co., Edward Miller & Co. and others. 

]\fr. Lewis was reared a Democrat, 
but during the War of the Rebellion, 
joined the Republican party and was 
a stalwart exponent of that party un- 



til 1883, when on the sole issue of 
temperance, he joined the Prohibition- 
ists. He was an ardent advocate of 
woman suffrage and gave substan- 
tial proof of his confidence in it, "as 
a cause that ought to prosper and is 
bound to succeed." 

He was elected representative to 
the legislature four terms, was justice 
of the peace three terms, a member of 
the board of relief and of the city 
council,, an alderman, and was mayor 
of the city from i870-'72. He was 
at the head of the commission ap- 
pointed in 1865 to build the water 
works, and the following year was 
appointed one of the sewer commis- 
sion. 

As a philanthropist he did much 
for his city. To the City Mission he 
presented a handsome block, to St. 
Paul's Universalist church, of which 
he was an earnest member and active 
worker, his contribution was a large 
part of the $100,000 that it cost, as 
well as giving of his means for the 
new organ and other features ; and 
he gave freely to many organizations. 
He was a life-long member of Mer- 
iden Center Lodge, No. 68, L O. 0. 
F., and of the Sons of the American 
Revolution. 

]\Ir. Lewis married May 11, 1836, 
Harriet, daughter of Noah and Nancy 
(Merriman) Pomeroy, of ]\Ieriden, 
Conn. Six children w^ere bom to 
them: Nancy Melissa, Martha En- 
genia (now ]\Irs. Charles H. Fales), 
Henry James, Isaac, Kate Alabama 
(now ]\Irs. James Henry Chapin) 
and Frank, two of whom, iMf-'^' 



|:^lf;I^\I•^rRs. 



^57 




358 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Charles Henry Fales and Mrs. James 
Henry Cbap-in, are living, and reside 
in Meriden. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 
celebrated their golden wedding May 
II. 1886. 

In 1868 Mr. Lewis erected a cost- 
ly residence on East Main street, and 
this is still one of the handsomest 
in Meriden, as shown in the accom- 
l)anying illnstration. 

Mr. Lewis' death occurred Decem- 
ber 7, 1893. Of Mr. Lewis' personal 
characteristics there was a perfect 
balance of every good quality : public 
spirit, sound judgment, generosity, 
prudence, humility, firmness, afifec- 
tion and conscience combined in a 
complete manhootl, to whom one 
could safely- point and exclaim, "Be- 
hold a Christ-like man !" 



AUGUST MASCHMEYER. 



Meriden is proud, while celebrating 
the one hundredth anniversary of her 
birth as a town, to number among her 
prominent citizens, not only those who 
can look back to a long line of Con- 
necticut and New England ancestry, 
but also those Americans by adoption 
who have thrown themselves heart 
and soul into the social, jjusiness and 
political life of the connnunity. 

Mr. Maschmeyer was born near 
Hildesheim, Hanover, Germany, Jan- 
uary 14, 1843. His father, Edward 
Maschmeyer, was born in the same 
place, and was successfully engaged 
in a general mercantile business until 
1854, when he decided to try to still 
further enlarge his fortune bv coming 



to America. Leaving his wife and 
children until he should have made a 
home for them in the new land, he 
came to South Meriden and entered 
the employ of the Meriden Cutlerv 
Company, and later that of the Par- 
ker shop at Yalesville. When the 
Civil war broke out, although he had 
only been in this country for seven 
years, he heeded the call to arms and 
went out to help preserve the Union. 
He joined Company H, Sixth Connec- 
ticut V. I., and after proving his 
Ijravery and devotion gave up his life 
for his adopted country, and was bur- 
ied at Hilton Head, S. C. in Septem- 
ber, 1862. He never saw his wife and 
children after leaving his home in 
(lermany. They felt, however, that 
the land for which he had given np 
his life was the home for them, and 
in 1864 August came to this country, 
followed later by the rest of the 
family. 

August Maschmeyer was fortunate 
enough to receive a good education 
in Germany, having been a student 
in both public and private schools. 
He learnetl the trade of a black 
smith, and worked at this occupation 
until he came to America. His jour- 
ney hither was a long one, consuming 
six weeks on the sailing vessel Nep- 
tune. "Through the good offices of 
friends he at once secured eniplo\- 
ment on his arrival and worked as 
a mechanic for a month. Relatives 
of his having previously settled m 
Yalesville, he decided to follow them, 
and became an employe of the Meri- 
den Cutlery Company, with whom lu' 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



359 




^^^^^^.^^^.t^c^^ /y/^^^-^iC^ 



■* ^ -cy^ \ 



360 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



remained for six years. After work- 
ing for the Charles Parker Company 
for five years more, he decided to 
strike out for himself, and according- 
ly in 1877 began business as a whole- 
sale and retail dealer in bottled beer 
and other goods. This enterprise 
proved very successful, and after 
eight years he was enabled to sell his 
business and retire from active work. 
During these years he had acquired 
considerable property about the city, 
the management of which now em- 
ploys his time. He has a fine resi- 
dence on North avenue, where he and 
other members of his family make 
their home, and where his mother 
lived up to the time of her death. 

Mr. Maschmeyer has always been 
active in the political life of the city. 
He was a Republican up to the time 
of Horace Greeley, and since then has 
been a Democrat. In 1891 he was 
elected a member of the Meriden City 
Council, and has been a member of the 
Board of Education and the General 
Assembly of Connecticut. He is at 
present a police commissioner. He is 
a member of the German Aid society, 
the German Order Harugari, and the 
Saengerbund. 



LEVI E. COE. 



Levi Elmore Coe, whose influ- 
ence during a long and varied ca- 
reer was felt in all the vital problems 
of this city, was the son of Colonel 
Levi and Sarah (Ward) Coe. He was 
born in the town of Middlefield (then 
Middletown), Conn.. June 6, 1828. 



He received his education in the com- 
mon schools of his neighborhood and 
Post's and Chase's academies. He 
was ready to teach school at the age 
of eighteen, a profession which he fol- 
lowed until he was twenty-five, wlien 
he located in Meriden, where he lived 
until death claimed him November 2^ 
1903. 

In 1854 Mr. Coe was elected treas- 
urer of the Meriden Savings Bank, 
which bank recognized his abilities 
and honored him w^ith the oifices of 
treasurer, director and president, the 
last two of wdiich he held until his 
death. 

At the age of seventy-one years he 
was elected president of the Meriden 
National Bank and when he died was,, 
therefore, president of that financial 
institution, and also of the Meriden 
Savings Bank. 

Mr. Coe was a man of great men- 
tal as well as business capacity and 
whatever he undertook was character- 
ized by conscientious care. To this 
fact was due his ability to carry on his 
multifold duties with confidence in 
their stability and success. For fifty 
years he was engaged in the real es- 
tate business, and he rendered to Mer- 
iden invaluable service in this con- 
nection. 

He was interested in all agricultur- 
al matters and especially in pet stocky 
and his interest crystalized in practi- 
cal form when he became identified 
with various agricultural societies. 
He was secretary of the Farmers'" 
Club ; president of the Meriden Poiil- 
trv Association; secretary, treasurer 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



\0l 





CO-^CP^iT-E^ 



362 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



and president of the Meriden Agricul- 
tural Society ; secretary and treasur- 
er of t^e Connecticut Agricultural 
Society, and a member of the State 
Board of Agriculture. 

He was elected a grand juror in 1857, 
was registrar of vital statistics from 
1858-63; justice of the peace from 
1858 to 1881 ; trial justice for many 
years ; first clerk of the city court ; 
judge of the city court for eighteeen 
years ; agent of the town to convey 
real estate ; registrar of voters, town 
clerk, judge of probate, a water com- 
missioner, an office he held for sev- 
eral years ; and a member of the board 
of compensation. These offices all 
enabled him to advance the city's in- 
terests ; but it remained for an appre- 
ciative people to offer him their high- 
est gift, and he was elected mayor of 
Meriden in 1894 and re-elected in 
1896 and 1897. He planned and ex- 
ecuted with intense earnestness every 
project that claimed his time and his 
logical mind, coupled with his expe- 
rience in private affairs, combined to 
give Meriden an administration in 
which the people had fullest confi- 
dence. 

Judge Coe was a Republican and he 
served as a member of the town ani 
state central committees. The Secre- 
tary of the Interior appointed him a 
town site trustee for Oklahoma City, 
Oklahoma. He was a director of the 
Meriden National Bank from 1862 ; 
treasurer of the Meriden Park Com- 
pany ; director of the Meriden Hospi- 
tal ; trustee of the Curtis Home ; pres- 
ident of the Meriden Historical So- 



ciety ; a member of the Connecticut 
Historical Society ; S. A. R., and 
of the Home Club. He was author 
and compiler of the "Coe-Ward Me- 
morial,'' a genealogical work pub- 
lished in 1897. 

He was a prominent Mason ; was 
secretary, treasurer and held the of- 
fice of worshipful master of Meridian 
Lodge, No. '/'] ; eminent commander 
of St. Elmo Commandery, Knights 
Templar, and representative of the 
Grand Commandery of South Dakota 
near the Grand Commandery of Con- 
necticut. He was a member of St. 
Andrew's Episcopal church and a ves- 
tryman from 1858. The beautifi'.l 
public library in Middlefield was a gift 
of Judge Coe in 1893. 

He married Sophia F. Hall, of Miil- 
dlefield, in 1851, and she now sur- 
vives him. Their two children died 
while infants. Mrs. Coe is the w- 
thor of the Hall family genealogy, a 
work of great value from its com- 
pleteness in detail. She still resides \ 
in jMeriden. 



GEORGE COUCH MERRIAM. 



Captain George Couch Merriain. 
born September 17, 1834, was the 
son of Nelson and Rosetta Merriam. 
The place of his birth was the old 
Merriam homestead, built about 1730. 
which stood on the site now occu- 
pied by the Home Club. His father 
was among the founders of one of 
the oldest manufacturing establish- 
ments in Meriden. 

For over two centuries the Mer- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



363 




364 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



riam family have been prominent in 
Meriden and W'allingford, John 
Merriam came to Meriden from 
Lynn, Mass., and from him the Mer- 
riam family have descended. He 
died in 1689. 

George C. Merriam received a good 
common school education and in 1851 
went to New York City where he re- 
mained eight years in the wholesale 
drygoods concern of Hopkins. Allen 
& Co. In 1859 he went to Wilming- 
ton, N. C, where he became a mem- 
ber of the business firm of J. M. Mc- 
Carter & Co. 

Shortly after Fort Sumter was 
fired upon he returned to Meriden 
and on July 10, 1862, enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Company A, 15th Conn. Vols, 
and served throughout the remainder 
of the war. He was in active service 
in the battles of Fredericksburg, 
Edenton Road, siege of Sufi:'olk and 
Providence Church Road. For gal- 
lant service he won several promo- 
tions and retired with the commission 
of captain of Compan}' K of the 8th 
Conn. Vols. 

At the close of the war he became 
superintendent of a large lumber bus- 
iness at St. Johnsbury, Vt. During 
that period he returned to INIerideri 
and on May 29, 1867, married Helen 
R. Bradley, daughter of Charles and 
Sarah (Parker) Bradley. Soon after 
his marriage he went to Nevada 
where he spent two years. In 1872 
he returned to Meriden and became 
connected with the Chas. Parker Com- 
pany. 

In 1880, after the death of Albert 



Foster, he became secretary and 
treasurer of Foster, Merriam & Co. 
and upon the death of James Sutliff, 
the president, he was elected pres- 
ident and treasurer, which position he 
retained until his death. While in 
Boston on a business trip, he died 
suddenly on March 23, 1904. 

A life-long friend said, upon hear- 
ing of his death, "One of God's noble- 
men has passed away. He was my 
friend and counselor in many a per- 
plexing situation. He was beloved by 
all who knew him, rich and poor, high 
and low, and Meriden is a better 
city for his having lived here." 

He was a Christian gentleman, a 
shrewd and careful business man, 
whose integrity and honesty of pur- 
pose were unimpeachable, a consist- 
ent church member who practiced the 
golden rule, and was always ready at 
all times to give his money and exert 
his influence in every good cause. He 
never shirked his duty to his fellow 
citizens. He served six years in the 
Meriden Common Council and two 
years as alderman. In politics he 
was a Republican. He was for many 
years identified with the First M. E. 
church and was a trustee of the 
church from 1880 until his death. 
He was a director of the First Na- 
tional Bank, a member of Merriam 
Post, No. 8, G. A. R., and also of Capt. 
John Couch Branch, Sons of Ameri- 
can Revolution. He was a member 
of the Army and Navy Club of Con- 
necticut, and a life member of the 
Meriden Y. M. C. A., a member of 
the Home Club, and of the Meriden 



BIOGRAl'nii:S. 



36: 



liiispiial corporation of Meriden. 
He is survived by liis widow and 
bv an adopted son and daui^htcr. Kol)- 
ert J., and Ruth K. -Merriani. children 
of his brother, Xelson C. Merriani. 
Robert J. Iieing" the present treasurer 
of Foster. Alerriam & Co. 



RATlTJin^'E HICKS. 



A former resident of Meriden of 
nuich renown is Ratcliti'e Hicks. 
and his family name holds an 
honored place in the history of Con- 
necticut, where for over a century and 
a half his antecedents have lived. 

Born in the town ot Tolland, Coim.. 
in 1843, he is the most prominent rep- 
resentative of his disting^uished ances- 
tors. Thomas Hicks, his first pater- 
nal antecedent in this country, left 
London, Mn.c^land. in 1644. and located 
in Scituate, Mass., nnd his descend- 
ants have won success in many of the 
higher walks of life. 

(Jn his mother's side Ratcliffe Hicks 
is descended frf)m Charles Stearns. 
horn in England, and settled at W'a- 
tertown, Mass.. in 1646, and there ac- 
(iuire<i lands which he sold to his son. 
Samuel, and in 1681 removed to Lynn. 
Mass. His son, Shubael. born at 
Cambridge, Mass., in 1655, served in 
the Xarragansett Expedition in the 
King riiilip War, and was stationed 
at the garrisons at Chelmsforil and 
r.roton. Mass.. and whose brother. 
Charles, was slain in the king's ser- 
vice. Shubael Stearns, second, was 
r>nc of the original grantees of land 
in what is now Tolland, where he .set- 



tled in 1714 and wIkj later became a 
Baptist i)reacher. but on account of 
religious ditterences with his neigh- 
bors removed with his own and his 
sons' families to X'irginia. later to 
Pepper Cotton and linally to Sandy 
Creek, X. C, where he died. His 
son. also named Sliubael. became a 
noted preacher of the same faith. 

John Stearns, a later ancestor, was 
born at Lymi. Mass.. in i6yi. and 
died at Tolland. March 10. 1787. and 
his son, John, great-grandfather of 
IvatclitVe 1 licks was born in Tol- 
land. January 11. 173^). He was a 
physician and practiced most of his 
life at W'ilbraham. Mass.. where his 
children were born. He returned to 
Tolland on accmmt of his sym])athy 
with the Shay Rebellion and died in 
17S8. His wife, left a widow with 
two sons and three daughters, carried 
on her husband's business, traveling 
many miles daily on liorseback an<l 
was thus enabled to send her sons to 
^'ale College. One of them. Dr. John 
."^tearns became a noted practitioner 
in Xew ^'ork City and the first |>res- 
ident of the Xew b'ngland society, 
liis brothir. Judge l''lisha Stearns, 
grandfather of our subject, was born 
July 12. 177^*. at W'ilbraham. Mass.. 
but early in life removed to Tolland 
where he died in 1S5'). He was a 
man f)f much prominence and a valued 
resident of that town, than whom no 
man was held in higher esteem in the 
locality where he lived. 

Ratcliffe Hicks. j)atcrnal grand- 
father of Mr. Hicks, and for whom 
be wa< tinnied. wa-^ n di>-f ingiu'>-bed 



366 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



sea-captain and in his day was 
called "one of New England's brav- 
est, most daring, and ablest" ; whose 
voyages took him to every part of the 
globe and whose life was tempestuous, 
but successful and who left behind 
him a name which his grandson has 
ever cherished with ardent love and 
infinite respect. He was a native of 
Providence, R. I. ; was born June 14, 
1784, and died October 26, 1846. 

Charles R. Hicks, father of the sub- 
ject, was born in Providence, R. I., 
July I, 1812, and was educated at 
Plainfield, Conn., where at that time 
was one of the best seminaries of the 
state. He, afterwards, and when 
quite young, engaged in the dry 
goods trade in Providence and, be- 
coming a prominent merchant, later 
continued in the same business in New 
York City, retiring from active busi- 
ness in 1842, when he removed to Tol- 
land and spent his last years. He 
died July 29, 1878. From his father, 
Ratcliffe Hicks inherited many of his 
intellectual attainments ; and that he 
has won fame and fortune as a law- 
yer, manufacturer, business man and 
legislator has been natural. 

Ratcliffe Hicks secured his early 
education at home and prepared for 
college at Alonson Academy. He en- 
tered Brown University in i860 and 
graduated with high honors with the 
degree of A. B. in 1864. "From his 
earliest youth he became an omniv- 
orous and careful reader and the law 
and sciences of all ages were to him, 
and are now, what many forms of 
amusement are to the ordinarv voung 



man," states one of his biographers. 
While at Brown University he was 
one of the founders of the Delta Up- 
silon Chapter, of which he is still a 
member and to which he has ever 
been a generous contributor. Early 
in life he began to take a prominent 
lead in school and college debates; 
■and at the commencement exercises, 
was one of the orators of his graduat- 
ing class. After leaving college he 
began the study of law in the office 
of Judge Loren P. Waldo, which study 
he pursued only during his leisure 
hours, and taught school. Admitted 
to the bar in 1866, he immediately re- 
moved to Meriden and began the prac- 
tice of his profession as the law part- 
ner of the late Hon. O. H. Piatt, 
which partnership continued until 
1869, after which Mr. Hicks con- 
tinued alone until 1882. His natural 
ability, keen foresight and remarkable 
judgment, coupled with his self-con- 
fidence and sanguine disposition, the 
result of his success in important 
cases, made him a familiar figure in 
the higher courts. He was ever well 
versed in law for he never ceased his 
study of his chosen profession. His 
ability as a pleader was remarkable; 
and his name is found in every vol- 
ume of the Connecticut Report from 
1866 to 1879. While practicing he 
received large fees and his income in 
Meriden averaged over $10,000 a 
year. From 1869 to 1874 he served 
Meriden as city attorney and from 
1873 to 1876 was New Haven county 
attorney. His public service, how- 
ever, began in 1886 by his election 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



367 




368 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



to the state legislature from Tolland, 
when as the youngest niember of the 
house, during his first term of ser- 
vice, he attracted general attention, 
not only by his activity on the floor, 
but by the exhibition of rare and ma- 
ture judgment for one of his years. 
During his second term, his speeches 
as a legislator were forceful and of 
brilliant diction and won him the ad- 
miration of the members on both sides 
of the house ; although he was most 
loyal to the Democratic party, of 
which he has ever been a staunch and, 
in late years, a prominent factor, his 
manly and eloquent presentation of 
his convictions secured him also the 
respect and admiration of the Repub- 
licans. His breadth of mind and 
keen sense of fairness were ever ap- 
parent, and it was his special delight 
to debate on questions which rose 
above party politics. He once stated 
on the floor of the house that he pre- 
ferred to stand where the old Romans 
stood and to do right though the 
heavens fell. In 1891 he was again a 
member of the state legislature, as 
chairman of the committee on Woman 
Suffrage which reported the bill giv- 
ing women the right to vote on school 
matters. During his entire and val- 
ued service in the legislature, and 
which was continued until 1895, he 
introdrced many bills of vast import 
to the people of the commonwealth 
and he usually accomplished as much 
if not more than anv other member. 
His prominence in public life has kept 
him well before the eye of the public ; 
and he has been prominently men- 



tioned in the past, for both lieutenant 
governor and governor of the state 
of Connecticut. 

In 1882 Mr. Hicks became inter- 
ested in the Canfield Rubber Company 
as its president, and which, under his 
sagacious business head, has grown 
from a concern of $10,000 capital to 
one whose capital stock is a quarter 
of a million ; whose surplus is as much 
more and whose sales are considerably 
in excess of $1,000,000 a year. The 
success of the conipany has been 
spoken of as "one of the most re- 
markable achievements m the history 
of New England manufacturing"; 
for the business has rot only been the 
means of making a substantial fortune 
for Mr. Hicks, but for other promi- 
nent stockholders whose holdings he 
has gradually purchased until he has 
become the sole owner of the vast 
enterprise. Mr. Hicks is also the 
owner of the Hicks Realty Company, 
of Bridgeport, and under this title 
owns considerable real estate in Mer- 
iden. Bridgeport and New York. Mr. 
Hicks has always remained loyal to 
his native state and, since leaving Mer- 
iden, claims Tolland as his residence. 
He has also a fine house in New York 
City and a comfortable country place 
at Lakewood, New Jersey, but he 
still retains his fond interest in Mer- 
iden where he made his success in 
professional life. He has contrib- 
uted liberally of his means to objects 
of benefit to his former townsmen ; 
and in recent years defrayed the ex- 
pense, with others, in restorinif and 
modernizinsf the Congregational 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



369 



Cliurcli. ill Tdllaiul. where his i;nuul- 
father was also a Hbera! contributor. 

He has also estabhshed annual 
prizes for jiublic speaking at Brown 
I'niversity, IVovidence ; Storrs Agri- 
cultural College, Mansfield, Tolland 
Comity, and at the Meriden High 
School, all of which have inspired, in 
a greater measure, the ambition of 
students. Mr. Hicks has traveled ex- 
tensivel}' in this comitr\ and luirope 
and has crossed the Atlantic more 
than fifty times. He is the author of 
the book "Observations,' published in 
1880. and during its composition, he 
has been jileased to state has "Helped 
him while away hours that otherwise 
may have been lonely" and in which 
he i)resents "the oflf-hand utterances 
of a man who for twenty-five years 
was deeply absorbed m business cares, 
and who has jotted down the observa- 
tions for his own amusement and oc- 
cupation." It is needless to state 
that this book is well considered by 
litterateurs as one of the most enter- 
taining publications on 'Europe by an 
American author He is also the au- 
thor of a book on California, equally 
interesting aiifl instructive to the read- 
er. 

Mr. Hicks was married to Lizzie 
Canfield, now deceased, and has one 
daughter. 



RUFUS HA 1.1 



Rufus Hall, for over forty years a 
,alued resident and leading merchant 
)f Meriden. and whose useful life end- 
-'4 



ed l-'ebruary 3. 1901, was born in Mid- 
dlefield, October 3, 1839. 

.V direct descendant of John Hall, 
Boston 1633, New Haven 1637, one 
of the original proprietors of the town 
of W'allingford in 1670, a signer of 
the original "Covenant" or original 
agreement of the first planters of W'al- 
lingfonl. as were two of his sons, 
Samuel and Sergeant Thomas, whose 
marriage to Grace Walker Watson 
June 5, 1673, ^^'^^ the first marriage 
in Wallingford. The following an- 
cestors of Rufus Hall were also sign- 
ers of the "Covenant": Lieut. John 
Peck. Sergeant Abraham Doolittle 
and John Mosse. 

He was the youngest of the four 
children born to Harley Hall [the 
fifth in descent from John | and Mar- 
tha Cone Hall. His mother, a native 
of East Haddam, born April 3. 1805, 
and died in Meriden April 20, 1880, 
was directly descended from that John 
Hall who was one of the first pro- 
prietors of Middletown in 1650 and 
who. coming to this country from 
1-jigland. settled in Boston in i^>33. 
She was a granddaughter of Sylvanus 
(."one, a Revolutionary soldier. 

Rufus ILall, as a boy. during his at- 
tendance at the .Miildlefield district 
.school, assisted in the work about his 
father's farm. He left home at tlie 
age of nineteen and engaged in tlie 
meat business, first at Portland. 
Conn., later in .MiddU-fiehl. after- 
wards at Wallingford, and finally in 
i860 came to Meriden and clerked for 
L H. Hall & Co. in the old Franklin 
Hall building uj) town. The next 



3/0 



A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 



year he engaged in the grocery trade 
with his brother under the firm name 
of N. C. Hall & Co. His honorable 
dealings and energy won him the con- 
fidence of the townspeople, and his 
good imme, thus early established, he 
maintained throughout his life. 

In 1870 he sold out his interest in 
the grocery store and engaged in the 
meat business, in partnership with 
Charles Grether, under the firm name 
of Grether & Hall, later buying out 
Grether, and after a long period of 
success he sold out to his former part- 
ner, and again became associated with 
his brother in the grocery trade. In 
1884, however, he again engaged in 
the meat business, which he conduct- 
ed with uninterrupted success until he 
was stricken with pneumonia and died 
at the age of sixty-one, after which 
his well established business was con- 
ducted by his son, Eugene A. Hall, the 
present treasurer of the Town of Mer- 
iden. 

Mr. Hall, on April 2, 1859, married 
Esther Asenath Grover, to whom two 
children were born : Effie Maria, born 
March 13, i860 and died March i, 
1862, and Eugene Ashley Hall, above 
mentioned. The wife of Rufus Hall 
was born in Middletown, January 2, 
1837, and died in Meriden, December 
18, 1 89 1. She was a daughter of Ar- 
den and Sarah ]\Iaria (Clark) Grover, 
her father being a son of Oliver and 
Asenath (Eaton) Grover. Her 
grandfather, Daniel Clark, served as 
a soldier in the Revolution. The wife 
of Rufus Hall was also descended 
from William Eaton, who settled in 



Watertown, Mass., in 1642, and from 
Thomas Flint, who located in Salem 
in 1650. 

Rufus Hall, who, with his wife, is 
buried at Indian Hill cemetery, Mid- 
dletown, was a man who held the un- 
limited confidence, respect and esteem 
of his fellow townsmen to a remark- 
able extent. His genial disposition 
made him the typical merchant with 
whom customers found pleasure in 
trading. He was always deeply con- 
cerned in local afi^airs and never re- 
fused his influence in matters of ben- 
efit either to his neighbors or the 
town. His loss to the ranks of the 
business men of Meriden will be long 
remembered. 



EUGENE ASHLEY HALL. 



Eugene A. Hall, a prominent mer- 
chant and treasurer of the town of 
Meriden, is a life-long resident of the 
town. He is the only son of Rufus 
and Esther Asenath (Grover) Hall. 
He is a worthy descendant of sturdy, 
reliable New England ancestry. 
He was born in Meriden August 7, 
1865, attended the old Corner district 
school until at the age of fifteen he left 
school to begin his own career and 
has succeeded in earning his own liv- 
ing ever since ; was first with J. Cook 
& Co., manufacturers of printing 
presses, cards, etc. ; a short time on a 
drop press at Bradley & Hubbard's; 
then one year in William Hagadon's 
news, fruit and toy store, clerking and 
delivering newspapers, and one year 
in castor bottle department, Meriden 



BIOGRAnilliS. 



Uritannia Co., until ]\Iay. 1883, when 
ho eiUcrcd the employ of the Merickn 
savings Bank as office hoy. 

.\fter an honorable connection of 
jii^hteen years with that institution, 
and after the sudden and regretted de- 
cease of his father, he resigned his po- 
sition as teller and assumed control of 
his father's business, for many years 
known as Hall's Cash ^Market, and 
which he has since continued with in- 
creasing success. 

He is a trustee, director and auditor 
of the Meriden Savings Bank ; for 
several years was a member of the 
lioard of trustees and secretary and 
treasurer of the Connecticut School 
for Boys : is treasurer of the Connec- 
ticrt State and the Meriden Agricul- 
tural societies ; treasurer of the Town 
of .Meriden. which office he has filled 
most acceptably since 1899 • '■'^ ^ direct- 
or and first vice president of the Mer- 
iden lioard of Trade; director and 
treasurer of the Meriden Times Pub- 
lishing Co., publishers of Tlic /:7't';//;;,t; 
Tintrs. 

-Mr. Hall is a ])rominent figure in 
Masonic circles and is connected with 
no other fraternity. He is a past 
master and present treasurer of Meri- 
dian lodge. No. jj, A. F. & .\. M.: 
a i)ast high priest of Keystone Cha])- 
ter. Xo. 27, R. A. M. : l\ T. I. mastc-r 
of TTamilton Council. Xo. 22. K. «S: 
S. M.. and a past eminent commander 
of St l-'Imo Cojnmandery. Xo. <;. 
Knights Templar: a thirty-.secoml de- 
gree Mason, being a member of the 
Xew Haven and Bridgejjort bodies of 
Scottish Rite; is an officrr in tbr fal- 



lowing Masonic grand bodies of Con- 
necticut, (irand Lodge, Cirand Cha])- 
ler and (Irand CcMumandery. an hon- 
orary life member of the .Masjnic 
Charity Foundation of Connecticut, 
and a member of Pyramid Tem])le, 
Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport. 

He was married December 15. 1S97, 
to Fdna Adele Mix. daughter of ex- 
Senator John Walter and Kale L'rana 
(Wallace) Mix. of (Yalesville) Wal- 
lingford. Jfjhn Walter Mix. Cnited 
States collector of customs of the ])ort 
of Xew Haven at the time of his 
death, was a direct descendant of 
Thomas Mi.x. r»f Xew Haven. \(^t,. 
and three of his ancestors. Daniel .Mix. 
Robert Roice and John Hall, were 
original j^roprietors of W'allingford. 
His widow, Kate Uraha Wallace, is a 
daughter of Franklin and I'anny 
(Hall) Wallace, the latter a daughter 
of Lyman and Milla Hall, both direct 
descendants of John Hall, the original 
l)roprietor of W'allingford. Benjamin 
Hall, father of Lyman, wn^ a -"Lljer 
in the Revolution. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hall have three chil- 
dren: I'anny. born Xovember 15. 
iS<;8: Ivdna. born I'ebruary 3. 1903. 
and luigeiu- .Mix. l)orn June 27. n>(\V 

.Mr. Hall is known as one of the 
more progressive merchants, who pos- 
sesses a wide experience in matters of 
finance and who has been much hon- 
ored by elections to various offices, all 
of which he has filled with credit, not 
only to himself but to those wlv> have 
safely placer! their confidence in bis 
ability and honesty to carry out the 

ilnliiv i|>\-. living Upo'i him 



372 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




RUFUS HALL. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



373 




EL'Cjl'Al-: ASIILi-.V liAI.l 



374 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 





KESIDENXE ui- W . IJ. r.h .l-.i.ow. 



376 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



W. H. BIGELOW. 



William Henry Bigelow, now an 
influential resident of Meriden, was 
born in Westminster, Mass., in Jan- 
uary, 1853. He was an only child 
and his parents were Benson and 
Charlotte (Rice) Bigelow. His fam- 
ily is an old one in that town and the 
original Bigelow homestead has been 
in -their possession for many genera- 
tions. The subject of this biography 
is descended on both the paternal and 
maternal sides from early colonial an- 
cestry and on the mother's side his 
progenitors served in the Revolution- 
ary War. 

Mr. Bigelow obtained his early ed- 
ucation at the common schools and 
finished at the Westminster Acad- 
emy, which has since been destroyed 
by fire. He has traveled considerably 
both in this country and Europe and 
has acquired a higher education 
through his travels, in which he has 
come in contact with many people. 
He is a close observer of men and 
customs. Mr. Bigelow has also had 
a varied experience in business. For 
several years he was located in Bos- 
ton and Gloucester, Mass., and later 
in Hartford. For the past twelve 
}'ears, however, he has resided in Mer- 
iden. 

In 1895 he was united in marriage 
with Emma Norton, daughter of the 
late C. L. and Amanda (Norton) 
Strong, and has since resided in the 
Strong family residence on Cook ave- 
nue. Mrs. Bigelow died July 13, 
1905, after a lingering illness of a 



year. Before her death and with her 
Mr. Bigelow spent much time in trav- 
el and visited Europe, Cuba, Bermu- 
da Islands and the Canadas, as v\ell 
as the south and west of his own 
country. In his travels he has col- 
lected many relics which now adorn 
his home. Mr. Bigelow is far from 
being a disinterested resident of IMer- 
iden ; for he is deeply concerned in all 
that tends to benefit and improve the 
locality either in business or social 
life. He is a member of Washington 
Lodge, No. 15, Knights of Pythias, of 
Hartford. 



COL. CHAS. LESLIE UPHAAI. 



Colonel Charles Leslie Upham, by 
birth a Vermonter, was born in 
Townshend May 24, 1839. His pa- 
rents were Rev. William Dennis V\y- 
ham, a graduate of Brown Univers- 
ity, and Lucy McKenzie Spink, a na- 
tive of the old town of Wickford, R. 
I., situated on Narragansett Bay. . 

The Spinks were Norman-French 
and distinguished for bravery. They 
went to England with William the 
Conqueror. The LTpham ancestry 
has been traced to Richard Upham, of 
Bicton, Dover, England, 1583. 

John Upham was the pioneer and 
only LTpham who emigrated to this 
country, having come to Wessagus- 
cus, now Weymouth, Mass., with the 
Hull colony in 1635. His wife was 
Elizabeth Slade. 

Lieutenant Phineas Upham was 
their only son who left posterity. He 
won distinction in the Indian Wars 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



377 




(Z4^U/Ja 



378 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



and at the storming of Ft. Canonicus, 
sometimes called the Great Swamp 
fight, was mortally wounded and died 
soon afterward. 

Colonel Upham's great-grandfath- 
er was William Upham, who was in 
1776 one of the Committee of Safe- 
ty in Vermont and captain of a com- 
pany which did service in the field 
during Burgoyne's invasion. 

Colonel Upham was educated at the 
Leland and Gray Academy at Towns- 
hend, and at the age of sixteen came 
to Meriden to enter the employ of 
Ives Brothers. Having a taste for the 
sea, in 1858 he went before the mast 
in a voyage that circumnavigated the 
globe, touching at Australia and the 
west coast of South America, in all an 
absence of over a year. 

Upon his return he re-entered the 
employ of Ives Brothers and remained 
with them until the commencement of 
the Civil War, when he at once en- 
listed in Rifle Co. B, 3d Regiment, 
Conn. Vols., as first sergeant. This 
regiment was in Keyes' Brigade, Ty- 
ler's Division, and was engaged at the 
Battle of Bull Run, Sergeant Up- 
ham commanding his company, owing 
to the absence of his superior officers. 

Upon being mustered out August 
12, 1 86 1, he immediately raised a com- 
pany for three years' service, of which 
he was appointed captain, and joined 
the 8th Conn. Infantry as Company 
K. He served with this regiment as 
captain, major and lieutenant col- 
onel imtil April 6. 1863, when he was 
appointed colonel of the 15th Regi- 
ment, Conn. Infantry, commanding 



the same until the close of the war. 
His service record was: With Mc- 
Dowell's Army at the Battle of Bull 
Run July 3, 1861 ; The Burnside Ex- 
pedition and battles of Roanoke Isl- 
and Feb. 7, and New Berne March 
14, 1862, where he was severely 
wounded; in the Army of the Poto- 
mac, ''9th Corps," at the battles of 
South Mountain Sept. 14, Antietam 
Sept. 17, and Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 
1862. At Fredericksburg he was in 
command of the i6th Regiment 
Conn. Infantry, its field officers being 
either sick or wounded ; with General 
Peck's command on the so-called 
Blackberry Raid to the north of 
Richmond ; at the Siege of Suffolk by 
Longstreet, including the engage- 
ments on the Edenton Road April 24, 
and Providence Church Road May 3, 
1863 ; with his regiment while on pro- 
vost duty at New Berne, N. C, in the 
summer of 1864 during the deadly 
epidemic of yellow fever ; in com- 
mand of a brigade of Scofield's col- 
umn in the advance from New Berne 
including the actions before Kingston 
March 8 to 11, 1865 ; mustered out at 
the close of the war, reaching home 
July 4, 1865. 

In September, 1865, the firm of 
Ives, Upham & Rand was organized, 
the partners being John Ives, C. L. 
Upham and P. C. Rand. Mr. Ives 
was already a merchant of long stand- 
ing and high reputation. Messrs. 
Upham and Rand had been in his 
employ prior to 1861 and had served 
together during the war. This firm 
is one of the most prominent in its 



BIOGRA I'll IKS. 



^7\) 



line, with llic unusual record of more 
than forty \cars without a change of 
personnel. 

L'olonel Ijihani's civil record is: 
Member of the first common coim- 
cil upon the organization of Mcriden 
as a city : two terms as mayor, 1873 
an«! 1S74: a trustee of Connecticut 
School for Hoys from 1877 ^^ 1891, 
also serving as treasurer, and at the 
present writing a police commission- 
er and a member of town school com- 
mittee. He has also at different 
times served as president of the lioard 
of Trade and of the I'usiness Men's 
Association. 

Colonel ('])bani married first Emily 
Clark who died August 26. 1864. 
leaving a daughter Emily. On July 
12. 1877. he married Elizabeth II. 
Ifall. daughter of B. Kirtland Hall 
and F.mil\ M. Curtis. Among Mrs. 
I'pham"^ ancestors are included the 
names of Hall. Cook, At water. An- 
drews. Curtis. Ives, Royce and Hough, 
all prftmineiu in the first settlement of 
|\\ allingford and Meriden. The chil- 
Iren of this marriage are: William 
iall, Lucy Curtis, who <lied in in- 
ancy. Charles Eeslie, I'mncis Curtis 
;in<l Elizabrtli. 



SETH TACOP. HAM 



A long and hono'-able business ca- 
|eer. aiupl)' crowned with success. 
o!nl)ined with the election to many 
Iftices of ptiblic trust, is that of Seth 
ticob Hall. He is the eldest son of 
|\lvester and Rosetta (Johnson) Hall 
h<l was born September 4. 1829. at 



Middletowu. He is descentled in a 
direct line from John Hall, horn in 
l-!ngland in H)05. one oi the early set- 
tlers of W'allingford. where he died in 
l()j(t. The Hall family is one of the 
oldest, largest and most infiuential in 
this part of the state. 

lie attended the couuuon schools 
and Moore's select school. After ob- 
taining his education he worked on a 
farm until twent\-one years of age 
and for nine consecutive winters 
taught district school in the vicinity 
of Middletowu. He also worked at 
the factories of Jesse G. lialdwin and 
Charles Parker as a burnisher, and in 
1857 entered the crockery and hard- 
ware store of Harrison W. Curtis. 
His employer's business being dull. 
Mr. Hall taught school the following 
winter but returned to the store in the 
spring where he remained imtil 1861 ; 
when he started in the Hour and grain 
business in which he has in later years 
l)een assisted by hi.s sons. John P>. and 
Silas B. Later, for a little over two 
years. Mr. Hall was a member of the 
firm of 1. (.'. Lewis & Co., which firm 
was fiirnurly I. C. Lewis & P.ro. 
He retired from that firm in 
1863 and has since conducted a 
successful grain, feed and coal 
business alone, his store at the 
■Corner* being one of the old land- 
marks of Meriden. I'ew men of the 
town have been more successful in 
business than .Mr. Hall, for by care- 
ful methods he has built up a large 
trade and has also made several profi- 
table investments in real estate. 

Besides being a prominent figure 



38o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




DIOGRAI'IIIKS. 



381 



in ilie business life of the lt»\vn he 
has been much in the public eye. A 
lifeli>ng Democrat, he served his ward 
in both branches of the city j^overn- 
metit and the town as treasurer, se- 
lectman and luembcr of the hoard of 
relit f. From 1890 to 1K94 he served 
in the Connecticut State Senate, re- 
flecting credit on the sixth district 
which he ably re])resented. Since the 
inaigiiration of the Akritlen hospital 
he has been consecutively elected one 
of the trustees and has also scr%'ed 
as treasurer of the corporation. He 
was formerly one of the directors of 
the Mid<llesex County Xational Bank 
and is at ])restnt one of the directors 
of the Meriilen Xational Dank and 
vice president of the City Savings 
r.ank. He was for many years trus- 
t<«' and treasurer of the Connecticut 
Sihool for I'.oys. For nearly twenty 
vf.irs he has been one of the deacons 

t the I'irst Uaptist church of which 
vitr]>oration he is also one of the trus- 
tees, lie has served both as treas- 
iirt r and trustee of the V. M. C. A. 

Mr. Hall was married October 14, 
i.*-Yi ). tf) Fois i'llakcslce. who was born 
lanrary 24. 1833, and is a daughter 
)f Silas an<l l-lsther (Rucl) P>lakcslec, 

r \\ alhngf'ird. Their children are 
• " "» - jdhn I'dakeslee. born Sep- 
'W. married December 16. 

X<j>. Jiniue Holcomb, daughter of 
I'erirand and Chloe (Holcomb) Vale, 

in! they reside with their children on 

rMa«l street. Mcridcn ; Ju<lson Syl- 
-icr. born March 30, 1S66; Silas 
t!.< <.lee. born March 28, 1869, mar- 
I November 2^. 1903. to Alida 



r.aktr. daughi«.r of Dr. Rufus Uaker, 
tii .Middletdwn ; anil i-]sther Kosetta, 
born July 24. iS<So. The residence 
of Mr. and Mrs. S. j. Hall is one of 
the finest in Meriden. having been 
erccte<l in 1S91. and is situated on 
Fast .Main street. 



X.Mil.W FOWLFR C.RISWOLD. 

Xalhan bowler Griswold, president 
<^f the (jriswold, Richmond & Clock 
Company, comes of one of the oldest 
families in Xew I-Jigland and the line 
may be traced unbroken to Humphrey 
Griswold, a "lord of the manor." wIhj 
lived in Fngland in the sixteenth cen- 
tury. Martin, the father of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was born in the 
old (iriswold homestead in Killing- 
worth, where he married Miss Sally 
I'owler, daughter of Xathan and 
Chloe (Davis) Fowler. 

.\athan Griswold was born at l.o.-k- 
I)ort. X. v.. and his mother dying af- 
ter his birth, he was taken to Durham, 
Conn., and placed in the c.ire of his 
gran<lparents, where he remained un- 
til six years old, when his fatlur a;^ain 
married and he again came under the 
parental roof, where he lived until 
he was eleven years of age and at- 
ten«led a private .school. At the age 
of eleven, after working on a farm 
fine season, he was employed in the 
.store of Crial Avers, of liast Had- 
<lam, and he first began to learn his 
trade f)f tinsmith. He came to Mer- 
iden afterwards and entered the em- 
ploy of Pomeroy & Ives, remaining 
four years at his trade as an ai>prcn- 



382 



A CENTURY OP AIERIDEN. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



383 



tice, but honorably purchased the last 
few months of his apprenticeship 
and went to Cincinnati, where he 
worketl at his trade for three years, 
when he again removed to Holyoke, 
Mass.. and first started in business 
for himself. At the end of two years 
he again returned to ^leriden and 
bought out the manufacturing busi- 
ness of his former employers, giving 
as payment several hundred dollars 
due him as wages, and the balance in 
notes, with interest at six per cent. 
These notes he met when due, and 
continued the business successfully 
for ten years. He then disposed of 
the factory to Charles Parker and 
others and engaged in the jobbing 
business at the corner of West Main 
and Hanover streets. He afterwards 
took in as a partner, George F. 
Searles, whom he afterwards bought 
out. and later Henry J. Lewis, son of 
the late Isaac C. Lewis, became his 
partner, under the style of Griswold 
&• Lewis. In 1876. Charles C. Clock. 
a frmner valued employe, was taken 
into the firm, which afterwards be- 
came Griswold, Lewis & (jlock. 
John L. Richmond purchased Mr. 
ewis' interest in the firm which af- 
erwards became Griswold. Richmond 
S: < dock, anfl in 1889 at Mr. Gris- 
A"ld's suggestion, about a dozen of 
he employes were given an interest 
n the business as an inducement for 
leritorious service and the firm was 
lade into a corporation with a cap- 
al of $50,000, under the name of 
rriswold. Richmond & Clock Co-op- 
rative Co. Some time after the 



death of Mr. Richmond his interest 
held by his widow was purchased Jan- 
uary 10, 1905. for a large sum, after 
which the business again became a 
co-operative concern on the same lines 
as originally agreed when the com- 
pany was first formed. 

Li his religious views Mr. (iriswold 
declares himself to be an agnostic, 
refusing to believe that which does 
not appeal to his reason. 

Mr. Griswold was married in Meri- 
den to Eliza W^illiams. To them were 
born these children: Ella A., who 
married Eugene H. Ray, superinten- 
dent of the Silver City Plate Com- 
pany ; Charles, who died in early man- 
hood ; Frank, who died while a resi- 
dent of Chicago, and Lewis F., de- 
signer for the Charles Parker Com- 
pany. After his wife's death Mr. 
Griswold married Mira Rockwell, a 
daughter of Sanniel Rockwell. Mrs. 
Griswold presides over her beautiful 
home on Lincoln street with grace and 
tact and is ])rominent in the social and 
philanthropic life of Meriden. 



GEORGE W. MILLER. 



George W. Miller, first selectman of 
the town, was born ( )ctober 13. iS.V*^. 
in Ramapo, jxockland county. \. ^'. 
At tlu' agi- of twilvi- years he went 
with his parents to live in Chicoiiec 
i-"alls. .Ma>s.. where he attended 
school until sixteen years of age. 

He then went to work for the Mas- 
sachusetts .\rms Co. on guns and j)is- 
tols. learning there the trade of a tool 
maker. 



384 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




'^^6r^^£^CeeA^ 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



385 



In i8<32 he removed lo Akriikn 
where he has since resided and in the 
latter part of that year went to work 
lor l^arker, Snow. Brooks & Co., a 
coneeni engaged in manufactnring 
Springfield ritles for the U. S. gov- 
ernment. Mr. Miller was first a tool 
maker and afterwards a contractor, 
having charge of getting out the locks 
for the riHes. He remained in this 
business until 1868, when in company 
with his brother, William H. Miller. 
he started in the manufacture of 
p<»cket cutlery. From this business 
grew the Miller Bros. Cutlery Co. and 
with it he continued until 1878. Mr. 
Miller then withdrew his interests and 
started a factory at the corner of 
George and Mechanic streets where 
he made [)ocket knives and novelties 
imtil i8<>). 

.Mr. Millt 1 s(.i\cd as councilman in 

I tin- city government during the years 

\>^f<). 1877 '^^^^ '879; was appointed 

Idiputy collector of internal revenue 

|in \HifC>. serving in this capacity four 

I arv 

in |K<)4 lie was appointed superin- 

leiident of the Meriden water depart- 

|n»'nt. and during his administration of 

':ir \ears the storage reservoir "llall- 

'< r. .' holding about 140,000.000 gal- 

'I'- was constructed. In iS8j. Mr. 

dilK-r was elected first selectman of 

|lii' town, serving one year. In 1808. 

|Ir .Miller was again elected tn this 

pVi- 1- and has been re-elected annual- 

\«r sitice. His administration has 

^■'■u practical and economical, h.vi- 

•ntly the |)eopk- of Merirlen consider 

Sm safe and reliable as thcv have 



elected him to this responsible office 
for a longer term than any of his 
predecessors. 

His eflforts to secure for Meriden 
a suitable home for its unfortunate 
|)oor were successful. Under his su- 
pervision "Cold Spring Home" was 
constructed, furnished and occupied 
within one year from the time the 
citizens were first called together to 
consider the matter. All bills for this, 
including the grading of the grounds, 
were paid from the original appropria- 
tion of $40,000 and there was an un- 
expended balance of over $5,000.00. 

This is but one instance of the many 
iliat shows his loyalty and devotion 
to the interests of the town he serves. 
In these days of graft and mismanage- 
ment in many other cities, a faithful 
public servant shoidd be especially 
commenrled in Meriden. 

Mr. Miller was one of the charter 
members of St. Elmo commandery. K. 
T.. with which he is consequently 
prominently identified. He was mar- 
ried 1-Vbruary 4. 1863, to Lydia M. 
Tucker, of Chicopee Falls. Three sons 
have been born to them: Horace G. 
.Miller, secretary and treasurer of 
I'nion Iron Works, of Los Angeles, 
Cal. : Lewis .\. Miller, secretary of 
riu- II. Wales Lines Co.. of Meriden. 
and .Ma.\ V.. Miller, vice presiflent and 
secretary of The Warner-Miller Co.. 
• if Xew liaveti. 



DWID N. CAMP. 



David .\eI.son Camp. A. M.. a well- 
known educator, author and lecturer. 



386 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



and a former resident and teacher of 
Meriden, was born in Durham, Mid- 
dlesex county, Conn., October 3, 1820. 
He is a son of the late Elah Camp, 
who during his early life owned a 
large farm which comprised about 
one-fifth of the present town of Mer- 
iden and through which Camp street 
now extends. David N. Camp is the 
seventh in line descended from Nicho- 
las Camp, of Naseby, Eng., whose son, 
Samuel was one of the first settlers 
of Milford, Conn. From the last 
named have descended his son, 
Nathan, of Durham, the paternal 
grandfather of the subject. 

His mother was Orit (Lee) Camp, 
a direct lineal descendant of Theophi- 
lus Eaton, the first governor of New 
Haven colony. Prof. Camp received 
his early education in both public and 
private schools and after preparing 
for college, although prevented from 
taking his course by illness, he con- 
tinued, studying with private tutors, 
and received the honorary degree of 
A. M. from Yale college in 1853. He 
became a resident of Meriden in 1846, 
having previously lived here for a few 
months during the year 1841. 

Prof. Camp began teaching in the 
public schools of Guilford and later 
taught at Branford and Upper Mid- 
dletown. From 1848 to 1850 he be- 
came one of the instructors at the old 
Meriden Academy, which then excel- 
lent school he left in 1850 to become 
professor of mathematics, natural and 
moral philosophy and geography at 
the Connecticut State Normal school 
which was opened that year. In 1855 



he became associate principal of the 
State Normal School and also was 
professor of English (language and 
literature) and mental philosophy, 
theory and practice of teaching. He 
was appointed principal of the State 
Normal School and also state superin- ' 
tendent of schools in 1857, both of ' 
which offices he filled with great ben- , 
efit to Connecticut until 1865, when I 
on account of ill health, he resigned . 
and went at once abroad. 

While engaged in European travel, 
and during his quest of health, when 1 
he visited many of the educational in- 
stitutions of Great Britain, he was ap- ; 
pointed professor at St. John's Col- { 
lege, Annapolis, Md., and upon his re- ^ 
turn from Etirope assisted in reopen- ; 
ing that college after the close of the ; 
Civil War. When Henry Barnard , 
LL. D., president of the college, re- 
signed to accept the appointment of 
commissioner of the National Bureau i 
of Education, Prof. Camp resigned . 
his professorship, then in 1867, and i 
went with Dr. Barnard to Washinij- i 
ton, and entered the U. S. educational | 
service ; but in 1868 returned to Mer- 
iden, upon the death of his father, 
whose large estate he afterwards set- 
tled. 

From 1870 to 1880 he again became 
a professor at a New Britain seminary 
but since 1880 has devoted his efforts 
to a broader educational field and as ;i 
writer, author, lecturer and meinber 
of various educational, scientific, his- 
torical and missionary societies, has 
done as much as any man in the state 
in educating both voung and old. 



KlMCkAI'lllKS. 



387 




388 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



He was one of the organizers of the 
National Council of Education of 
which he is still a member ; has been 
one of the directors of the Missionary 
Society of Connecticut since 1875 and 
of that society was its auditor for fif- 
teen years ; and he has been president 
of the society since 1900; he is also a 
member of the Connecticut Historical 
Society, and has appeared on the pub- 
lic platform more than 400 times as 
a lecturer on educational topics. 
Prof. Camp is also a prominent figure 
in financial and manufacturing circles, 
having since 1874 been a director and 
since 1883 vice president of the New 
Britain National bank ; president of 
the Skinner Chuck Mfg. Co. since 
1887 ; of the Atkins Printing Co. from 
1875, and a director of several other 
corporations. His bright career in 
public life began in 1871 when he be- 
came a member of the New Britain 
common council. The year following 
he was a member of the board of al- 
dermen, in which body he served four 
years. He was elected mayor of New 
Britain and held that office from 1877- 
79. After his creditable administra- 
tion as ma}or he was chosen a mem- 
ber of the state legislature from New 
Britain in 1879 ; and served the year 
following as chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Education. He was mar- 
ried June 25, 1844, to Sarah Adaline 
Howd, and their children have been 
Ellen R. and Emma Jane Camp. 

Prof. Camp enjoys a wide personal 
acquaintance in ^^leriden, the home of 
earlier days, and which has ever been 
proud to claim him as one of its own. 



JOHN IVES. 



John Ives, of Meriden, is perhaps 
the oldest dry goods merchant in Con- 
necticut, having been a proprietor in 
continuous business either alone or 
with others since 1847. He was born 
December 25, 1825, on the old Ives 
homestead in the southeast district of 
Meriden. the fifth son of a family of 
ten children, is a member of the Con- 
necticut Sons of the American Revo- 
lution, is descended from one of the 
oldest and most infiuential families of 
this vicinity, and is now, with his 
younger brother, Frederick Wight- 
man Ives, the only survivor of his 
father's family. His father, Othniel 
Ives, was twice married ; first October 
8, 1800, to Sarah Yale and to whom 
four children were born ; she died No- 
vember 24, 1 814. On October 26, 
181 5, he was again married to Rosetta 
Yale, sister of his first wife, to whom 
six children were born. John Ives, 
the fourth child of the second mar- 
riage, was left an orphan at the age 
of four years, and with an older 
Ijrother, Othniel, continued to live on 
the home place until he was sixteen 
years of age. He then went to live 
with Squire Eli C. Birdsey whom he 
had chosen as his guardian. His 
school education was acquired in the 
southeastern district and at Posts 
Academy. Shortly after the death of 
his guardian, in 1844, he went to New 
York City, to seek employment which 
he obtained from Simpson & Ben- 
ham, a firm engaged in the tin and 
britannia trade, composed of the late 



CIOGRAPIIIi:S. 



389 




390 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Hon. Samuel Simpson, of Walling- 
ford, and Darius Benham, iormerly of 
Aleriden. Later he accepted a posi- 
tion as clerk in the then famous hat 
store of Leary & Co., located under 
the old Astor House in New York 
City, where his lirother, Isaac I., was 
formerly employed, and a concern in 
which his Ives relatives were finan- 
cially interested. Two years later, 
upon the advice of his brother-in-law, 
Eli Butler, he went to Alabama, 
where the latter conducted a general 
store in Perry county, and where Mr. 
Ives remained until 1847. He then 
returned to Meriden and engaged in 
the dry goods business in the store 
formerly carried on by Squire Birdsey 
and in partnership with Linus Bird- 
sey, under the style of Birdsey & 
Ives. In 1853 the partnership was 
dissolved and Mr. Ives built a new 
store on Broad street, in which, 
with his brother, Russell Ives, as 
Ives Brothers, and afterward alone, 
he continued business until 1865. In 
that year when Colonel C. L. Upham 
^ and Lieutenant Philip C. Rand, who 
had previously been clerks for Mr. 
Ives, returned from their service in the 
Civil war, Mr. Ives with them both as 
partners, formed the well known dry 
goods firm of Ives, Upham & Rand. 
The firm continued oti Broad street 
and also opened another store on Col- 
ony street, in the location now occu- 
pied by Howard Bros., which was 
then known as West ]\Ieriden. Both 
of these stores were carried on for 
some years and until the up-town 
store on Broad street was finally dis- 



posed of. The firm gradually out- 
grew their first Colony street loca- 
tion, and upon the completion of the 
Winthrop Hotel block, in 1883, thcv 
removed thereto and have retained 
that location, which, although exten- 
sively enlarged, was then thought to 
be amply spacious for many years to 
come. In addition to looking after 
his mercantile business, Mr. Ives 
served efficiently as town clerk of Aler- 
iden from 1854 to 1865, when he de- 
clined longer to serve in that office. 
He has continuously been one of the- 
directors of the Meriden National 
bank since 1863 ! was one of the 
founders of the i\Ieriden Cemetery 
Association, owners of the Walnut 
Grove cemetery, and from its organ- 
ization in 1875 has held the offices of 
director, secretary and treasurer of 
that corporation. From 1853 he has 
been a member of the First Baptist 
church. In politics, while he was 
born and raised a Democrat of the 
old school, he has been identified with 
the Republican party since the stror.g 
pro-slavery demonstrations of i858-(;, 
to which he was strongly opposed. 
Mr. Ives was married first to Alina. 
daughter of the late Eli C. Birdsey 
in 1847; she died in 1856. He was 
again married December 5. 1858. to 
Wealthy Sage Merwin, of Durham. 
Conn., and to whom two children 
were born : Leland Howard, asso- 
ciated in business with his father, and 
Harriet W., wife of Judge James P. 
Piatt, of Meriden. Mr. Ives" resi- 
dence on Broad street comprises the 
buiding erected and manv years oc- 



I!IOGRAPlIII-:S. 



391 



ciipii'tl 1>\ ]iini as a store l)ut in after 
Ncars rc-motlelcd for residence i)ur- 



WILLIAM TACKSOX R'ES. 



IVrhaps no deceased resident of 
Aieriden left behind him to a fuller 
extent the respect of the community 
tlian William Jackson Ives. He was 
born in Meriden July 28, 1815, and 
was a worthy representative of one of 
the oldest families in this vicinity. 
\\'atrous Ives, son of Amasa and Re- 
l)ecca Ives who September 15, 1809, 
married Polly Yale and had ten chil- 
dren. William Jackson Ives being the 
third. 

He was l»rouc:;'ht up on the old Ives 
farm, attended the district school, and 
as a younj^ man drove a peddler's 
team from Meriden to the Southern 
tStates and sold the goods made by the 
Itiien small factory of Charles Parker 
vhich was conducted under the 
lame of Parker & White, and being 
onsidered an extra good salesman, 
lis services were highly appreciated 
>y the concern. He afterwards be- 
anie a manufacturer, engaging in 
taking suspender webbing in East 
leriden, but his factory was de- 
royed by fire, and he afterwards 
Ipened a general store at Benton, Ala. 
his store was conducted with re- 
arkable [)rofit to himself and later 
ith his two partners, who consisted 
his brother Stephen and his book- 
vper. William Sayre. After the 
rtnershif) was formed he spent 
iluoli of his time in the Xorth buv- 



ing goods for the store and still con- 
tinued to carry on his farm in aieri- 
den. The Civil War made many poor 
debtors of their customers, composed 
of large plantation owners of the 
South ; and the firm on account of 
this, sustained a great pecuniary loss, 
including a large store and warehouse, 
none of which was recovered by Mr. 
Ives. After the town had been burnt 
by the Union armies he returned to 
Meriden, abandoning his interests in 
the South and remained here the Ijal- 
ance of his life. 

At his well cultivated farm he 
raised many valuable horses which oc- 
cui)ation was very congenial to him : 
as he was not only a great lover of 
well bred animals but understood 
thoroughly their successful raising. 
As a stock farmer he was no less for- 
tunate than in any other of his un- 
dertakings ; and many were the val- 
uable specimens of the equine race 
which he sold at handsome figures. 

Mr. Ives was widely respected by 
his fellow townsmen and a man who 
held to the fullest extent their con- 
fidence. During his life he settled 
many estates, and he seems to have 
been a most natural personage for oth- 
ers to go to for advice in business 
and other matters. He was generous 
to the worthy poor, public spiritc<l and 
very considerate of his -neighbors by 
whom he was highly regarded. An 
active member of the First P)aptist 
church, he took a (leej> interest in the 
welfare of that society. He was a 
Democrat in his political sympathies. 
He served in both branches of the 



392 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



393 



city government and April i, 1850,. 
was elected a representative to serve 
Meriden in the state legislature. 

He was married September i, 1841, 
to Lucy Julia Birdsey, daughter of 
Gershom and Lucy (Coe) Birdsey, 
and their children were as follows : 
William Birdsey, born October 27, 
1843 ; Ellena Lucy, born JNIarch 24, 
1847. deceased; Elizabeth and Carrie, 
both of whom died in infancy, and 
(ieorge W'., born August 8, 1861, and 
died April 17, 1889. William B. Ives, 
an influential man of affairs, and 
from his birth a resident of Meriden, 
is the only one surviving. William 
Jackson Ives, his father, and the sub- 
ject of this sketch, died at his home 
in Meriden May 16. 1887, and was 

uried in the East cemeterv. 



BENJAMIN H. CATLIN, M. D. 



Benjamin Hopkins Catlin, M. D. 

I deceased), eldest son of Benjamin 

[nd Rhoda (Catlin) Catlin, was born 

aigust 10, 1 801, in the town of Har- 

inton. Litchfield county. Conn. Dr. 

Catlin came of a long line of distin- 

juished ancestry, one dc Catlin hav- 

jig been a follower of William the 

anrjueror, and the first American an- 

I'stor having come to Hartford in 

ji^j. where he and his son were very 

ominent in colonial affairs. 

[Dr. Catlin had more than the usual 

iucational advantages of a country 

Uy of his da\ , the district school 

wrk being followed by study at an 

aademy in his native town unrler the 

tjtion of the Rev. Luther Hart, and 



medical training under several prom- 
inent physicians, and at ^'ale, where 
he was graduated March 4, 1825. 
On July 12 of the same year he opened 
an office at Haddam. Conn., filling a 
vacancy made by the death of Dr. 
Andrew Warner. He soon had a 
large practice and remained over six- 
teen years. Then, at the request of 
some of the leading citizens of Meri- 




^ i^* 



^^'» 




i;i:.\j.\Mi.\ II. (All. I.N, M. I). 

den, he came to this city to till the 
vacancy caused by the death of Dr. 
Wyllis WoodrufT. His fee in his 
early practice was but tifty cents. 
He practiced during the latter period 
of Dr. Hfiugh. with whom he held 
considtations in serious cases, and 
who extended him not only all the 
usual courtesies of the i)rofessiou but 



394 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



a warm personal friendship as well. 
Dr. Catlin was early elected a Fel- 
low of the Connecticut Medical Socie- 
ty. In 1854 he was elected vice-pres- 
ident of the society, re-elected in 1855, 
appointed president in 1856, and 
elected in 1857. In 1840 he was 
given the honorary degree of M. D, 
by Yale. He was always very activ.- 
in both state and national medical cir- 
cles, being a prominent member of 
the American Medical Association 
from 1853 imtil his death, and often 
attending its annual meetings as del- 
egate from the state society. In 
i860 he was elected an honorary mem- 
ber of the New York Medical Socie- 
ty, and in 1869 a corresponding mem- 
ber of the Gynaecological Society of 
Boston. In 1871 he was president 
of the annual meeting of the Ameri- 
can Medical Society. He was the 
chief promoter in the establishment of 
the state Board of Health, and his 
writings upon the subject of sanitary 
conditions were widely read and had 
much influence in the prevention of 
disease. 

Dr. Catlin held many important po- 
sitions in the community aside from 
those connected with his profession. 
He was director of the Home Nation- 
al Bank, and was either president or 
vice-president of the Meriden Savings 
Bank from the time of its organiza- 
tion. At the time of the removal of 
the First Congregational church to 
West Aleridcn he was elected deacon 
for life and held the ofifice of treasurer 
of the church until the January before 
his death. 



As a physician Dr. Catlin en j eye 
the fullest confidence and esteem c 
the whole community. As a man h 
was unassuming but earnest and up 
right, firm in principle and consisten 
in every deed. 

His death, which occurred Febru 
ary 18, 1880, brought a sense of per 
sonal loss to all Meriden, and hi 
memory will live for many years tf 
come. 

On September 9, 1835, Dr. Catlii 
was married to Amelia Deborah Spen- 
cer, born November 4, 181 1, daughtoi 
of William and Deborah (Selden' 
Spencer. To this marriage came 
(i) Benjamin Spencer Catlin, borr 
September 14, 1837, died February 15. 
1871 ; he was in the Civil war from 
1862 to 1865, serving as surgeon of 
the Second N. Y. V. I. and Twenty- 
first N. Y. V. Cav. (2) William Hop- 
kins Catlin. The mother died Au- 
gust 7, 1883. 



WILLIAM HOPKINS CATLIX. 



No mention of the prominent citi- 
zens of Meriden would be complete 
without the name of William H. Cat- 
lin, who was born in this city, August 
24, 1842, and has always been fore- 
most in both financial and religious 
circles. If any one can boast of ;in 
illustrious American ancestry, that 
man is Mr. Catlin. Twenty-five '^f 
his forbears fought in the Indian war- 
and were members of the General 
Court ; five served as soldiers in tli<' 
Revolutionary War, one. Colonel Sam 
uel Selden, being captured at the tak- 



UIOGRAI'HIKS. 



3W: 



ing of Xew ^'<•I■k Cily in ijJ'k ami 
dying soon after in prison. Mr. Cat- 
lin's great-grandfather enlisted in 
1777. when he was fifteen, and re- 
ceived a pension for his services. 

The subject of this sketcli is a di- 
rect descen<lant of Rev. Thoinas 
Hooker, founder of Hartford; of Rev. 
John \\ ilson. who came to America 
in I'X^o. ajul was pastor of the First 



Mr. C'ailin was furiunate in receiv- 
ing,^ a good education at the district 
school in Meriden. and afterwards at 
the Hopkins (irammar school in Xew 
Haven. His first work was teaching 
school iluring the winter of iSf)i-6j 
at Xortlieast. Mrie Co.. I'a. Hut he 
soon felt that the place for him was 
in the army helping to preserve the 
I'nion. and. relurniuij" to Meriden, he 




\ I 1.^ \ Ki I I I \i ,1 . \\ I > 1 II \ K 



hurch of Iioston ; of Rev. Koger 
'ewton. first pastor of the I'arming- 
l>ii ciujrch : of Rev. John Warham. 
ih" eanic from Plymouth, England, 
|i i'>.V'. a^fl ^^'ss first pastor of the 
liiirch at W'inflsor. Conn.; and of 
Iliad I'lfown. who in i(^2, was or- 
|iit)e<i as ilie first .settled pa.stor of 

<■ 1 baptist church at IVovidcncc. 



was one of the first half dozen to form 
(.'ompany .\, Fifteenth Connecticut 
\'oluntecrs. His coni])any was mus- 
tered into the army .\ugust 2$, 1862, 
and in a few days left for Washing- 
ion. Mr. Catlin, with tlie rest of his 
com|)any. fought valiantly during 
many important engagements for over 
three years until the end of the war. 
and was mustered out in lime. i8<»v 



396 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Mr. Catlin then found himself in 
Erie, Pa., and from 1865 to 1867 he 
acted as bookkeeper in the hardware 
store of John C. Selden. After a 
winter spent at his old home in Mer- 
iden he felt the call of the West and 
went out to Alissouri, where he 
bought a ranch in Barton count}-. In 
1873 he returned to Meriden, in 1877 
entered the Meriden Savings Bank 
as clerk, and in 1890 was chosen sec- 
retary and treasurer, which position 
he still occupies. 

In 1880 Mr. Catlin was chosen dea- 
con of the First Congregational 
church and has always been most ac- 
tive in everything pertaining to the 
w^elfare of the church, and most gen- 
erous in its support. He is inter- 
ested in all philanthropic works both 
at home and abroad. He was for two 
years president of the local Y. M. C. 
A., and has been one of the leading 
spirits in the maintenance of the Boys' 
Club. He is a member of the Board 
of Park Commissioners, and, in fact, 
promoters of any good work may look 
to him for sympathy and co-opera- 
tion. 

Mr. Catlin was married September 
13, 1871, in Barton county. Mo., to 
Helen Mar Bailey, who died June 23, 
1880. His second wife was Jane 
Winslow, of North Brookfield, Mass., 
daughter of David Lilly and Dolly 
Powers (Harwood) Winslow. Mrs. 
Catlin's father was a direct descend- 
ant of Kenelm Winslow. This Ken- 
elm Winslow is supposed to have 
come over in the Mayflower on her 
second vovasfe. Mrs. Catlin's srreat- 



grandfather. Major Peter Harwood, 
was in the Revolutionary War and 
was officer of the day when Andre 
was hanged. She is also a direct de- 
scendant of Governor Prence and EN 
der William Brewster. 



RANSOM BALDWIN, SR. 



Ransom Baldwin, Sr. (deceased) 
was born in Cheshire, Conn., March i, 
1793, the son of James Baldwin, of 
that place, then a parish of Walling- 
ford. His mother's name was Bethia 
Goodsell. She was a daughter of Ja- 
cob Goodsell and Lydia Denison of 
East Haven. 

The family of which Ransom was a 
member moved to Meriden when he 
was about two years old and settled 
on the Westfield road a little way be- 
yond the present Baldwin's mills. 
The house is still standing at the 
crown of the hill and seems likely to 
last for an indefinite period. 

The father succeeded to the run- 
ning of the Hough mill which from 
that time has been known as the Bald- 
win mill. 

Ransom, at the age of twenty-one, 
donning his freedom suit, started out 
for himself as a traveling salesman or 
peddler, his business taking him, af- 
ter fitting out at Squire Yale's, down 
through Virginia, North and South 
Carolina. 

He followed this business for about 
twelve years when he retired from its 
activities and settled upon a farm on 
the east side of the town, at present 
occupied by his descendants. In his 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



397 



political sympathies Mr. Baldwin was past century is the late Ransom Bald- 



a life-long Democrat of the Jackson- 
ian type. 

On November lo, 1823, he married 
Sarah Twiss, daughter of Joseph 




win, Jr., who died December 25, 1897, 
at 2yj Wall street, Meriden. An ob- 
server of men naturally falls into the 
habit of segregating a personality 
here and there and collecting around 
it as a center the events that lead to 
the making of a successful man. Mr. 
Baldwin furnishes material for such a 
study not alone by reason of his con- 
spicuous business career but because 
of his high position as a private citi- 
zen. 

He was the son of Ransom and 
grandson of James Baldwin, who es- 



RAXSOM P.ALDWIX, SR. 

and Lois Austin Twiss, and remained 
in jNIeriden on his farm until his death 
on November 3, 1870, leaving four 
children: Sarah, who married William 
Briggs ; Ransom, who married Mary 
Hall, of Wallingford; Mary E., the 
wife of Russell Hall ; Justina C, the 
wife of Benjamin C. Kennard, of Mer- 
iden. raxso.m i-.ai.dwix, jr. 

tablishcd the saw and grist mill at 
Baldwin's pond. The old homestead 
Among the citizens who stand out where James Baldwin lived is still 
prominently as l)iisincss men of the standing in the eastern part of ]\Ieri- 




RAXSDM T5ALDWTX. JR. 



398 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



den. James Baldwin was stirred 
by and took active part in the Revolu- 
tionary war. If there was any other 
goal to the ambition of this sixteen 
year old boy it was buried under the 
exciting events of the times. War 
had 'reared its ugly head and the de- 
mand was for soldiers. There were 
other members of the family who par- 
took of the resistless tendency toward 
fighting for liberty. Ransom Bald- 
win's maternal grandfather, Joseph 
Twiss. enlisted with James Baldwin 
and both made gallant records for 
themselves. 

In addition to farming Mr. Baldwin 
conducted a flour and grain business, 
the one working in with the other and 
bringing Mr. Baldwin into closest 
touch with the resources of Meriden 
and its business men. The result was 
natural, he became a large property 
owner, and, in consequence, a large 
taxpayer. 

But he is greatly mistaken who 
thinks Mr. Baldwin was limited to 
business interests. He read much 
and thought earnestly on the problems 
of the day, especially on those prob- 
lems that pertain to the uplifting of 
the people. His opinions were not 
formed to accord with the drift of 
public opinion but were held with a 
marked individuality of conviction. 
He had large humanitarian sympa- 
thies but believed that a deep religious 
life should be the vital energy of wise 
and effective humanitarian effort. He 
was for many years identified with 
the First Baptist church, Meriden, to 
which he was a liberal contributor. 



In 1867 Mr. Baldwin was married 
to Miss Mary Hall, of Wallingford, 
who has alwa}s been in the worthiest 
sense of the word, the "partner" of 
his business prosperity, and has shared 
to the fullest measure in his higher 
thoughts and purposes. Mrs. Bald- 
win still survives him as also a daugh- 
ter, Alice A., now Mrs. Charles Mor- 
gan, and a son. Ransom Leland, one 
of the leading business men of the 
towm, whose sketch appears following. 
Two children have died. Flora C. and 
Henry H. He left two sisters also 
who are well known in Meriden, Mrs. 
B. C. Kennard and ]\Irs. Russell Hall. 



RAXSOM LELAXD BALDWIN. 



The foundation for the thriving 
grain business of Ransom Leland 
Baldwin was laid by his father, the 
late Ransom Baldwin, a sketch of 
whose life appears above in this 
volume. The son has successive- 
ly enlarged his business as the years 
have brought new experience and 
strengthened the old, until he has be- 
come one of the most substantial and 
promising of the }ornger men of this 
city. 

Mr. Baldwin, whose mother was 
Mary Hall, was born January 29, 
1870, in the house where he has lived 
ever since. He attended the comnKMi 
schools and then instead of marching 
into a new and untried field, he made 
his father's interests his own and 
learned the grain business on the home 
farm consisting of 100 acres. 

The mastery of a business is the 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



399 



ability to meet new conditions and 
make them a prominent factor of the 
old. Accordingly when j\Ir. Bald- 
win's increasing trade, in 1899, de- 
manded better shipping facilities he 
built a large elevator on North George 
street — a commercial depot possess- 
ing excellent railroad facilities and 
connected with the X. Y.. N. H. & H. 
railroad by a spur track. He is able 
to receive and ship goods in a manner 




RANSOM LELANU BALDWIN. 

satisfactory to himself and his pat- 
rons. 

The elevator is a brick structure 
built with every convenience for the 
handling of grain and it is only nec- 
essary to visit the big repository 
whose capacity is from 12,000 to 15,- 
000 bushels and look at the shutes to 
1 get a slight hint of the large quantity 



of grain and hay that is handled every 
day under the owner's capable man- 
agement. 

Mr. Baldwin has never been satis- 
fied to follow a narrow business ca- 
reer, his field widens yearly, a con- 
dition due to his well balanced com- 
mercial faculties, tempered with the 
elements of organization and execu- 
tion — elements that are whetted by 
his close attention to business. 

His interests in life are not one- 
sided. While the goddess of agricul- 
ture has smiled blandly upon his acres 
he has also grappled with the prob- 
lems of finance and conducts a suc- 
cessful brokerage business in the Byx- 
beb block. Thus he is brought into 
close relations with many public men 
whom he might meet in his regular 
work. His interest in the welfare of 
his town is always at heart. 

He belongs to Meriden Center 
Lodge, F. and A. M.. the Royal Ar- 
canum, the Meridcn Lodge of Elks, 
the Grange and the Meriden Business 
Men's Association. Like his father, 
he is a member of the First Baptist 
church. 



WALDO C. TWISS. 



Waldo Clinton Twiss, extensive 
land owner and one who has built 
and sold a great number of dwellings 
in Meriden, was born in Montreal, 
Can., in 1829, and is, therefore, just 
the age of the railroad industry. His 
])arents were Ira and Vincie (An- 
drews) Twiss, and his ancestor, Jo- 
seph Twiss, fought at the l)attle of 



400 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Saratoga. His father was a clock-mak- 
er by trade, and he and his brothers 
were the first Yankees to manufac- 
ture clocks in Canada. As a boy the 
subject of this sketch was of deli- 




plicated, proved a success and he and 
his father were the pioneers in bag- 
ging wheat flour of their own manu- 
facture, the quality of which was very 
superior to any made. The work of 
the mills attracted customers from 
great distances, some of its patrons 
passing by three others to have their 
grinding done at Twiss Mills. 

In 1870 he engaged in the lumber 
business and the building of houses 
on his own land and at one period of 
his operations as many as twenty cars 
of lumber were due at a time for his 
use. On Twiss street Mr. Twiss has 
erected manv houses, while Britannia, 



Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

WALDO C. TWISS. 

cate health which, however, he out- 
grew. His parents removed to Meri- 
den when he was seven years old and 
he was educated in the district 
schools and Meriden Academy, at- 
tending later the institute at Suffield. 
His father, who kept the old tavern 
at the corner of Broad and East Main 
streets from 1839 to 1843, became the 
owner of extensive lands, mostly in 
the northern section of the town and 
after erecting saw mills at Twiss pond, 
gave his son, Waldo, the management 
of them. The mills, somewhat com- 




IRA TWISS. 

Murray, Clinton and Pearl streets also 
show the results of his enterprise in 
building up the town. For many 
vears Mr. Twiss also carried on a 



BIOGRAPHIES- 



401 



building moving business and while 
he was thus engaged practically all the 
buildings moved w-ere by him and his 
men, including the old Baptist and 
Episcopal churches. In moving the 
latter a gas pipe was broken, the only 
breakage of that kind that ever oc- 
curred in the twent}'-five years he was 
engaged in business. 

He began to purchase land on an 
extensive scale during the Civil war 
time and first bought a large tract for 
$1,200, and after selling a portion of 
it sufficient to get his money back, still 
owned more than he had bought it 
for, owing to the generous old-fash- 
ioned measurement. He afterwards 
bought twenty-three acres from Wil- 
liam J- Ives, for which he paid $6,- 
000, and by whom he was not re- 
quired to give any security other than 
his word and wdiom he paid out of his 
sales to others. His next purchase 
was twenty-three acres, also outside 
the city limits in the eastern section of 
the town and where he still owns 
much land desirable for building pur- 
poses. 

He was married in i860 to Cor- 
nelia, daughter of A\'atrous Ives, of 
Meriden, who died in 1900. after a 
happy married life of nearly forty 
years. He has no liviuG: children. 



MARSHALL LEE FORBES. 



Marshall Lee Forbes, a resident of 

leriden, now deceased, and who held 

lie res])ect of the community, was 

"•rn in East Hartford, July 29, 1828. 

md was the son of Orin and ^larv 

26 



Forbes. Coming to this town from 
Wallingford where he had previously 
worked, he became employed by the 
Meriden Britannia Company as a sil- 
ver plater, wdiich occupation he fol- 
lowed until his death. He was indus- 
trious and thrifty in his habits and be- 
came a property owner and was al- 
ways known as a citizen of the town, 
who had its interests at heart. 




MARSHALL LKK FORISES. 

On November 28. 1849, he married 
.Susan C. Hall, daughter of Hiel and 
Sarah ( Kirtland ) Hall, of Walling- 
ford, who si ill survives him and re- 
sides in the comfortable residence 
^vhich he owned some years before his 
regretted death. Mr. b^orbes served 
creditably in the city government and, 
with his wife, was a devoted member 



402 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



of St. Andrew's Episcopal church. 
He was also a prominent member of 
the Masonic fraternity, being con- 
nected with the .blue lodge, Walling- 
ford, and St. Elmo Commandery, 
Knights Templar. He died April 24, 
1891, respected by all who knew him. 
His son, Henry Eorbes, was born 
in Wallingford January 2, 185 1, was 
educated in the public schools, but dur- 




HENRY FORBES. 

ing the latter part of his life was in 
very poor health. When he was 
eighteen years of age his father built 
for him a small greenhouse, and upon 
his advice, the son employed himself 
in the study and cultivation of flowers. 
From this small start grew a florist 
business of quite large proportions, 
which was carried on for some years 
with success. 



Henry Forbes married May O. 
Ward, of Rochester, N. Y., but for- 
merly of Wallingford. The surround- 
ings of the greenhouse and the duties 
involved in conducting it, without 
question, prolonged the life of the 
younger Forbes, but at the age of thir- 
ty he died, after having passed a short 
but active life. After his death the 
florist business, which was at that time 
the largest in Aleriden, was conducted 
by his wife, a woman of exceptional 
business ability and energy, who also 
conducted the store on West Main 
street, until her death which occurred 
in 1894, when the business was sold 
by Mrs. Forbes, Sr., to others who 
have since conducted it in the green- 
house adjoining her residence. 



HOMER CURTISS. 



Homer Curtiss, deceased, was born 
August 4, 1800, at the Curtiss Home- 
stead, on Curtis street, where his 
father was also born. He spent sev- 
eral years while a young man, first in 
teaching school, and later as clerk m 
a store which he left because his pr-n- 
ciples forbade his selling liquor. He 
thus early took a stand on the tem- 
perance question which he maintained 
by precept and example throughout 
his life. 

About 1833, in partnership with 
Harlow Isbell, he commenced the 
manufacture of latch keys, and later 
of locks and knobs, in a building lo- 
cated near the corner of Church 
street and High School avenue. 
About 1845 the factory was removed 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



403 



to the site now occupied by the Brad- 
ley & Hubbard Alfg. Co.. the firm lie- 
intj: Curtiss, Morgan & Co. 

In 1855 the factory was destroyed 
by fire and the business removed to 
Norwalk and organized as the Nor- 
walk Lock Co. In 1857 Mr. Curtiss 
returned to Meriden and remained 
until 1 86 1 when he removed to New 
York. There he was engaged in the 




HOMER CURTISS. 

hardware business until failing health 
comjjelled him to retire from active 
business and he returned to Meriden 
where he died Alay 30, 1880. 

Mr. Curtiss in early life united 
with the First Congregational church, 
and went with that church when it 
moved to Colony street. In 1848 he 
was elected a life deacon and served 



until he moved to X'orwalk. He was 
superintendent of the Sunday school 
and was for many years a teacher 
there. Soon after he removed to New 
York, there being a strong pro-slav- 
ery sentiment in the community, he 
with several members of the Presby- 
terian church which he attended, 
founded Pilgrims Church, now locat- 
ed on 123rd street, to propagate anti- 
slavery principles ; and he was a dea- 
con and loyal supporter of that church 
until his return to Meriden. 

In 1835 ^^^ married Julia Ann Up- 
son. They had four children, all of 
whom are living. 

Mr. Curtiss was fearless in follow- 
ing his convictions and "Dared to be 
in the right with two or three." 
Early in the history of the Anti- 
Slavery agitation he and Mrs. Cur- 
tiss became ardent adherents of that 
cause and gave to it freely of their 
time and substance, frequently sufifer- 
ing serious loss in consequence. 
'I^heir home was a station of the ''Un- 
derground Railway" and many fugi- 
tives passed through it on their way 
to freedom. 

Mr. Curtiss maintained an unblem- 
ished reputation as a business mim 
and Christian citizen through his lon.g 
life, being everywhere respected and 
l(jved, and his "works do follow him." 



HENRY J. CHURCH, 



Henry James Church, during his 
life, was one of the oldest and best 
known men engaged in the undertak- 
ing Inisiness in the state. While born 



404 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



at East Haven a greater part of his 
useful life was spent in Meriden where 
he died May 20, 1903. The date of 
his birth was August i, 183 1. He 
was a son of James and Huldaii 
(Barnes) Church and was descended 
from Thomas Church, who cair.c 
from England in 1680 and settled in 
Plainfield, Conn. Henry J. Church's 
grandfather, a farmer of Haddam and 
a Continental soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war, was taken a prisoner by 
the British and being confined in their 
prison ship in New York harbor, es- 
caped by swimming, a feat wliich 
historians record as unequalled by any 
other man during the Revolution. 
Mr. Church was also descended from 
patriotic ancestry on the maternal 
side ; for his grandfather, Isaac 
Barnes, a farmer of East Haven, en- 
listed during the Revolution and un- 
der Benedict Arnold marched from 
New Haven to Ticonderoga. 

Henry Church, father of Henry J., 
a shoemaker by trade, and who spent 
many years engaged in the retail shoe 
business in the West Indies, served 
his country as a soldier in the War of 
1812. He died in East Haven m 
1839, and his son, Henry J., who 
spent his boyhood in his native town, 
New Britain and Meriden, was the 
last of seven children to survive him. 

Apprenticed as a cabinet maker in 
1847, he became a skilled workman at 
that trade and later became a clerk in 
a Meriden furniture store. When the 
Civil war broke out he followed the 
example set by his forefathers and in 
August, 1862, enlisted from Meriden 



in Company F, 15th Conn. \'ols. He 
took almost immediate active service 
at the front and his regiment was en- 
gaged in the battle of Fredericksburg 
and the siege of Sufifolk. He was 
later assigned to the subsistence de- 
partment of the Army of the Potomac 
under General Burnside with whom 
he remained until 1863, but continued 
in active service in the North Caro- 
lina district until the close of hostili- 
ties. After receiving his honorable 
discharge July 8, 1865, he returned to 
Aleriden and engaged in tlie under- 
taking business. Through the evi- 
dent painstaking service he rendered 
the people, many years before his 
death he had established the largest, 
oldest and best known establishment 
within several miles of the city. Of a 
naturally kindl}' and humane disposi- 
tion, lie could not fail to win the 
personal gratitude and regard of all 
who employed him. He was usuall\ 
called to arrange the services in cases 
of bereavement not entirely confined 
to the older and leading fanulies. 
During his life he officiated at the ser- 
vices of over 6,000 people but drr- 
ing the latter years of his life was as- 
sisted by his son, Louis H. Church, 
who succeeded him upon his re- 
gretted decease. 

He was a member and ])ast ])resi- 
dent of the New England and tin' 
Connecticut L^ndertakers' Associations 
and stood high as was possible for 
any man to stand in his professit)n. 
He was a prominent member and past 
commander of Merriam Post, (I. A. 
R. ; served as a member of the city 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



405 



government in both the Common 
Council and Board of Aldermen ; was 
a member of the higher branches of 
the Masonic order, being connected 
with the St. Elmo Commandery, K. 
r., and was a past master of Meridian 
l.odge. A. F. & A. M. ; he was also a 
charter member of Myrtle Lodge, K. 
of W : Silver City Lodge, No. 3, A. 
O. I'. \\'.. and was an honorary mem- 
ber of Meriden Center Lodge, Xo. 68, 
L O. O. F. 

lie was married in 1853 to Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Luke T. and Eliz- 
abeth (Foster) Draper, of Monson, 
Mass., and they had five children, of 
whom Louis H. is the only one sur- 
viving. Mr. Church is remembered, 
not onl\- as a man who conducted his 
business on a plane with the profes- 
sions, but one who w^as a good citi- 
zen, neighbor and friend indeed to all 
who knew him. 



LOUIS H. CHURCH. 



Louis Henry Church, Meriden's 
leading funeral director and who in 
business succeeded his father, the late 
Henry J. Church, was born in Meri- 
den January 15, 1878. His education 
in the local public schools was fol- 
lowed by an attendance at the schools 
of embalming from which he grad- 
uated. I'ew \oung men have been 
favored with better training for their 
profession, but he was never sent to 
college to be taught to think. Froir. 
boyhood he became associated with 
his father, who taught him in the old 
and thorough wav his life's calliuij-. 



and the high standard of which he has 
alwaAs maintained. The present well 
equipped establishment, the oldest in 
Meriden, stands near the site where 
\oung Mr. Church was born and he 
naturally became an undertaker. 
Perhaps never was the saying "like 
father like son" more forcibly illus- 
trated than in Louis Church and his 
deceased father, Henr\- Church. He 
not only resembles him in personal 
appearance, except being taller in 
stature, but in actions, methods and 
dis])osition. That he fills in an offi- 
cial capacity the place in the busi- 
ness world made vacant by the loss 
of his father is a fact fully conceded 
by the better and older families of 
this vicinity by whom he is constant- 
1\' employed and has enjoyed an ac- 
quaintance with for many years. 
While imbued with the teachings of 
his father who was of the old school, 
he is also an authority on the mod- 
ern methods of the business of which 
he has become master. 

The first glance at the establish- 
ment he conducts suggests to the vis- 
itor nothing as to the nature of the 
work done there unless he looks fur- 
ther than the large and nicely fur- 
nished office, finished in well polished 
hardwood fittings : but hidden from 
view is a full Hedged morgue. Ad- 
joining the office is a mortuary chap- 
el and beyond that a workroom. The 
office is never closed night or day and 
two competent assistants are em- 
])loyed. 

Mr. Church. lia\-ing bec'ii born and 
brought u]) in llie business which he 



4o6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



■ 




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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H^ 


^ ' ' '^ 9| 




^j|^^ 1 


,# i 


■J^LI 


^L 


^-.;j;;,f;v, -^-ia^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



407 




4o8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



has by study and long practice devel- 
oped to a scientific standard, enjoys 
the fullest confidence of the commun- 
ity. His funeral arrangements are 
always to be relied upon in every de- 
tail which he attends to with that 
kindly consideration for the feelings 
of his fellowmen which must be in- 
born. 

As a resident of IMeriden Mr. 
Church is held in high regard by the 
citizens. He resides with his family 
in the old Church homestead. 78 
Pleasant street, and is a prominent 
figure in social life. From early 
manhood he has been an active mem- 
ber of the First Methodist church, of 
Meriden, in which he takes a 
deep interest. He is also a member 
of several fraternal organizations. 
He is identified with the Masons, 
holding membership with Meridian 
Lodge, j-j, A. F. & A. M. ; Meriden 
Center Lodge, 68, L O. O. F. ; Meri- 
den Lodge, 35, B. P. O. Elks; Myr- 
tle Lodge, 4, Knights of Pythias ; Col- 
umbia Council, American Mechanics ; 
Alfred H. Hall Council, Royal Arca- 
num ; Charles L. Upham Camp, Sons 
of Veterans, and is one of the charter 
members of the Colonial Club of 
Meriden. In politics he is a Repub- 
lican. He is also a member of the 
Meriden Business Men's Association 
and the Connecticut L-ndertakers' As- 
sociation. He stands at the head of 
his profession and has met with fa- 
vor from a fastidious clientele, the re- 
sult of the fact that he has attained 
his position by the merit of his own 
cfi'ort. 



He is married to Maude Lillian 
Marshall, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and 
they have the following named chil- 
dren : Grace Huntington, Annie 
Louise and Elizabeth Augusta. 



THE MCRDOCK FA^HLY. 

The first of the ]\Iurdock family to 
come to this country was Peter, son 
of John Murdock and Mary ( ALin- 
son) Murdock. They were natives of 
Scotland but removed to Limerick, 
Ireland, on account of religious per- 
secutions. John Murdock was a loyal 
subject of \A'illiam of Orange in whose 
interests he sacrificed nearly all his. 
property. For this reason Peter was 
sent to live with his uncle, also named 
Peter, in the north of England. At 
seventeen }ears of age he emigrated 
to this country, landing in Philadel- 
phia with but a crown in his pocket. 
Naturally of a frugal and industrious- 
disposition, he saved enough to go in- 
to mercantile business. He, later,, 
settled on Long Island and married 
Mary E. Fithin, of Southampton. 
He then opened a store in East Hamp- 
ton which he left in charge of his 
wife while he engaged in the coasting 
trade with a small vessel. He pur- 
chased later, 2,200 acres of land at 
Little Egg Harbor, N. J., and 840 
acres more at what is now Westbrook, 
Conn., removing his store to the let- 
ter town and continuing there initil 
his death November 6, 1755. 

John Murdock. only child of Peter 
and Mary, was born in East Hampton. 
Long Island, in 1706. He became 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



409 




i 






4IO 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



a large land owner and a successful 
farmer in Westbrook, and was one of 
the deacons of the Congregational 
church, major in the colonial militia, 
judge of the Court of Common Pleas 
of New London county and also rep- 
resented the town of Saybrook in the 
legislature. He married Phebe Sill 
of Lyme, who died ten months after 
the marriage. His second wife was 
Frances Conklin of East Hampton 
who bore him thirteen children and 
three of their sons were graduates of 
Yale College. 

William ]\Iurdock, son of John, 
born i\ugust 31, 1740, was a farmer 
in Westbrook ; he married Jerusha 
Lay of Lyme and they had thirteen 
children. His fourth child, Peter 
Murdoch, the patriot, was a cabin 
boy, serving three voyages on the pri- 
vateers "John Jay" and "Thomas Mar- 
shall" during the Revolution and re- 
ceived $300 prize money on the first 
trip. In later life he was a farmer in 
Westbrook. He married Mrs. Bath- 
sheba (Dodge) Bush, widow of John 
Bush, of East Lyme. To this union 
were born the following children : 
Polly U., who became Mrs. DeWolf, 
of Clinton, Conn. ; Charles and Delia, 
twins, the latter of whom married 
Edw. Dowd, and was the mother of 
Zina Dowd, of Meriden ; Emeline, who 
married Horace Nettleton, of Clinton, 
Conn. ; Zina Kelsey, and Matthew 
Griswold. Mrs. Murdock by her 
marriage to John Bush was the moth- 
er of Fenner, John and Amaziah 
lUish, Fenner Bush being prominent 
in his dav in the manufacturing life 



of Meriden ; Mr. Murdock died at 
Westbrook in 1853. 

Zina Kelsey Murdock was born at 
Westbrook, March 2, 181 1, and re- 
ceived his education there. Although 
in delicate health, but being ambitious, 
at the age of fourteen, he walked from 
Westbrook to Meriden where his half 
brother, Fenner Bush was engaged in 
manufacturing ivory combs, in whose 
employ he worked for several years, 
finally becoming the partner of Cur- 
tis L. North and carried on a trading 
business along the shores of the Mis- 
sissippi and Ohio rivers, leaving Mr. 
North to manage the insurance and 
investment business in Meriden. The 
outcome not being satisfactory to Mr. 
Murdock, he dissolved partnership, 
leaving Mr. North in full possession. 
He later bought a large farm on Mur- 
dock avenue, where his son, George 
B. Murdock now resides. Mr. Mur- 
dock was a man of strong character 
and believed in every man receiving 
his just rights. He was also a man 
possessed of indomitable courage and 
energy, a well trained mind and cul- 
tivated intellect. 

During the so-called Meriden riots 
in 1837, Mr. Murdock, with several 
other advocates of free speech, took 
a stand in favor of allowing the Rev. 
Mr. Ludlow to lecture on anti-slav- 
ery, wdiich in consequence of the pre- 
vailing sentiment in Meriden caused 
a mob to gather during which the de- 
fenders of free speech were severely 
injured. 

Mr. Murdock was a Whig in poli- 
tics during the existence of that party. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



411 



bill during the last years of his hfe 
supported the Democratic party. He 
never sought or accepted any pohtical 
office. Both Mr. Murdock and his 
wife belonged to old Congregational 
families antl were members of that 
church but in later life joined the 
Episcopal church. 

He married Harriet AI. Bronson, 
daughter of Judge Bennet and An- 
na (Smith) Bronson, of Waterbury, 
to whom three children were born: 
Mary E., October 8, 1843 ! George 
Bronson, February 25, 1846, and 
Charles Z., ]\lay i, 1850. Mr. Mur- 
dock died January 30, 1874, and his 
wife survived him twenty years, pass- 
ing away in 1895. 

George B. Murdock, oldest son of 
Zina K. and Harriet M. Murdock, at- 
tended the Meriden public schools, 
Mcriden Academy and the Russell 
Military Academy at New Haven. 
He grew to manhood on the farm 
where he has always remained en- 
gaged in general agriculture. 

.Mr. Murdock is one of the directors 
of the Meriden Savings Bank and was 
one of the organizers of the Meriden 
Grange, the first three years of which 
he was master. He was married in 
Meriden in 1896 to Harriet Elizabeth 
Graves, of Xew Haven. Their chil- 
dren arc George Peter, born May 11, 
1897; Harriet Josephine, born Octo- 
l>er 22, 1898, and Bennet Bronson, 
born January 15. kjoi. 

Charles Zina .Murdock. youngest 
son of Zina K. and Harriet M. ( I'ron- 
son) Murdock. was born on his fath- 
er's farm May i. 1850. He attended 



the 2\leriden public schools and the 
Meriden Acadeni}- and also the Rus- 
sell Military Academy at Xew Haven. 

He remained upon the home farm 
until ■ he was thirty-eight }-ears old. 
previous to which he was engaged in 
general agriculture and dairy farm- 
ing. In 1888, by agreement with his 
mother and brother, he took one hun- 
dred acres of his father's estate on 
Paddock avenue, upon the highest ele- 
vation of which he has erected his 
present modern residence. 

He is a member of the Meriden 
Grange and belongs to no other so.- 
ciety ; is domestic in his tastes, well 
versed in the topics of the day and is 
an extensive reader of the best lit- 
erature. 

He was married March 6, 1889, to 
Miss Alice C. Carter, who is remem- 
bered as a woman of marked beauty, 
a warm and generous heart and cul- 
tivated mind, with a keen apprecia- 
tion of the highest and noblest in 
daily life, and who died April 25, 1891, 
and was buried in the West cemetery 
at Meriden. But one child was born 
to the union. Carter Z., Feb. 12, 1891. 



REV. HARVEY AHLLER. 



One of the clergymen of the town 
who enjoyed the esteem of the com- 
munity in a marked flegrec was the 
late Rev. Harvey Miller, who was for 
eighteen years pastor of the First 
liaptist church. 

He was born in W'allingford. the 
son of Samuel Miller. His father 
was a preacher before him and like 



412 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



the divines of his period had to rely 
upon other methods of money mak- 
ing than tliat which he received at the 
hands of his church society. He 
taught school during the day and cob- 
bled shoes at night. 

Harvey Miller was one of a fam- 
ily of nine boys and early in life re- 
ceived a lameness, caused by stepping 
on a scvthe, from which he never 




REV. HARVEY MILLER. 

recovered. This gave him a 
halting gait. At one time he suf- 
fered severely from inflammatory 
rheumatism and was able to walk only 
with the aid of crutches which he dis- 
carded when in the pulpit and his 
wise sermons were delivered under 
great personal physical pain. As a 
bov he was delicate and he never ac- 



quired a physique sufficiently strong 
to lead the life of the clergyman 
whose deeds furnish such a bright 
spot on the pages of the history of 
this town. 

He was born April 3, 1814, and 
died August 2y, 1856. He was edu- 
cated in the district school and the 
Hamilton Theological Seminary, of 
New York. His first pastorate was 
at Ann Arbor, Mich., but he remained 
there but a short time owing to ill 
health, which was caused by the poor 
board furnished him. 

During his eighteen years as pas- 
tor of the First Baptist church, the 
society grew and prospered both spir- 
itually and otherwise. The kind and 
sympathetic nature of its pastor was 
always a source of comfort .to its 
members and his able sermons always 
presented on evangelical lines result- 
ed in the saving of many souls. 

His wife was Sarah Rosetta Ives 
and their children were as follows: 
Sarah Eliza, Mrs. Edward A. Wilcox, 
of St. Paul, Minn., born July 5, 1841. 
died April 8, 1886; Catherine Juliet, 
widow of Edward H. Yale, of Meri- 
den, born March 21, 1844; Alina 
Birdsey Miller, born Aug. 21, 1846, 
died July i, 1869: X'incie Rosetta, 
born June 15, 1851, died December 
19, 1855. 

During his married life Mr. Miller 
lived with his family at the parsonage 
standing on Broad street, next ad- 
joining the residence of Edward Mil- 
ler, which was afterward purchased 
of the church society by his widow. 

Mr. Miller during his life was 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



413 



deeply interested in educational mat- 
ters and was a member of the school 
Committee for many years. He 
served as a member of the visiting 
committee and also selected the text- 
books used in the IMeriden schools in 
his time. 

His only surviving daughter is Mrs. 
Edward 11. Yale, who for many 
years has been a widow and has con- 
ducted, with her son, a large farm on 
the North Colony road until 1905, 
when upon her son's marriage, she 
leased the farm to him and has since 
remained there but a portion of the 
time. 



CHARLES S. PERKINS. 



Charles Smith Perkins, national 
bank examiner of Connecticut and 
Rhode Island, is one of the best 
known Federal officials of the state. 
He was born on Perkins street. New 
Haven, May 11, 1854, and is the son 
of Charles Perkins, who durirjg the 
latter part of his life, was a promi- 
nent contractor and a partner of H. 
Wales Pines. His mother was Eu- 
nice, daughter of Deacon David 
Smith, of Woodbridge, Conn. 



chael Dooley, of Hartford, who had 
resigned to become the head of a large 
financial institution of Providence, R. 
I. Mr. Perkins has since acted in his 
official capacity under the comptroller 
of the currency and his duties require 
him to visit every national bank in 
Connecticut and Rhode Island, once a 
year, and to see that they observe the 
regulations set forth bv the govern- 




ClIARLES s. 



liKKlXS. 



He was educated in the public ment at Washington. Probably 



schools of New Haven. Russell's In- 
stitute, New Haven, and finished at 
the academy at Cheshire. In 1870 he 
ent.'.red the Home National Bank, of 
Meriden, where he remained contin- 
uorsly for twenty-nine years. In 1899 where he has resided the greater por- 
he received the appointment as nation- tion of his life. 

al bank examiner, b\- the Cnited Slates He has served Meriilen ])olh as town 

'1 reasury I)e])artnient. to succeed .\li- and cit\- treasurer, having served sev- 



no 
man in the state has had a greater ex- 
])erience or is l)etter ])osled on l)ank- 
ing matters, than Mr. Perkins, and 
his service as a national ])ank ex- 
aminer reilects credit u])on this town 



414 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



en years in the former and six years 
in the latter otifice. While not at the 
present writing active in politics, he 
was for many years a prominent mem- 
ber of the Republican town commit- 
tee. He has for thirty years been a 
member of the Home Club, with which 
social organization he was affiliated 
when it was known as the Meriden 
Club. He is a member of Meridian 
Lodge, 'j'j. A. F. &: A. ]\I. ; Keystone 
Chapter and Hamilton Council. He 
is also a member of St. Elmo com- 
mandery, 9, K. T., and was for some 
years its recorder. 

He has been twice married ; first, 
in 1877, to Laura Piloodgood, and to 
that union two children were born ; 
September 24, 1889, he was again 
married to Ada Pitt, of ^leriden; to 
them four children were born, three of 
whom are now living, two Ijoys and 
one girl. Mr. Perkins with his fam- 
ily resides on Xorth Colony street. 



REV. TOLL S. R'ES. 



Joel Stone Ives was born in Cole- 
brook, Connecticut, December 5, 
1847. His father. Rev. Alfred 
Eaton Ives, Yale 1837, was descended 
from A\^illiam Ives, who came from 
England to Ouinnipiac in 1637 and 
from John Howland, of the Mayflow- 
er company ; his mother, Harriet 
Piatt Stone had as ancestors John 
Stone, of Guilford, the Rev. Thomas 
Hooker and Governor Treat. Fit- 
ting for college at his home in Cas- 
tine, Maine, he graduated at Am- 
herst in 1870 and received his A. M. 



in 1872. Dr.ring the school year 
1 870- 1 87 1 he taught in what was 
then the Railroad district, the school 
house being on Colony street south 
of the entrance to the State grounds. 
After three years in Yale Divinity 
school he received his B. D. in 1874. 
In May of the same year he went to 
East Hampton, Connecticut, and in 
September was ordained pastor of the 




REV. JOEL S. IVES. 

Congregational church. Being dis- 
missed in 1883, he was immediately 
installed pastor at Stratford where he 
remained for sixteen years. Xovem- 
ber, 1899, he became secretary of The 
Missionary Society of Connecticut, 
and moved to his wife's home, 430 
Colony street, although th.e office is 
at 426 Asylum street, Hartford. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



415 



Mr. Ives was on the school boards 
both in East Hampton and Stratford ; 
president of the Stratford Library 
association, 1885-1899, during which 
time the elegant library building was 
constructed ; president of the John 
Stone Association ; registrar of the 
Fairtield East Consociation for ten 
years ; director of The Missionary 
Society 1894-1899; registrar and sta- 
tistical secretary of the general con- 
ference of the Congregational 
churches of Connecticut since 1898 ; 
moderator of the General Association 
in 1895 and its registrar and treasurer 
since 1899 ; registrar of the National 
Council of Congregational Churches 
of the United States since 1900. He 
has published several sermons and 
historical addresses and numerous pa- 
pers relative to the missionary work, 
giving particular attention to the 
problems of immigration and has 
been a frequent contributor to various 
publications. 

July 15, 1874, he married Emma 
Sarah, the daughter of Joel Ives But- 
ler, who was the grandson of Com- 
fort and Dolly Ives Butler. Father 
and daughter were born in the Lieut. 
Comfort I'utler house on Kensing- 
ton avenue, which house, one of the 
oldest domiciles of this locality, is 
shown elsewhere. Dolly Ives was 
descended from John, the son of 
William Ives, who took up land in 
Xcw Haven village, now \\'alling- 
ford. They have had five children. 
three of whom are living, Anne Em- 
ma. Joel Butler and Dwight Stone 
Ives. 



ASAHEL H. CURTIS. 



Asahel Harrison Curtis was a resi- 
dent of Meriden and connected with 
the Curtis family which has been so 
noticeably prominent in the history of 
the town during the past century. 

He took a most active part in its 
business and political affairs until his 




A.-5AIII.I. II. CUKTI.S. 

death which occurred July 23, 1877. 
He was born in Meriden and was a 
son of Enos H. Curtis. He attende;! 
the common schools of the town and 
began his business career in part- 
nership with a son of Julius Yale with 
whom lie conducted the grocL^ry bus- 
iness for a number of years. In 1840 
he was married to Juliet ^'ale who, 
at an advanced aoe. still survives h'm. 



4i6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



and who, at this writing, is the only 
surviving descendant of Charles Yale, 
the founder of Yalesville. 

Mr. Curtis was a man whose scrup- 
ulous honesty won the united confi- 
dence of his fellow townsmen and his 
financial ability brought him a high 
position in the community. 

At the time of his death he had been 
for eleven vears the treasurer of the 




ENOS H. CURTIS. 

Meriden Savings Bank, having pre- 
viously enjoyed the distinction of hav- 
ing been the first treasurer of the Citv 
of Meriden, to which office he was 
chosen in 1867. 

Mr. Curtis was also postmaster of 
IMeriden for a number of years and 
was appointed to that office by Pres- 
ident Millard Fillmore. He was a man 



whose character was above reproach 
but was not a member of any church 
society. He was, however, a Master 
Mason and also a member of Center 
Lodge, I. O. O. F. His death was se- 
verely felt by the people of Meriden. 
He is survived bv no children. 



DAVID BLOOM FIELD. 



David Bloomfield, oldest architect 
of Meriden, was born in Cromwell, 
Conn., November 6, 1851. He is de- 
scended from Welsh ancestry and his 
grandfather, David Bloomfield, was a 
native of Woodbridge, N. J., who 
spent his life in agricultural pursuits. 
His mother was Elizabeth (Butler) 
Bloomfield, a native of Staten Island, 
a woman of strong religious inclina- 
tions. His father, Nathan Bloom- 
field, was a ship builder and some three 
or four years before David was born 
engaged in ship carpentering at Crom- 
well and still later formed a partner- 
ship with Andrew F. Parker and con- 
ducted a ship building business at 
Middle Haddam, where he died in 
1861. 

Young David obtained his early ed- 
ucation at Middle Haddam and when 
he became old enough to handle car- 
penters' tools, industriously assisted 
his father in his spare time until the 
age of seventeen. 

He came to Meriden in 1869 and 
continuing to work at carpentering, 
being ambitious, he took up the study 
of architecture and mechanical draw- 
ing. During his young manhood he 
worked a portion of the time in Massa- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



417 




/\iJo(M7^ 




Ct<C^ 



27 



4i8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



chusetts where he made the fortunate 
acquaintance of H. C. Shute, who 
took an interest in him. 

In 1886 he felt warranted from his 
previous successes to open an office in 
Meriden and engage in the profession 
of architecture which he has success- 
fully carried on to the present time. 

Among the many structures de- 
signed and their construction super- 
intended by Mr. Bloomfield may be 
named the following: Franklin street, 
Columbia street, Liberty street and St. 
Laurent's school houses ; St. Mary's 
Roman Catholic and German Luth- 
eran churches, the C. W. Cahill block, 
the Beuchler block, the Schwander 
block, Fox's block, the Record build- 
ing, the Journal building, Pacific 
Lodge building, the residence of the 
late W. F. Rockwell, First Congre- 
gational Church parsonage, and the 
residences of the late Edward J. Col- 
lins, L B. Miller, A. S. Thomas, Mrs. 
Mary Wilson, George Rockwell, W. 
L. Squire, and of many others in this 
city. 

When the office of plumbing in- 
spector was created in 1894 he was 
made the first incumbent ; and the du- 
ties of that office he has performed ef- 
ficiently and satisfactorily to the pub- 
lic up to the present time. 

He was appointed fire marshall by 
Mayor Ives in 1893, a position which 
his knowledge of building construc- 
tion admirably fits him to serve the 
interests of the citizens. He has also 
served two years as a member of the 
Common Council and was a member 
of that bodv from the Fifth ward in 



1893 and 1894. He was one of the 
directors of the Pacific Real Estate 
Association and during the difficulties 
of Pacific Lodge, I. O. O. F., after 
the construction of the building, was 
one of the first to put his shoulder to 
the wheel and guide the enterj5rise to 
success. 

He is a member of the Meriden 
Board of Trade, Business Men's Asso- 
ciation, Montowese Tribe, I. O. R. M., 
and Colonial Club. In 1884 he was 
married to Miss Clara R. Richards, of 
Bristol, Conn. 



WILLIAM L. BRADLEY. 



Perhaps no resident of Meriden 
during the century of its existence as 
an incorporated town, ever won to a 
higher degree the admiration and es- 
teem of his fellow townsmen than did 
the late William L. Bradley. His life 
furnishes not only a conspicuous ex- 
ample of perseverance and ability 
worthy to be chronicled in the pages 
of history but one which may well be 
emulated by generations following 
him. 

Born in Cheshire, Conn., May 25, 
1826, he was a son of Levi and Abi- 
gail A. (Atwater) Bradley, and his 
progenitors on both sides are traced 
directly to the first settlers of New 
Haven county. His early ancestor, 
William Bradley, was a major in Oli- 
ver Cromwell's army, and he immi- 
grated to this country and settled in 
North Haven as far back as 1643. 
William L. Bradley was also de- 
scended from David Atwater, one r,i 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



419 



tlie first planters of New Haven, who 
the records show, settled there in 1639. 

\\'illiani L. Bradley, as a boy, at- 
tended the district school of his native 
town, following which he further pur- 
>ued his education at the academies 
of Southington and Cheshire, con- 
cluding his schooling at the Lancas- 
terian School at New Haven. 

At the age of thirteen he began his 
remarkable business career as a clerk 
in a Xew Haven dry goods store, and 
at seventeen he became a member of 
the firm of one of the largest dry 
goods houses in that city. The busi- 
ness not being entirely congenial to 
his tastes he withdrew his interest in 
the store and entered the emplo}^ of 
Charles Parker as travelin'g salesman. 
That he adapted himself to his new 
circumstances with unusual versatil- 
ity seems to be proven by his success 
in largely increasing the sales of his 
employer. 

With the consent of Mr. Parker, he 
also became interested with a friend 
in the manufacture of portemonnaies, 
and later in the manufacture of 
clocks and small metal wares with his 
brother. Nathaniel L. Bradley, and 
Walter Hubbard, which afterward de- 
veloped into the Bradley & Hubbard 
Manufacturing Co., the largest indus- 
try of its kind in the world. 

During this ])eri()d he ])urchased 
four acres of land in West iMeriden 
and erected a fine residence thereon, 
which is still standing. He improved 
and beautified this proi)ert\- to a no- 
ticeable extent, and gradually added 
more land to the estate until it com- 



])rised over two hundred acres. In 
this house his two sons, Peter 
B. and Robert S., and one daughter, 
Abby A. Bradley, who now survive 
him, were born, and with his family 
he occupied the house for many years. 
Although it is now over forty years 
since he removed with his family 
from the city, the estate now occupied 
by the Meriden Golf Club, is still 
well kept and almost intact, although 
as stated elsewhere in this book, is ere 
long to be cut up into house lots. 

It was in 1861 that Mr. Bradley 
saw the future possibilities of chemi- 
cal fertilizers and it was he who first 
embraced the opportunity in this 
country to make a success of that in- 
dustry. 

With his notes endorsed for a lim- 
ited amovmt by Oakes Ames, of Bos- 
ton, whom he had interested in his 
project, he began the manufacture of 
fertilizers in a factory situated on the 
banks of the old South Bay, Boston. 
The business soon outgrew this small 
plant and later another and larger fac- 
tory was built at North W^eymouth, 
which eventually became the largest 
of its kind in the world. 

Greater and greater became the de- 
mand for Bradley's fertilizers until 
their use became general among the 
farmers in the cast and south. 

In 1872 the business was incorpo- 
rated under the name of the Bradley 
I'ertilizer Com])any and branch offices 
were established at Rochester, N. Y., 
Cleveland, O.-, lialtimorc. Md., and 
Augusta, Ga., Mr. Bradley continuing 
at the head of the corporation as pres- 



420 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




422 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



iclent and manager. Later he became 
largely interested in other fertilizer 
works at Carteret, N. J., Cleveland, 
O., Baltimore, Md., and Charleston, S. 
C, besides operating extensive phos- 
phate mines in Sonth Carolina and 
Florida. 

His early struggles and constant 
cares so impaired his health that he 
retired from active business some 
years before his death, and was re- 
lieved from the management of his 
various large enterprises by his sons, 
Peter B. and Robert S. Bradley, who 
had been associated with him for 
many years. During the last years of 
bis life he devoted much of his time to 
the care of his beautiful country es- 
tate at Hingham, Mass., where he 
died after a short illness December 
15, 1894. He had attained the age of 
sixty-eight years, and his active life, 
kind disposition and benevolence will 
ever be remembered by those who 
knew him. 

Mr. Bradley was married in 1848 
to Frances Martina Coe, the daughter 
of Calvin and Harriet (Rice) Coe, 
who before her marriage lived with 
her parents on the celebrated Coe farm 
in the Hanover district. Two sons 
and one daughter, as stated above, sur- 
vive him. 



THE WM. L. BRADLEY ESTATE. 



This old estate, comprising over 
200 acres, and one of the grandest in 
all Connecticut, is soon to be invaded 
by streets and gradually portioned ofif 
into residence lots. The history of 



this estate, every square foot of which 
fvrnishes delightful views of the cel- 
ebrated Meriden Hanging Hills and 
other charming scenery of woodland, 
hill and dale, recalls pleasant mem- 
ories to the people of Meriden, both 
of present and past generations. 

The original estate, purchased 
from Hezekiah Rice in 1851 by the 
late William L. Bradley, comprised 
but four acres upon which Mr. Brad- 
ley erected a fine house and spent a 
large amount of money in beautifying 
the grounds. To this small acreage 
he continually added by subsequent 
purchases of adjoining property until 
the estate embraced over two hundred 
acres of the most beautiful lands in 
this part of Connecticut. 

The name of the so-called "Old 
Road" was changed to Bradley ave- 
nue ; and Hanover street was put 
through on the other side of the prop- 
erty. The introduction of street cars 
has now brought the whole estate 
within ten minutes of the heart of 
Meriden. 

A section of the estate, years ago, 
was converted into a fair grounds and 
in those days the "Meriden Fair" was 
held successfully every year. The 
marks of the old race track over which 
noted races were run, although now 
merged into the giant velvety lawn, 
are still discernable on close inspec- 
tion. Within the past few years the 
estate, with the old homestead for a 
club house, has been leased by the 
Meriden Golf Club and used exclf- 
sively by the members. The grounds 
have been admirably laid out for the 



DIOGRAPHIES. 



423 



purpose and comprise as desirable an 
area for the game as is to be found 
in Xew England. 

The present owners of this proper- 
ty, Peter B. and Robert S. Brad- 
ley, sons of the late William L. Brad- 
ley, both of whom were born in the 
Bradley homestead, but for many 
years have been prominent in business 
circles of Boston, have planned to al- 
low the entire estate to be sold into 
house lots, stipulating only that houses 
to be built thereon shall be of a cer- 
tain value. With this aim in view 
the property has been placed in the 
hands of the well known real estate 
agents of Meriden, Holt & Stevens. 
The owners will furnish capital to 
build houses on the property if de- 
sired by purchasers of land. It bids 
fair, therefore, to assume that ere 
Meriden begins her second century as 
an incorporated town the picturesque 
Bradley estate will have assumed 
the appearances and evidences of a 
fashionable residence section. 



ANTHONY S. THOMAS. 



Anthony S. Thomas, a prominent 
merchant of Meriden, was born at 
Newlnirgh, N. Y.. July 14. 1845. He 
is the son of John W. and Mahala 
l"hon:as, his father being a native of 
Leeds. N. Y., and was an iron mould- 
er l)y trade. His mother died when 
he was but five and a half years old 
and he was but thirteen when he was 
left an orphan. He received his early 
eflucation in the common schools of 
his native town but later entered the 



public schools of Napanoch and af- 
terwards continuing his schooling at 
Port Jervis, N. Y. ; but finally re- 
turned and finished his education at 
Newburgh. 

After the death of his father he se- 
cured employment in a general store 
at Cameron Mills, N. Y., where he se- 
cured his first insight into mercantile 
life. After some years' service in stores 
elsewhere he was engaged as salesman 
by John Hinchman & Co., a whole- 
sale hosiery concern of New York 
City. After Mr. Thomas had ac- 
quired a large trade he became later 
associated with the wholesale depart- 
ment of Jordan, Marsh & Co., of Bos- 
ton, for whom he continued represen- 
tative until 1 88 1 when he established 
himself in business in Meriden in the 
present location, and since which time 
the store has been noticeably enlarged 
at two difl^erent periods. 

The store as first started gave em- 
ployment to but a dozen clerks. The 
increase in the business has been both 
stead}' and rapid and the store, now re- 
quiring fifty clerks, and, with the sev- 
eral different departments, all little 
stores in themselves, furnishes a most 
desirable establishment for patronage. 
Mr. Thomas is a thorough business 
man in every sense and gives his per- 
sonal supervision over the large es- 
tablishment he conducts and has a 
most competent staff' of assistants. 

Although never prevailed upon to 
accept the nomination for public of- 
fice. Mr. Thomas has proven a deep 
interest in the affairs of the town 
where he has now resided and done 



424 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



425 




426 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



business for nearly a quarter of a cen- 
tury. He is known as a kind and con- 
siderate employer, standing high in 
both business and social circles. He 
is a member of the Meriden Board of 
Trade, the Business Men's Association 
and of the Home Club of Meriden. 
He is also a member of the Center 
Congregational society and of that 
society's committee served for several 
years as its chairman. 

He was married in 1870 to Emma 
J., daughter of Edmund and Jane Rus- 
sell. In 1891 he erected his present 
handsome residence on Broad street, 
where with his family he has since re- 
sided. 



JOHN SUTLIFF. 



John Sutliff, one of the deceased 
capitalists of Meriden, who followed 
Nelson Merriam as president of Fos- 
ter, Merriam & Co., was born in Wol- 
cott, Conn., August 2, 1802, and died 
June 22, 1897, at the remarkable age 
of ninety-five years. When sixteen 
years of age he bought his time from 
his father, to whom he gave a two 
years' note to the amount of $100 in 
payment. Going to Northford he first 
found work on a farm at $7.00 a 
month. He was industrious and eco- 
nomical from necessity and his steady 
habits and thrift enabled him, at the 
end of fifteen years, to engage in the 
manufacture of ivory combs at South- 
ington with three other partners. Af- 
ter a successful start had been made 
by him and his partners, Albert Fos- 
ter, one of the firm of Foster, Merriam 



& Co., who had confidence in Mr. Sut- 
liff. invited him to purchase an inter- 
est in the concern and take charge of 
one of the departments, which he did ; 
and he continued to work in the fac- 
tory, in which he became still more ex- 
tensively interested, devoting himself 
unceasingly to the interests of the 
manufacture of the goods ; and from 
the time he entered the concern until 
his death, he never ceased to take an 
active part in the development of the 
business. At the time he entered the 
firm but five or six hands were em- 
ployed and the rapid growth of the 
company's business was in no small 
measure due to his ability, energy anl 
management. 

He was for many years a director 
of the First National bank, and at the 
time of his death was a trustee of the 
City Savings bank. During the lat- 
ter years of his life he became known 
as one of the larger investors of the 
town and many of his profitable ven- 
tures w^ere in the West. 

Mr. Sutliff was twice married, first 
to Mary Ann Dayton of North Ha- 
ven, to whom were born the follow- 
ing children : Mary Ann, who married 
Frederick A. Higby and died Decem- 
ber 22, 1859; John A. and James R., 
the latter who at the time of his death 
had long since succeeded his father 
as president of Foster, Merriam & Co. 
On November 9, 1842, he was again 
married to Rebecca Miles, of Chesh- 
ire, to whom were born Abbie R. and 
Edgar M. Sutliff, both of whom died 
in infancy. Mr. Sutliff left a large 
estate. 



niOGRAPHIES. 



427 




^'^^'^^'-f-C, ^^<C^^>^^#^^ 



428 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



CHARLES L. FLOTO. 



Charles L. Floto (deceased) was a 
well known German citizen, whose 
residence of half a century in the Sil- 
ver City was marked by that indus- 
try which is a prominent characteris- 
tic of his nation. He was born in 
Germany in 1838, and ten years later 
he came to America with his mother 
who located at Warehouse Point. 
Not long after they removed to Broad 
Brook, then to Rockville, and during 
this time the boy w'as earning money 
for his mother and himself in the 
woolen mills. Before coming to Mer- 
iden ]\Ir. Floto resided in Hotchkiss- 
ville four years and subsequently in 
South Britain and Waterbury. In 
1857 he was attracted by the indus- 
trial situation in this city and entered 
the employ of the Bradley & Hubbard 
Manufacturing Company where his 
capable workmanship was recognized 
and his connection with the shade and 
lamp department as its overseer con- 
tinued for seventeen years. 

A short period now passed when 
Mr. Floto left the shop to become a 
clerk in a shoe store, an occupation 
which he abandoned to take a position 
with Edward Miller & Co., but an op- 
portunity to buy out John A. Par- 
ker's shoe business presented itself, 
and for twelve years Mr. Floto was 
a prosperous shoe merchant in the 
city. 

But as time passed his health failed 
and he was forced to sell. A desire 
to visit his fatherland and the hope 
that a lengthy voyage would bring 



restoration to health, induced him to 
go abroad. He enjoyed an extended 
period of leisure traveling in Europe 
until 1884 when he returned to Meri- 
den, only to plan a new itinerary for 
a southern trip in the winter of 1885. 

In the meantime Mr. Floto's real 
estate transactions had been highly 
satisfactory and upon his return to 
Meriden he devoted his time to the 
improvement of his property at the 
corner of Gold and Crown streets 
where he had erected a residence in 
1864. A number of other dwellings 
were built by Mr. Floto. 

He decided to visit Europe again in 
1888 and enjoyed revisiting places 
which had interested him before and 
in 1889 he took a pleasure trip to the 
south and west. From that time un- 
til Mr. Floto's death, which occurred 
January 7, 1901, he developed his real 
estate interests and became an active 
element in that portion of his adopted 
city where his property was located. 
It is to such citizens as Mr. Floto that 
Meriden owes her growth. They are 
the units which make the grand whole. 

Mr. Floto's mother, who had lived 
to see her son a prosperous merchant 
and a retired land-owner, died in Mer- 
iden at the advanced age of eighty 
years. His wife was Marie U. Usch- 
nig, a native of Klagenfurt, Austria, 
who was born May 24, 1837. Sin- 
survived her husband four years, her 
death occurring September i, IQ^S- 
They had no children of their own 
but left an adopted daughter, Marie. 
Mr. Floto had one brother, Frederick, 
a prominent resident of Rockville. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



429 




CHAKl-Kh L. FI.OTO. 



430 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



BELA CARTER. 



It is true of many citizens that the 
esteem in which they are held is due 
to their conscientious discharge of du- 
ties whether of a civic or business 
character. Of such a type was Bela 
Carter, a descendant in the sixth gen- 
eration of Rev. Thomas Carter, the 
first pastor of the church of Woburn, 
Mass. This clergyman, who was born 
in England and laid the foundation 
for his future career at St. John's col- 
lege, University of Cambridge, w-here 
he received the degrees of B. A. and 
M. D., emigrated to America in 1635 
in the ship "Planter." He went to 
Dedham, thence to Watertown and in 
1642 was ordained at Woburn. A 
further study of Mr. Carter's ances- 
try reveals interesting characters, men 
who inherited from the pioneer his 
zeal, his honesty of purpose, his con- 
scientiousness. 

Bela Carter, son of Silas Johnson 
and Ruth (Vining) Carter, was born 
Febuary 6, 1828, in Hardwick, Mass., 
where he received a common school 
education. His natural ability mani- 
fested itself at the early age of six- 
teen when he began teaching pen- 
manship. Not long after his atten- 
tion was directed to the trade of paint- 
ing and interior decorating, which he 
followed in Palmer, Mass., and 
Springfield, Mass., directly after, lo- 
cating in Meriden in 1850, where he 
established himself in business two 
years later. He soon became inter- 
ested in real estate in which he dealt 
extensively up to the time of his death 



and was considered to be an expert 
on Meriden realty, one of his larg- 
est transactions being the sale of the 
property known as "The Flats," upon 
a part of which stand the buildings 
now known as Factory E of the In- 
ternational Silver Company. He also 
acted as agent for several out of town 
savings banks for the placing of loans 
and incidental business. For twenty 
years he was a director in the First 
National bank of Meriden. In early 
life he was a Whig, but later became 
identified with the Republican party. 

The qualities which he displayed in 
his business relations gained for him 
the esteem and confidence of his fel- 
lowmen so that during the Civil war, 
in 1862, he was elected first selectman 
of Meriden and was-Eg-elected twice 
thereafter. For four years he was 
treasurer of the military fund. He sat 
for three terms in the Court of Com- 
mon Council as councilman or alder- 
man and served for six years as chair- 
man of tlie Corner School District 
committee. For several years he was 
a member of the Boad of Assessors. 
He undoubtedly could have had hi;:?h- 
er political honors had he evinced a 
willingness to accept them. 

In 1850 Mr. Carter married Mary 
J., daughter of Captain Butler and 
Polly (Converse) Barrett, of Bel- 
chertown, Mass., who survives her 
husband and is a loved and honored 
resident of Meriden. Of their eight 
children, Henry Johnson, Agnes 
Smith and Wilbur Barrett, died with- 
in one week of diphtheria. The oth- 
ers are: Elmer Bela, a sheep ranch- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



431 




"f^^^lOOAt^ 



432 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



man in Montana, who married Laura 
M. Edwards, of Billings, Mont. ; 
Alary C, widow of the late Edward 
H. White, of Meriden ; Bertha C, 
wife of Frederick E. Bemis, of Meri- 
den ; Robert William and Annie Z., 
both of Meriden. 

Mr. Carter, after retaining his fine 
hold on Meriden interests for forty- 
three years, died September 28, 1893, 
before old age had really claimed him. 
He was buried in West cemetery. 



J. T. POMEROY. 



The ancestry of the late James Tib- 
bals Pomeroy embraces Connecticut 
families who helped to lay a solid 
foundation for the Nutmeg state's 
greatness. Many of the men were 
rugged tillers of the soil who derived 
their pi^vsical endurance and menta! 
firmness among the rocks and loam 
where they labored as in God's vine- 
yard. 

The Pomeroy name is as old al- 
most as the hills and its bearers have 
no cause to feel ashamed of their 
forebears. 

His father. Noah Pomeroy, was bv 
turns a farmer and an itinerant tin 
peddler in those days when this oc- 
cupation was lucrative, highly honor- 
able and full of the charm and spice 
of life. He was likewise a manufac- 
turer of tin and again a farmer. 
That he was held in the highest re- 
spect by his townsmen is evidenced 
by the public offices he filled, all that 
were in the gift of the people. The 
Universalist church of this citv was 



organized in his house and Mr. Pom- 
eroy was one of its most able sup- 
porters. The greater a man's mental 
caliber, the greater the duties that are 
borne by him ; it is quite natural, there- 
fore, to find Mr. Pomeroy one of the 
first directors of the Meriden bank, 
and later its president. 

James Pomeroy was born in this 
citv and turned naturallv to agricul- 




JAMES TIBBALS POMEROY. 

ture, owning and operating his fath- 
er's large stock estate in East Meri- 
den. His knowledge of rural meth- 
ods and his comprehension of a sit- 
uation which called for unity of 
thought, purpose and action among 
the farming element led him to or- 
ganize the Meriden Grange, a society 
to which he gave largelv of his time 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



433 



ati;l experience. He was also con- 
nected with Meriden Center Lodge, 
69, I. O. O. F. 

As a loyal son who subscribed to 
tile sentiment of his father, Mr. Pom- 
eroy adopted the faith of the church 
wliose foundation his father had laid 
in .Meriden and was a devout believer 
in Universalism until his death. 

Delila F. Guild, a daughter of Wil- 
liam H. Guild, of Middletown, Conn., 
became Mr. Pomeroy's wife. Their 
children were: Lenora E., who married 
Joseph Beckett, of Meriden ; Nellie J., 
wife of Richard J. Molloy, of Meri- 
den ; Carrie F., deceased, wife of Da- 
vid Flansburgh ; Charles L. and Wil- 
liam Harrison, who married Lura 
Booth. Mr. Pomeroy died Decem- 
ber 21, 1891, and was buried in the 
East cemetery ; his wife residing on 
Broad street, Meriden, still survives 
and is a staunch adherent of the Uni- 
versalist church, and a member of 
Meriden Grange. 

RUSSELL HALL. 



Russell Hall, one of the many sub- 
stantial citizens of Meriden. a large 
dealer in grocery store supplies and 
woodenware, and a manufacturer of 
tinware, as well as a large property 
■iwner. was born in Meriden. July 26, 
i''^,^5. lie is lineally descended from 
that John Hall, who was born in Eng- 
land, 1605. and died in Wallingford. 
Conn., 1676. one of the pro])rietors of 
Hartford. Russell Hall is also de- 
scended from Rev. Samuel Hall, and 
Anne Law, whose father, Jonathan 
j8 



Law, was governor of Connecticut. 
He is the son of Orrin Hall and Anna 
G. Hall, a daughter of Brenton Hall, 
of Meriden. His father, like several 
men of the town, who afterwards be- 
came prominent in the manufacturing 
and business life of the locality, during 
the past century, in early life drove 
a peddler's team and supplied the peo- 
ple in portions of the southern states 
with the product of Meriden factories. 
He spent the last years of his life on 
his farm at East Meriden. 

Russell Hall, as a boy, worked on 
the home farm during his spare time 
and was educated in the district 
school, vmder the veteran teacher, 
James Atkins. Inheriting a taste for 
trading from his father, at the age of 
eighteen, with a small svmi of money 
which he had saved from his previous 
earnings, he engaged in the making of 
tinware and supplied peddlers with 
the then small product of his industry. 
At the end of eight years, his business 
had increased to such an extent that 
he was warranted in adding grocery 
store supplies and established himself 
in his present business, which has in- 
creased to that of the largest in his 
line, in this part of the state. His rep- 
utation for dealing in honest goods at 
the lowest jobbing prices, together 
with his energy and popularity among 
the trade, have been ])rominent factors 
in his success. With the aid of trav- 
eling men, he looks carefully after 
the wants of his wholesale trade and 
from his long and successful business 
career, is one of the best known of 
Connecticut wholesalers. 



434 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 




J^^^f-aU^^ 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



435 



He has ever been known as an en- 
thusiastic man of business, and he has 
made many profitable investments in 
real estate ; and property which he has 
purchased in different parts of the city 
has invariably shown the result of the 
ownership of a fair minded landlord. 
His residence on East Main street is 
one of the handsomest in Meriden and 
is one of the most thoroughly built 
domiciles in this vicinity. In 1905 he 
erected near it, the construction of 
which was also under his personal su- 
pervision, another handsome residence 
for his son. Mr. Hall is known as one 
of the thoroughly upright men of Mer- 
iden, and is highly esteemed in 
the community. His generosity has 
been oftentimes demonstrated to his 
fellow citizens and within a year of the 
present writing, he donated $1,000 to 
the Curtis ^Memorial Library. His in- 
terest in the affairs of his native town 
seems to be unbounded. Mr. Hall is 
interested in the First Baptist church, 
and in politics is a Democrat. 

He has been twice married : First to 
ICniily Preston, daughter of Ira Pres- 
ton, deceased. He was again married 
June 28, 1866, to Mary E., daughter 
of Ransom and Sarah (Twiss) Bald- 
win, and six children have been born 
to them : Howard Baldwin, who was 
recently married to Gertrude B. Wet- 
more, of Wallingford, Conn.. l)eing 
the onlv one surviving:. 



A. L. STEVENS. 



in Naugatuck, January 30, 1829. At 
the age of six years he moved to 
Oneida, N. Y., with his parents, and 
in that town he first attended school. 
At the age of fifteen he returned to 
Naugatuck and lived with his old 
uncle, completing his education at the 
Waterbury High school. 

In 1854 he married Julia E. Beech- 
er, of Naugatuck, and in 1865 he 




This veteran real estate d( aler and 
resident of South IMcriden, was born 



A. L. STEVENS. 

moved his family to South ]\Ieriden 
and entered the Meriden Cutlery fac- 
tory where he worked four or five 
vears at his trade as die sinker. 

It has been happily said that there 
is a divinity which shapes our ends 
rough hew them as we will. Mr. 
Stevens began as a mechanic and 
])rribably had not the slightest idea 



436 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



that any other ship was saihng into 
his port, but when Albert Otis was 
made chief of pohce in Meriden an 
impulse to enter a new field became a 
chance and Mr. Stevens bought out 
the interests of the new city official 
in the firm of Frank and Albert Otis, 
from wdiich date he has been contin- 
uously engaged in the fire insurance 
and real estate business. Two years 
later in 1872, he bought out the re- 
maining interests of Frank Otis. 

Mr. Stevens' first office was in a 
small one-story building which stood 
on the present site of the Byxbee 
block, but for the past thirty years 
his offices have been in the Wilcox 
block. Up to 1897 he had a steam- 
ship and money draft agency and for 
many years he was the only steam- 
ship agent in Meriden. 

Mr. Stevens' business career has 
been an honorable one, and no man in 
Meriden enjoys to a greater extent 
the confidence of the community. 

Mr. Stevens' political sympathies 
are Democratic, and, while he has 
never sought office, he served one 
year on the board of selectmen. He 
belongs to Hancock lodge, I. O. O. 
F., and the A. O. U. W. For many 
years he has been a member of the 
First Methodist church of which he 
is steward. 

At his residence in South Meriden 
comfort and plenty are in evidence 
and here Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are 
enjoying marital relations that have 
extended over a period of fifty-one 
years. They have one daughter, Mrs. 
Albert Rice, of Cheshire. 



FRANCIS ATWATER. 



Francis Atwater, one of the more 
prominent figures of Meriden busi- 
ness life and president of the Jour- 
nal Publishing Company, was born 
in Plymouth, Litchfield county, Con- 
necticut, in 1858. He comes from 
distinguished ancestry and is de- 
scended from David Atwater, the first 
signer of the planters' agreement of 
the New Haven colony in 1638. On 
the maternal side he is a direct de- 
scendant of Benjamin Fenn, the first 
magistrate of New Haven colony. 

As a boy he came to Meriden and 
became associated with the printing 
and publishing business and after he 
had learned the trade of a printer, at 
the youthful age of sixteen, he was 
given charge of the mechanical de- 
partment of the Meriden Recorder, 
which at that time was the leading 
paper of the town. At twenty years 
of age, he established the Winder- 
mere Weekly Forum, in Wallingford, 
which he published for one year until 
it was sold. He afterwards went to 
Hartford and became assistant fore- 
man of the composing room of the 
Hartford Courant. Later going 
w'est on account of ill health, he lo- 
cated in California and became man- 
ager of the Red Bluff Sentinel, which 
paper he carried on for a time. Re- 
turning to Meriden with renewed 
health he established a job printing 
office on Perkins street and founded 
the ^leriden Sunday News, but in 
1886 when the Meriden Evening 
Press ceased publication. l\Ir. At- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



437 



water embraced the opportunity, and 
with Frank E. Sands, Lew Allen and 
Thomas L. Reilly, launched the j\Ieri- 
den Daily Journal wdiich has ever since 
thoroughly covered the evening field, 
each year gaining in circulation, ad- 
vertising patronage and influence, 
until it has become one of the best 
paying publications in Connecticut. 
It occupies its own fire-proof build- 
ing, iii wdiich The Journal Publish- 
ing Company now possesses one of 
the most complete printing plants in 
all New England as is stated at some 
length elsewdiere in this "^^ volume. 
Since its incorporation April, 2, 1886, 
Mr. At water has been the" head ; and 
to his able leadership is the success 
of the now large business consider- 
ably due. 

]\Ir. At water has been a prime mov- 
er in many other large enterprises, in 
all of. which he has been eminently 
successful. He was one of the or- 
ganizers of the Meriden, Southington 
& Cqmpounce Tramway Company, the 
capital for which w^as raised largely 
through his effort and to the construc- 
tion of the road he also gave his per- 
sonal supervision. 

After the close of the Spanish- 
American war, he became ^.financial 
agent of Clara Barton of Red Cross 
fame and honor, who had known him 
from childhood. At her request he 
accompanied her to Cuba whither she 
went to establish asylums for the un- 
fortunate reconcentrados. While in 
Havana. Mr. Atwater saw an oppor- 
tunity to start the first American 
news])aper, the Havana Journal, and 



of this newspaper, which became an 
organ wielding an immense influence, 
he retained the control until he re- 
ceived an oft'er from a syndicate to 
dispose of it most advantageously. 
He afterwards and without relin- 
quishing his interests in Meriden, 
purchased the Daily News of New 
Britain which he carried on for a time. 
He then bought the Waterbury 
Daily Republican, the only morning- 
newspaper in the Naugatuck Valley, 
wdiich he conducted until he placed it 
on a paying basis and then sold it at 
a handsome profit. 

In 1905 he was chosen a director 
and president of the Washington 
State Colonization Company, exten- 
sive owners and buyers of lands in 
the state of Washington and which 
has within the past year established a 
large colony in that delightful resi- 
dential state. 

Mr. Atwater is also the sole owner 
of the T. H. Hubbard Paper Co., of 
Boston, Mass., extensive wholesale 
dealers of book and writing papers and 
cardboards. 

In local afifairs Mr. Atwater is par- 
ticularly active and influential. He 
was one of the organizers and for 
several years president of the Meri- 
den Board of Trade, which organiza- 
tion has succeeded in bringing several 
industries to Meriden, and in which 
Mr. Atwater has always been a lead- 
ing sj)irit. Of the Centennial cele- 
bration of Meriden he was not only 
one of the originators, but as corre- 
sponding secretary of the committee 
of 400 or more citizens, has been in- 



438 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




FRANCIS ATWATER. 



440 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



strumental in bringing about the no- 
table celebration of 1906. In 1904 
after having persistently refused to be- 
come a candidate for any public office, 
he entered the senatorial contest of 
that year and the Democratic party 
which honored him with the nomina- 
tion, suffered its usual defeat of a 
presidential year ; but Mr. At water 
was far in the lead of the rest of the 
ticket. Mr. At water is a member of 
the Home Club, and occupies a 
comfortable residence which he pur- 
chased some years ago of William A. 
Kelsey and which is located on the site 
of the historic old Central Tavern, 
corner Broad and East Main streets. 

Mr. Atwater, whose life has been 
more than active as people generally 
live, has found time by burning the 
midnight oil to do considerable lit- 
erary work, and has compiled the 
History of Plymouth, Conn., History 
of Kent, Conn., and the History and 
Genealogy of the Atwater Family 
from 1638 to the present time. 

Mr. Atwater was married in 1879 
to Helena J. Sellew, to whom was 
born May 10, 1880, a son, Dorence 
Keith Atwater, who died August 
23, 1900. 



O. H. PLATT. 



Orville Hitchcock Piatt, LL.D., 
Meriden's greatest public man, was 
born July 19, 1827, at Washington, 
Conn., and died April 21, 1905. Edu- 
cated in the district schools of Wash- 
ington and later at the academv 



known as the "Gunnery," he remained 
on the home farm until twenty years 
of age when he began the study of 
law and was afterwards admitted to 
the bar in 1849. He then weiit to To- 
wanda. Pa., where he remained six 
months in a law office, coming to Mer- 
iden in 185 1 and up to the time of his 
death was thereafter identified with 
the town and made his home here. 

Mr. Piatt's early law practice in 
Meriden was beset with the usual dif- 
ficulties of the young lawyer strug- 
gling for position in the world and in 
his early life he gave no perceptible 
promise of becoming a man of na- 
tional repute. Shortly after coming 
to Meriden he became associate edi- 
tor of the "Whig,"" the revenue from 
wdiich made up for his lack of fees. 
In 1853 he was elected judge of pro- 
bate, wdiich office he held for three 
years and in 1855 ^"^1 1856 was chos- 
en clerk of the Connecticut Senate. 
He was one of the original members 
of the Republican party and from 
1856 took an active part in 
politics, his influence in that party 
mcreasing every year. In 1857 he 
was elected secretary of state, which 
office he filled for one term. In 1861 
and 1862 he served in the state sen- 
ate and in 1864 was elected to the 
state legislature, when he was ap- 
pointed chairman of the judiciary 
committee. In 1869 he again served 
in the legislature from Meriden and 
was then elected speaker of the house, 
after which service it was his desire 
to retire permanently to private life 
and resume his neglected law practice 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



441 




0K\ ILI.E 11. PLATT. 



442 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



which, however, he was not permitted 
to do. In 1877 he was appointed 
state's attorney of New Haven coun- 
ty, which office he held for two years. 
In 1879 he was first elected by the 
state legislature to fill the vacancy in 
the United States Senate caused by 
the death of Senator Orris S. Ferry, 
Republican, his election, however, be- 
ing a surprise, for he was chosen on 
the thirty-eighth ballot, through the 
successful work of Senator H. Wales 
Lines and others who took advantage 
of the situation when a compromise 
candidate had to be found. His ca- 
reer in the United States Senate, from 
the time when he first took his seat, 
was most remarkable, and he was al- 
ways his own successor, being re- 
elected at the expiration of every suc- 
ceeding term until his regretted de- 
cease. For many years before his 
death he was counted as one of the 
most influential figures at the Nation- 
al capital, whose counsel was much 
sought and relied upon by the pres- 
ident and members of the cabinet. 
Without resorting to the tactics of the 
politician he became the dean of the 
senate and attained the highest legis- 
lative rank in the Union. Always a 
man of rare example, he developed in- 
to a statesman in every sense and was 
an orator who could adapt himself in- 
stantly to every occasion. He was a 
perfect master of diction and his ir- 
resistible logic and sound reasoning 
made him a strong power in the high- 
est legislative body in the land. His 
loyalty to the government and to the 
Republican party was never ques- 



tioned and his honesty of purpose, 
coupled with the remarkable ability 
which he developed in the latter part 
of his life, won him the respect, con- 
fidence and love of the nation. He 
was one of the great men of the 
United States who was never puffed 
up by public praise but treated every 
man whether he were great or small 
with the same consideration and def- 
erence. His modest bearing under all 
circumstances made it always appar- 
ent that he was a true gentleman. 

In Meriden, where he resided, he 
never became greater than his fellow- 
townsmen b}- whom he was greatly 
beloved for his many good traits as a 
citizen. Without show or ostentation 
he was the promoter of more chris- 
tian and philanthropic work than was 
ever generally known. 

During the last years of his life he 
occupied a summer place at Washing- 
ton, Conn., his native town, and there 
his funeral services were held and 
which were attended almost unani- 
mously by the. leading citizens of Mer- 
iden as well as many prominent in na- 
tional affairs. 



ABIRAM CHAMBERLAIN. 



IMeriden is proud to number among 
her citizens a governor of Connecticut, 
Abiram Chamberlain, who held that 
office for two years, having been 
elected in November, 1903. 

He is descended from sturdy 
New England stock, and was 
born December 7, 1837, at Cole- 
brook, Conn. He is a son of Abiram 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



443 




Photo by H. T. Shaw. 



C—^-^^^^^.:^ ^ ^^ -^.iJ^^i^ 



^iwCili-*^ 



444 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



and Sophronia (Burt) Chamberlain 
and has been a resident of Meriden for 
thirty-eight . years. After obtaining 
his education, he began his business 
career in the New Britain National 
bank in 1867, there resigning the po- 
sition of teller to become cashier of 
the Home National bank of Meriden, 
and he has been president of the lat- 
ter financial institution since 1881, hav- 
ing been elected to that office upon the 
death of Eli Butler, the former pres- 
ident. His efficiency as its executive 
head, has earned for him an enviable 
reputation, not only in the business 
and financial circles of Meriden, but 
throughout the state. 

For many years he has been iden- 
tified with other enterprises. He was 
one of the promoters and directors of 
the Meriden & Waterbury railroad ; 
president of the Meriden Fire Insur- 
ance company ; one of the promoters 
and president of the Winthrop Hotel 
company ; a director of the Meriden 
hospital ; for many years a vice presi- 
dent of the Meriden Savings bank ; a 
director also of the Meriden Cutlery 
Co., Edward Miller & Co., of Meri- 
den, and the Stanley works of New 
Britain. He is also president of the 
Connecticut Bankers' association and 
a vice-president of the American Bank- 
ers' association. He is affiliated with 
several social and fraternal organiza- 
tions, including the Home and Col- 
onial clubs and has long been identi- 
fied with the First Congregational 
church of Meriden. 

He has always been known as a 
staunch Republican and has held many 



important public offices in the dis- 
charge of the duties of which he has 
proved his ability and trustworthi- 
ness. In 1877 he represented the 
Town of Meriden in the state legis- 
lature ; he was nominated by acclama- 
tion for state comptroller at the Re- 
publican convention, held at New Ha- ; 
ven, September 5 and 6, 1900, and 
served in that office for two years. [ 
He has also rendered Meriden vahia- ; 
ble service as a member of the city j 
government. : 

As governor, Mr. Chamberlain 
added to his host of friends through- 
out the state ; his administration was 
one which reflects credit upon Con- i 
necticut, and is justly regarded with : 
pride by the citizens of Meriden. His 
wide knowledge of affairs of state en- ; 
abled him to transact the duties of 
the office most acceptably. The de- 
gree of LL.D. conferred upon him 
by Wesleyan University in 1903 was 
but one of the many tokens of appre- ; 
ciation he has received in recognition 
of his service as governor. 

He was married November 21. 1872, 
to Miss Charlotte E. Roberts, who has 
been active in philanthropic matters 
in ?^Ieriden, and her connection with 
the cit}- hospital will not be forgot- 
ten by the people. Their sons 
are Albert Roberts and HaroM 
Burt Chamberlain. The elder son is ; 
a graduate of the Sheffield Scientific 
school of Yale University and Yale 
Law school and now engaged in the 
practice of law in Meriden. He was 
also Governor Chamberlain's secre- 
tarv durine his administration. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



445 



HENRY DRYHURST. 



Hoiiry Drvhurst, postmaster, has 
lived nearly all his life in Meriden. 
He came here in 1865 from Taunton, 
Mass., and he had previously resided 
in Providence, R. I. He is the son 
of Henry Dryhurst and Eleanor 
(Lewis) Dryhurst, and he has broth- 
ers and sisters living as follows : 
Louisa E.. wife of Montgomery R. 
r.udd ; Rowland L., of Rockford, 111. ; 
Hugh, of Hartford; Eleanor, of New^ 
York City ; Laura A., of Meriden, 
and Emma, wife of Edwin W. Hall, 
of Wallingford. 

Mr. Dryhurst attended the district 
schools until his fourteenth year, 
when, being employed days by the 
late George R. \\"illmot. he began at- 
tending the evening school kept by 
the Rev. and Mrs. J. T. Pettee. and 
later received instruction in the high- 
er studies from Alfred K. Ives and 
Emily J. Leonard. 

In 1877 .Mr. Dryhurst secured a 
partial clerkship in the post-office 
(there being in those days no civil 
1 service), under Postmaster P>win D. 
Hall. Being thus employed l)ut a 
few hours a day Mr. Dryhurst decid- 
led. in connection with his duties in 
the post office, to take u]) llu' stud\ 
pf the law. 

He read law in the offices of Kul- 
rliffe Hicks, George A. I'ay and of 
[he late Drville H. Piatt, and was ad- 
nitted to the Xew Haven countv bar 
^1 1884. 

In l8<>o Mr. Dryhur.st was ap])(>int- 
Id postmaster of Meriden 1)\- Presi- 



dent Benjamin Harrison. When his 
term as postmaster expired a change 
in the national administration obliged 
Mr. Dryhurst to resume the practice 
of law. Four years later, however, 
he was reappointed postmaster by 
President McKinley and in 1898 his 
third appointment was signed by 
President Roosevelt. 

In early manhood Mr. Dryhurst 
gave attention to politics, has served 
several years as chairman of the Re- 
publican tow'n committee, and has at- 
tended as delegate, state, congression- 
al, senatorial and city conventions of 
his party. From its organization Mr. 
Dryhurst has been chairman of the 
First Meriden Building and Loan as- 
sociation, and he was chairman of the 
committee which invited President 
Roosevelt to visit Meriden and enter- 
tained him August 22, 1902. 

When Mr. Dryhurst first assumed 
the duties of postmaster the Merideii 
office was in the second class and 
had six carriers and six clerks. The 
office entered the first class during 
I\[r. Dryhurst's first term of service, 
and has now seventeen regular clerks, 
twenty regular carriers, and seven 
stations. 

It was Mr. Dryhurst who first con- 
cei\-ed the idea of having a federal 
building for the Meriden post office. 
He interested the late Senator O. H. 
Piatt in the ])roiect, who obtained 
an ap])ropriation of $100,000 froiu the 
Congress for that ])uri)ose. The site 
at the corner of Colony and ]>rooks 
streets was selected for the building, 
which will be erected as soon as an 



446 



A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 




Photo by Akers £ Pigeon. 






t 



JCeux^^ ^ri^Xu44^^fy^ 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



447 



additional appropriation is available 
to enlarge the present plans. 

Air. Dryhurst married Aliss [Mar- 
garet C. Dutcher, of Sag Harbor, and 
they have the following children : 
Jennie E., wife of Guy A. Palmer ; 
Henry Jr. ; and Orville J. 

He is a member of the First Bap- 
tist church and of the Home and Col- 
onial Clubs. 



THOMAS L. REILLY. 



Thomas Lawrence Reilly, mayor of 
Meriden in 1906, was born in New 
Britain, September 20, 1858. and re- 
ceived his early education there in the 
town schools. Later he attended the 
State Normal school, from which he 
graduated in 1876, but instead of 
teaching he took the position of town 
clerk's'. assistant, which he held for a 
year. Soon after, he engaged as a 
reporter on the Hartford Sunday 
Globe. \n the fall of 1877 he came 
to Meridfen with his parents and en- 
tered the law office of Judge D. J. 
Donahoe, now of Middlctown. re- 
maining a student there for one year. 
Disturbed by the death of his mother 
and the removal of J"dge Donahoe to 
Middletown, Mr. Reilly found circum- 
stances unfavorable to the continuance 
of his legal studies and took a posi- 
tion as book-keeper with J. F. Butler, 
continuing with him until 1880, when 
he became the Meriden correspondent 
of the New Haven Union. Later Mr. 
Reilly became connected with the 
Meriden Penny Press, under J. H. 
Mabbett. filling a reportorial position. 



and still later was associated in a like 
capacity with W. F. Graham, on the 
Meriden Republican, remaining with 
this latter journal until December, 
1885, when he went to the New Ha- 
ven Register. He was that paper's 
legislative reporter during the session 
of 1886. In April, 1886, with Fran- 
cis Atwater, F. E. Sands and Lew Al- 
len, he formed The Journal Publish- 
ing company, and was made secre- 
tary of the company and city editor 
of the paper, with which he has been 
ever since connected. 

An active Democrat, he has been 
one of the leaders in his party in Mer- 
iden, and in the presidential campaign 
of 1900 he was elected chairman of the 
Town coiumittce, and the Republican 
majority was reduced from 1,447 i" 
1896 to 54 in 1930. 

Mr. Reilly has taken an active part 
in all progressive movements in Meri- 
den ; is clerk of the school board, a 
director of the Curtis Memorial public 
library, and prominent in social and 
fraternal organizations, being a mem- 
ber of Aleriden lodge, No. 35, Benevo- 
lent and Protective Order of Elks, in 
which he filled the office of exalted 
ruler for two terms ; of the Ama- 
ranth club, in wb.ich he has filled the 
office of president for three years ; a 
charter member and organizer of Sil- 
ver City council. Xo. 2, Knights of 
Columbus : a member of the Royal Ar- 
canum and tlio Maccabees. Much is 
due to Mr. Reilly for the stand he has 
taken in regard to sports in Meriden. 

In iSS_(, in I'lackstone, Mass., he 
Wc-'.s married to Marie I''.. Rowen, a 



44^ 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 




DIOGRAPHIES. 



449 



sell' i.'l teacher of that town. To this 
union have been born seven children, 
Kobert. Katherine. Mary, Louis. Ar- 
thur, Rose and Agnes. 



HERMAN HESS. 



Herman Hess, the present town and 
cit clerk of Meriden, and who has 
he'.! these offices for a longer period 
th:in any other man in the history of 
the town, was born in ]\Ieriden, April 
4. 1861. He is of German parentage 
ai :\ the son of Frederick and Johan- 
na ( Yooke ) Hess. His father, whose 
li^ath occurred in 1898, from his early 
rr..irhood was a respected and indus- 
trious citizen of Meriden and was 
one of the first of his nationality to 
settle in this part of the state. He 
was for eighteen years employed in 
the mechanical department of the ]Mer- 
idea Britannia Company and pursued 
tie calling of a burnisher until his 
deriih. He was a veteran of the Civil 
w:ir. an honored member of Merriam 
Post. G. A. R., and both he and his 
wife were devoted members of the 
<jern:an Lutheran church of ^^leriden. 

Herman Hess, than whom the res- 
idents believe there is none better 
fitted by ability and disposition to keep 
the records of both the town and the 
<"ity. is a man Hberally educated but 
his knowledge has been, acquired 
1< r ely outside of that limited educa- 
tion which his parents were able to 
giv? him. He attended the public 
schools only until he was eleven years 

39 



of age, when he left to become a cash 
boy in the store of W. H. Babb. He 
began on a salary of $2.50 a week 
and remained in the store five years, 
during which time he spent his even- 
ings in home study thereby depriving 
himself the pleasures enjoyed by oth- 
er boys. 

In 1877 he obtained a clerkship in 
the employ of the N. Y.. N. H. & H. R. 
R., and served in the freight offices of 
that company both in ^Meriden and 
Xew Haven, and one year in the tick- 
et department. In 1882, he became a 
bookkeeper at the office of the .Mer- 
iden ^Malleable Iron Co., where he re- 
mained for five years more, and added 
to his reputation as a skillful and ac- 
curate accoimtant. 

He began his public career as city 
auditor in 1883, when he was elected 
to fill a vacancy. In 1886, he was 
elected town clerk and registrar of 
vital statistics. In the following 
city election, of the same year, he was 
also chosen city clerk and has been 
re-elected each subsequent year to the 
present writing and since 1892, al- 
though a Democrat, has been honored 
with the nomination of both parties. 
His incumbency of the offices has been 
especially pleasing to the citizens of 
the town, for not only has he fuffilled 
the complicated duties in a manner 
most satisfactory to the ptiblic. but 
he has familiarized himself so thor- 
oughly with the town and city rec- 
ords that his services in his official 
capacity have become almost inval- 
uable. Mr. Hess, from his promi- 



450 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




lUOGRAPIIIES. 



451 



iience in public affairs, has natur- 
ally become one of the leading citi- 
zens of the town and no resident en- 
joys perhaps a larger personal popu- 
larity. Through his industry he has 
Iteconie somewhat endowed with 
earthly goods. 

He is a trustee of the !\[eriden Sav- 
ings Bank and since 1900 he has been 
one of the directors of the Meriden 
Xational Bank, of which institution 
he is also the vice i)resident. He is 
also a director of the Meriden Perma- 
tK-nt Piuilding & Loan Association. 
Me IS ])roniinent as well in the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, being at this writing. 
eminent commander of St. Elmo Com- 
mandery, K. T., and affiliated with 
Pxramid Temple, A. A. O. N., Alystic 
Shrine. He is also a member of AJen- 
(len Center Lodge, Xo. 97. F. & A. M. ; 
Keystone Chapter, Xo. 27, R. A. ^L ; 
Ifamilton Council, Xi^o. 22, R. & S. 
M.; Meriden Center Lodge, 68, L O. 
< ). F. ; Myrtle Lodge, Knights of Py- 
thias ; is a member of the Elks and 
the American Order of Foresters, 
' leriden 'j'urn A'erein, Home Club 
.nid Colonial Club, and one of the di- 
rectors of the Meriden Board of 
Trade. 

On r^Liy 2S., 1883, he was married 
to Eugenia DeCrosbv. daughter of 
N'ormaii W. and Uulli Ann ( Xor- 
wood) Pomeroy. Tluir children 
have been Raymnnd I 'nmeroy and 
Ruth Imogene ; the latter died in 
1887. '" li'-'^ religinus sym])atliies. he 
is with his family, an attendant of 
St. Paul's Universalist church. 



lk\ IXC L. HOLT. 



Irving Lucius Holt, one of the 
leading business men of Meriden and 
tax collector of the town since 1893' 
was l)orn in Somers, Conn., Septem- 
ber 5, 1851. He is a worthy descen- 
dant of one of the oldest families in 
I'onnecticut and is a son of Elijah and 
Xancy L. (Harwood) Holt. He 
traces his ancestry directly back to 
Xicholas Holt, born in England al)Out 
1602, who was one of the passengers 
on the shi]) "James," of London, 
which sailed from Southampton and 
arrived after two months' ])assage in 
Boston in 1635. He became one of 
the first settlers of Xewbury, Mass., 
and in 1644 removed from there to 
become one of the first settlers of An- 
dover, }klass. Among his later fore- 
fathers was Caleb Holt, an early set- 
tler of \\'illington. Conn., oue of the 
ratifiers of the consiiiution : Royal 
liolt. of Willington. married Lavina 
Lamb, a natixe of \ ermont, whose 
father ser\ed in the Revolutioiuary 
war from the age of sixteen as a 
waiter boy for George Washington 
and continued in that capacity until 
the close of the war. 

I. L. Ildlt iibtained his early educa- 
tion in the dislrict schools c^f Rock- 
\ ille. Conn., which was interrupted for 
a brief ])erio(l b\' a service at thv ( ilas- 
gow thread mills, but continued his 
education at 1 lall's boarding school 
at I'"llington. ('onn.. and W'illiston 
seminary at lCastliain])tou. Mass. 
The famih' reniovinu to .Meriden 



452 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



453 



in 1870, he went to South Man- 
chester to teach his first school l)ut 
soon after was engaged as a teach- 
er at the State School for Boys in 
Meriden, where he remained for two 
and a half years. He afterwards took 
a course at the Sheffield Scientific 
school at Yale, class of 1874; after 
which he became principal of the 
Prattsville school, ]\Ieriden, which po- 
sition he held for one year and re- 
signed to take up the insurance bus- 
iness in the office of the Meriden Fire 
Insurance Co., where he was assist- 
ant secretary, continuing with that 
company nineteen years until the hon- 
orable closing of its business, but 
March i, 1892, with Frank A. Stev- 
ens, formed the firm of Holt & Stev- 
ens, wiiich has ever since been a lead- 
ing insurance and real estate concern 
and whose business has grown to large 
proportions. 

Mr. Holt has always been a staunch 
Republican and for many years has 
been a prominent worker in the ranks 
of that party. He has served as chair- 
man of the Republican Town com- 
mittee, registrar of voters and since 
1893 has served continuously in his 
present office as collector of town 
taxes, and during which time he has 
collected over a million and a half 
dollars for the town. He is promi- 
nent in social circles, being an influ- 
ential member of the Home Club, is 
also connected with ^Meridian Lodge, 
'"J, A. F. & A. M.. and St. Elmo Com- 
mandery, 9, K. T.. of Meriden. 

He was married August 11, 1875, 
to Ella ^f. Rice, who died January 17. 



1903, and who was a descendant of 
one of the oldest families of Connec- 
ticut and for many generations iden- 
tified with this locality. The children 
to this marriage are : Harry H., born 
May 28, 1878, a graduate of the Mer- 
iden High school, who for several 
}ears has been associated with his 
father in business ; and Ralph G., who 
died in infancv. 



WILLLAM LEWIS. 



William Lewis, a prominent resi- 
dent and financier of Meriden, now 
deceased, although a native of Queens 
county, Ireland, lived in Meriden 
nearly all his useful life. He was 
born in 1832 and as a child came to 
this country with his parents. He wa5 
given a good common school educa 
tion and he began business life it 
Meriden in a modest wa}- by open- 
ing a confectionery and toy store on 
Main street. In 1882 he retired from 
mercantile business, having acquired 
some little property, including the his 
toric brick block situated at the cor 
ner of High School avenue and West 
Main street. This block he jnirchased 
from the late Levi Bradley, of Chesh- 
ire, and comprised the first brick block 
of its class in Meriden. A Democn'^.t 
in politics, he became a candidate for 
town and city treasurer, his well 
known integrity secured him the elec- 
tion, although the town has ever been 
Republican, and he held the office con- 
tinuously for several years. He was 
once a second selectman and served as 
a member of thr Corner school com- 



454 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




l;i;,gkai'III1£S. 



455 



niittcc. As one of the incorporators, 
directors ami trustees of tlie City Sav- 
in.ijs l)anl< Mr. Lewis was highly hon- 
ored in banking- circles and his suc- 
cess in real estate ventures made him 
an important factor in business life. 

For many years he resided in the 
brick l)lock which he owned on West 
Main street but in 1895 he erected a 
line residence on Piatt avenue where 
he s])ent the last few years of his life 
and which since his death has been 
occi'pied by his three daughters and 
grandson. William Lewis Dorsey. 

He was married to jMargaret Fl}nn 
who died in Meriden in 1880 and to 
whom the following children were 
born: John T.. May L. (Mrs. ^L L. 
Dorsey, of the dry goods firm of Dor- 
sey & Harrison ). Harriet A., Augusta 
J. and Catherine T.. all of ^leriden. 
Although a few years past the alloted 
three score and ten, Mr. Lewas was 
a man of strong, or wiry, physique and 
none supposed him to be in any other 
than the best of health. On the morn- 
ing of the day of his death, June 18, 
iqo5, he was up and about his home 
but died froni a violent hemorrhage 
I the stomach, before medical aid, 
which was hastily summoned, could 
reach him. His three daughters, all 
of whom are young women of rare 
personal accomplishments, and well- 
known in the social circles in wliich 
they are prominent figures, were the 
recipients of the fullest sympathy of 
the community as was evidenced in 
many ways. 

The funeral services of Air. Lewis 
were held at St. Joseph's Roman 



Catholic church, of which he was an 
infiuential member. A solemn high 
ma-ss of requiem was celebrated, of 
which the following clergymen par- 
ticipated : Rev. J. T. Lynch, celebrant ; 
Rev. P. Skelly, of Litchfield, deacon, 
and Rev. William Judge, master of 
ceremonies. The burial w'as in the 
Lewis plot at St. Patrick's Cemetery. 



FREDERICK P. LOOMIS. 



Frederick Porter Loomis. station 
agent of the N. Y., N. H. & H. Rail- 
road at Meriden, and a young man of 
marked executive ability, was born in 
Meriden May 4, 1871. He is the son 
of \\'illiam C. Loomis, a veteran of 
the Civil war, who served as chief 
bugler in the First Connecticut Cav- 
alry, and who was for some years an 
officer of the State Reform school. 
His mother was Mary A. Porter, 
daughter of John B. Porter, a for- 
mer resident of Chestnut street, who 
was also one of the officers of the 
State Reform school. 

Frederick Loomis is a descendant 
of' Joseph Loomis. one of the original 
settlers of Uraintree, Mass., who was 
born in Essex. England, in 1590, and 
became one of the proprietors of 
Windsor, L'oun., in 1640. Daniel 
Loomis. the great, great grandfather 
of Frederick, showed his patriotism 
as a Revolutionary soldier by melting 
the weights of his clock for bullets. 

When he was quite young the pa- 
rents of Frederick Loomis removed 
with him to Cleveland. Ohio, where he 
attended school, but he finished his 



456 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



457 



education at the Meriden High school, 
his parents having taken up their res- 
idence in Yalesville where his father 
died in 1896 and where his mother 
still resides with the subject of this 
sketch. 

In 1 89 1 he entered the freight of- 
fice of the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad 
as a clerk and worked up through the 
various clerical positions until he was 
entnisted with his present responsi- 
bility as station agent to which he 
was appointed by the company in 
1901 and in which capacity he has 
since served with efificiency to the 
railroad and satisfaction of the pub- 
lic. Mr. Loomis' responsibility 
includes the charge of all prop- 
erty of the steam railroad inter- 
ests within the bounds of Meriden 
and the general oversight of nearly 
all the company's vast operations at 
this point. Under his charge is a 
force of eighty railroad employes. 
Since the discontinuance of the Cen- 
ter street station, the entire freight 
business has been handled at the Main 
freight station, the sheds of which are 
300 feet long, and about 100 freight 
cars are emptied and filled daily. All 
of this calls for much executive abil- 
ity on the part of the present agent 
who, in dispatching his duties, has 
ever been accorded the name of serv- 
ing the public conscientiously and the 
railroad with equal efiiciency. 

Mr. Loomis, while not a member of 
any social organization, is a member 
of the Yalesville M. E. church where 
he is organist and musical director, 
succeeding his father. 



He was married May 4, 1896, to 
Avaline E. Brown, daughter of A. J. 
Brown, superintendent of the Chas. 
Parker Company factory at Yalesville 
and to that union have been born two 
boys and two girls, as follows : Wil- 
liam Erwin, Frederick Brown, Mary 
Elizabeth and Emilv Avaline. 



GEO. E. BICKNELL. 



George Edward Bicknell, first mem- 
ber of the Connecticut State Sen- 




r.i:oK(;i-; 1:. liU'K XlILl.. 

ate from the new thirteenth (Meri- 
den) district, was born in Belfast. 
Me., November 25. 1861. A son of 
James M. and Sarah (Stevens) Bick- 
nell. he traces his ancestry in this 
conntrv back to Zacliarv Bicknell of 



458 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Norman extraction, who settled in 
Weymoutli, Mass., coming from Lon- 
don, in 1635. He obtained his edu- 
cation and remained in his native town 
until he came to ]\Ieriden in 1880, 
since when he has become active in 
public affairs and a staunch member 
of the Republican party and several 
social and fraternal organizations by 
which he has been much honored. His 
public record is as follows : Member 
IMeriden Common Council, 1896-7 ; 
one of the police commissioners of 
Meriden in 1900, 1901 and 1902 ; four 
years a member of the state legisla- 
ture from Meriden from 1901 to 1905 ; 
member state Senate 1905 and 1906. 
He is well versed in matters of finance 
and since 1903 has served as president 
of the Meriden Permanent Building 
and Loan association. Senator Bick- 
nell enjoys the confidence and respect 
of the community and is prominently 
identified with the following social 
and fraternal organizations : Meridian 
Lodge y'j, A. F. & A. M., of which 
he was master in 1899 ; Keystone 
Chapter, R. A. M. ; Pacific Lodge 87, 
L O. O. F., and noble grand of which 
in 1893 and 1906 ; Meriden Camp, 
771 1, M. W. of A. ; Silver City Lodge 
3, A. O. LT. W. and Colonial club of 
Meriden. 

He was married in 1886 to Eleanor 
D. Stanley and their children are: 
Charles, Roscoe and Corinna. 



EDGAR T. PERKINS. 



Shop, was born in Meriden, November 
20, 1852, and is the son of James Mon- 
roe Perkins, for several years a cele- 
brated engineer on the New York & 
Erie Railroad, but who spent the last 
portion of his life in Meriden, where 
he had become superintendent of the 
Charles Parker Spoon Shop, former- 
ly conducted by Parker & Perkins, 
which position he held at the time of 




Edgar J. Perkins, superintendent of 
the Charles Parker Company Spoon 



Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

EDGAR J. PERKINS. 

his death, August 2, 1898. Edgar J. 
Perkins is the great-grandson of 
Elisha Perkins, a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary War and one of the heroes 
of Bunker Hill. 

Edgar J. Perkins, who since 1898 
has been superintendent of the manu- 
facturing plant where his father, 
grandfather and uncle were engaged 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



459 



lief ore him. entered the spoon shop to 
learn the trade of a tool maker, at the 
Ui^e of eis^hteen. Previous to this he 
had been thrown upon his own re- 
sources and had a varied experience. 
After attendint^ school he had worked 
on neig'hboring' farms and served as a 
coal ])asser on the Old Dominion 
Steanishi]) Line, which plied between 
New York and X'orfolk and Ports- 




J. M. PERKINS. 

mouth. \'a. His mechanical ability 
at the spoon shop was soon demon- 
strated ; for he had ambition and de- 
teniiination to succeed. He finally 
entered the die-sinking shop in which 
he continued until he was appointed 
to the present position which he has 
since filled. The plant furnishes em- 
ployment to about loo hands and im- 



der his superiiitendency has continued 
to be an important branch of the great 
industry of ]\Ieriden, controlled In- the 
Charles Parker Company. His abil- 
ity to manag-e the w^ork and the larg-e 
number of employes, of whom he has 
charge, has been significantly demon- 
strated. 

He has for many years been an ac- 
tive Republican, has served as grand 
juror, tax collector and a member of 
the school board. He is a member of 
Center Lodge, 97, A. F. & A. M., and 
is extremely liberal in his religious 
views. 

He was married in Meriden to Miss 
Ellie M. Smith and to them have the 
following children been born: Belle, 
Airs. Leon Brainard. Hartford; 
Daisy, JMrs. George Farrow, Middle- 
town, and Howard, employed at the 
Charles Parker Spoon Shop as a tool 
maker. In 1900 from plans of his 
own, he had erected for him on Mid- 
dletown Road, one of the most com- 
fortable and comely residences of the 
town, wdiere, with his family, he has 
dispensed genuine hospitality to a 
large circle of friends. 



WALLACE A. AHLES. 



Wallace A. Miles, deceased, mayor 
of the city of Meriden in 1889, was a 
man of the people and was born in 
Southington in 1841. His parents, 
xAlmeron and Caroline (Lawrence) 
Miles, resided at the place of his birth 
but temporarily. Removing to Mer- 
iden when six months of age, he con- 



460 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



tinned to live here nntil the time of 
his death, December 16, 1904. 

He was edncated nnder a private 
tutor and finished his schoohng at the 
Meriden academy and his first em- 
ployment was as a clerk in the Meri- 
den post office where he continued un- 
der postmasters Yale and Ashahel H. 
Curtis. After faithful service there 
he entered the factorv of the Charles 




WALLACE A. MILES. 

Parker Co., where he held the posi- 
tion of shipper, afterwards engaging 
in the hardware aand crockery busi- 
ness with Eli C. Birdsey under the 
firm name of Birdsey & Miles. Dur- 
ing his connection with the firm they 
manufactured stationer's hardware. 
In 1876 the partnership was dissolved, 



and Mr. Miles took the manufactur 
ing business which he continued un 
til 1888 when he gave up his business 
having been elected mayor of the city 
Mr. ]\Iiles was a man who enjoyec 
the fullest confidence of his fellov 
townsmen and was honored at variou! 
times by election to public office, tht 
duties of which he dispatched with £ 
conscientious regard for the taxpayers 
and the citizens. He was collector oi 
taxes in 1875-76-77, and in the last 
year became one of the board of as- 
sessors, serving for a number of years 
in that capacity. In 1886 he was 
chosen a member of the board of ed- 
ucation and he was from 1875- 1877, ^ 
period comprising three terms, a rep- 
resentative from Meriden in the state 
legislature. In politics he was a Dem- 
ocrat and when he was chosen mayor 
of the city in December, 1888, his ad- 
ministration, conducted in the inter- 
est of the people, was highly gratify- 
ing to the city. 

Mr. Miles was a veteran of the Civil 
war, having enlisted in the 27th Conn. 
^'ols. in April, 1862, serving until Au- 
gust, 1863. When IMerriam Post was 
formed he was one of the first to be- 
come one of its comrades and as such < 
continued until he was called by the 
x\lmighty to his reward. Of this post 
it was his intention to publish a his- 
tory of its members, but his life was 
not spared to complete the work he 
had well in hand, and after his death 
a large amount of manuscript which 
he had gathered was turned over to 
others. His death caused a severe 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



461 



loss to Mcridcn and he is survived by 
a widow, residing on Broad street, in 
his late residence. 



SIDXEY D. TUFTS. 



The death of Sidney D. Tufts on 
November 11. 1891, at the age of 
46, marked the passing away of an 
upright man and pubHc-spirited citi- 
zen. For twenty-three years, Air. 
Ti tts was a contractor at the Wil- 
cox Silver Plate Company (now Fac- 
tory X, International Silver Com- 
pany). 

-Meriden is proud of men who have 
done their duty as they have seen it. 
putting forth their best efforts in their 
daily work, even when that work- 
brought no high rewards. Such a 
man was Mr. Tufts. He had a wide 
circle of acquaintances and friends 
who were attracted to him because of 
his sterling qualities. 

Mr. Tufts was a quiet, domestic 

man, one who found pleasure in his 

own cheerful home. He was a firm 

believer in fraternal life also and was 

affiliated with many of the orders 

prominent in the city. He was a 

leading member of Meriden Center 

Lodge, I. (). O. F.. Columbia Coun- 

il. O. I'. .\. M.. Electric Lodge, X. 

E. C). P.. and for a tiiiTC a member of 

)a5is Encampment. The friendships 

omicd in these organizations were 

tiany and congenial and his death 

aused sorrow that was deep and 

enuine. 

He was held in high regard by the 
)fficers of the Wilcox Silver Plate Co. 



and b}- the men who worked under 
him. In his business relations he was 
strictly honest and just and the many 
years he held the contract in the rouge 
buffing department is an indication of 
the satisfactory quality of his work. 

Mr. Tufts' home at 9 Gladwin place 
was a most hospitable one and there 
he and Mrs. Tufts were wont to find 
comfort and contentment. Thev 




SIDNEY D. TUFTS. 

were ever ready to receive their 
friends and the latter were able to 
gain an insight into what might well 
be termed a model household. Mr. 
Tufts' wife survives him. He left no 
children. 

It is such men as Sidney D. Tufts 
who constitute the backbone of Meri- 
den or any other progressive commun- 
itv. A manufacturing citv needs 



462 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



more than "Captains of Industry." 
It requires that the men at the bench 
and those set over them shall be faith- 
ful in the performance of their duty, 
that they shall ever be alive to the best 
interests of the institution for which 
they labor, that they shall be alert in 
the endeavor to bring about improve- 
ments. Added to this is the broad- 
minded and intellig'ent interest in the 
affairs of the city and country. In the 
enumeration of these qualities Mr. 
Tufts' character is described. 



W. E. BENHAM. 



Welcome E. Benham, founder of the 
Young Men's Christian Association, 
of Meriden, the first to construct its 
own building in New England, and 
one whose life was devoted to relig- 
ious labor, was born in Cheshire, Sep- 
tember 9, 1820, and died at Meriden 
August 23, 1898. He was educated 
in the Cheshire common schools and 
Southington academy. After his 
graduation from the latter, he taught 
district school for three winters, and 
afterwards concluded his education at 
the Oberlin, O., Collegiate Institute, 
where he was a student from 1837- 
1841, but on account of ill health was 
compelled to give up his studies. 

In 1847, having regained his health, 
he became a traveling bookseller, cov- 
ering a territory in central Connecti- 
cut, for over a period of thirty years, 
his sales during that time, a portion 
of which were Bibles, aggregated 
$200,000. In 1850 he made a tour 
abroad, visiting England, Ireland, 



France and Italy, and in 1854 he mar: 
ried Martha Street, daughter of Jame 
Street and Betsey Scott, and settlei: 
permanently in Meriden and thereaf 
ter devoted much of his useful life t( 
the educational and spiritual welfan 
and comfort of its people. 

From sixteen years of age his \iU\ 
was that of a most devout and exem-; 
plary Christian. Through his eft'ort; 




W. E. BENHAiM. 

$30,000 were raised to erect the build- 
ing and equip the library of the above 
named institution ; and for twelve 
years he was president and for the last 
fourteen years of his life, was chair- 
man of the board of trustees. He was 
a member and for thirty years a teach- 
er of an adult class at the First Con- 
ereeational church. His considera- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



463 



tion for his fellowmen was always ap- 
parent and it was his dehght to per- 
form acts of kindness. He placed a 
free ice water barrel in front of the 
Palace block and this he looked after 
personally for many years, and the 
drinking fountain at the head of 
Crown street was dedicated to him. 

He served for some years as chair- 
man of the Corner school district com- 
mittee and officiated as a member of 
the school board for nine years, two 
of which he was acting school visitor. 
During his service he introduced 
printed school reports and schedules of 
school terms. His efforts in behalf of 
free schools enabled Meriden to pass 
down in history as the first town in 
this state to adopt them. In 1884 he 
was chairman of the Winthrop Square 
Association that established the pres- 
ent green opposite the railroad sta- 
tion which has since added to the 
beauty of the city. In 1882 he wrote, 
illustrated and published a book of 240 
pages containing sketches of his life 
and writings ; and through his person- 
al effort for church. Y. M. C. A. and 
other benevolent purposes, he solic- 
ited and obtained from the generous 
public of Meriden over $60,000, with- 
out ever desiring or receiving any com- 
pensation except the pleasure such 
commendable work afforded him. His 
death was a sad loss to Meriden ; 
for his life was largely spent in good 
works that were always wrought by 
him purely in the interests of his 
fellowman. He is survived by a 
widow and daughter, Mary J. Ben- 
ham, who reside on Prospect street. 



JOSEPH E. COE. 



By the death of Joseph E. Coe on 
May 5, 1902, Meriden lost a most 
earnest and indefatigable worker in 
the cause of temperance and Chris- 
tianity ; a man who devoted his life 
to the betterment of his fellows. He 
was born on a farm in the town of 
Middlefield, Connecticut. June 16, 




JOSEPH E. COE. 

1827, the Aoungest son of Eli Coe. 
His early life was spent on the farm, 
but he desired a wider field for his 
activities and wdien he felt sure of his 
mission he began to devote his ener- 
gies in behalf of mankind, a service 
to which practically the remainder of 
his long life was given. He had wise- 
ly invested his early savings and had 
displayed much business ability. His 



464 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



investments in Chicago real estate 
brought to him a comfortable income 
which, to a large extent, he applied to 
the carrying out of his plans as a re- 
former. 

Mr. Coe was a strong advocate of 
teniperance and was a consistent ene- 
my of tobacco. He was every ready 
to denounce the vices he had set out 
to oppose although often to do so re- 
quired no small degree of courage. 

Mr. Coe was known throughout the 
country as a distributor of Bible 
leaves. At great expense to himself 
he traveled many thousand of miles, 
covering every state of the Union, in 
order to distribute these tracts, one 
leaf at a time. This required about 
2,000 copies of the revised and 4,000 
copies of the King James version of 
the New Testament. 

Mr. Coe was always interested in 
education and gave freely of his mon- 
ey in behalf of schools. He was 
prominent in Y. M. C. A. work and 
was an active member of the Amer- 
ican Bible Society of New York City. 
He was a promoter of the Meriden 
hospital and was much interested in 
its work. He provided commodious 
quarters in the Middlefield town hall 
for the W. C. T. U. in whose work 
he also took a deep interest. In the 
work he had made peculiarly his own 
he employed others, paying them out 
of his own means. In all these causes 
there are few men who have proved 
themselves so devoted as Mr. Coe, 
whose time and thought, whose ener- 
gy and money were given without the 
slightest expectation of personal gain. 



Mr. Coe's first marriage was to 
Laura L. Miller. His second wife, 
who survives him, is Orpha R. Root, 
who, during his life, proved a faith- 
ful wife and gave him moral support 
and encouragement in his efforts for 
others. 



F. J. WHEELER. 



Frederick J. Wheeler, a striking 
example of the self-made man, who 
has accumulated a competency in the 
business life of Meriden, was born 
in Stratford, Conn., and is a son of 
Everett Wheeler, a farmer of that 
town, where his ancestors resided for 
many generations before him. He is 
also descended from Moses Wheeler, 
who lived in London, England, dur- 
ing the existence of the plague which 
caused many to flee to this country 
over two centuries ago. Moses 
Wheeler was one who was stricken 
and supposing he was about to die, 
dug his own grave and lay down in 
it. His neighbors believing him to 
be dead, he came near being buried 
alive, but recovered and was one 
of the early settlers of Stratford, be- 
coming the operator of the ferry 
which in olden times plied between 
Stratford and Milford. 

Frederick J. Wheeler of whom this 
article now speaks more especially, 
w^as educated in the district schools 
of his native town and worked on his 
father's farm until sixteen years of 
age, when he journeyed to Seymour, 
Conn., and learned the trade of a tin- 
smith, serving his full apprenticeship 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



465 



there and afterwards working as a 
journeyman for seven years at Wa- 
terbury. From the fruits of his labor, 
he was enabled to engage in business 
in 1862, and happily for him, he chose 
Meriden for the field of his business 
life. He leased a portion of his pres- 
ent store, one of the most historic 
buildings of the town, and from a 
small beginning has increased his bus- 
iness to large proportions. r)egin- 




F. J. W HEELER. 

ning business as a tinsmith, he later 
added plumbing, heating and venti- 
lating, increasing his employes and 
business steadily and j^rofitably. Mis 
original stock consisted of stoves and 
tinware but gradually other lines have 
been added until at the present writ- 
ing the store, wliich has l)een several 
30 



times enlarged, contains an endless 
variety of general haidware, cutlery, 
tools, stoves, crockery, wooden, tin 
and willow ware. For many years 
Air. Wheeler has conducted a large 
I)lumbing, gasfitting, heating and 
ventilating business, employing a 
number of workmen to whom he gives 
steady employment. From a long 
and honorable business career, Mr. 
Wheeler has become one of the most 
responsible business men of the town. 



GEORGE A. CHURCH. 



George A. Church, one of Meriden's 
ablest merchants and respected citi- 
zens, and from 1878 until the time of 
his death, senior member of the firm of 
Church & Morse, and for some years 
previous to that engaged in the hard- 
ware business in Meriden, was born 
in Hartford, May 11, 1847. He was 
the son of Abner and Lucy Church 
and was educated in the public schools 
of Hartford and Cheshire Academy. 
After the war broke out, although a 
mere boy he enlisted in the Union 
army as a private and saw active ser- 
vice as a member of the 64th 111. A^ols. 
Infantry. 

He came to Meriden in 1872, after 
having received a business education 
from his previous cxjierience, and en- 
gaged in the hardware business as a 
member of the firm of Chinxh & 
Sprague, in a store on East Main 
street in the vicinity of the depot 
crossing. The business rapidly outgrew 
the first location and was later re- 
UKued to West Main, directh' o])posite 



466 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




GEORGE A. CHURCH. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



467 



Colony street. In 1878 J\lr. Church 
bouglit the interest of Mr. Sprague 
antl continued the growing business 
for one year ; but at the end of tliat 
time, Charles P. Morse bought a half 
interest and the business has ever since 
been conducted under the firm name 
of Church & Morse. Since the 
death of his father, Robert G. Church 
lias represented the interests of the 
estate and taken his place in the store. 
The growth of the business of Church 
& .Morse to that of the largest in the 
hardware line in Meriden, is in no 
small degree due to the somewhat re- 
markable business acumen of the late 
(George A. Church. He was known 
as one of Meriden's most progressive 
merchants and his popularity, both in 
anti out of his store, wnll be long re- 
membered by the people of Meriden 
and vicinity. 

Mr. Church was a familiar figure 
in social life as well as a business 
man standing high in the community ; 
he was a prominent member of the 
Masonic fraternity, in wdiich he filled 
a large place in the hearts of his 
brethren. He was eminently devoted 
to tliat craft and his energy was ex- 
erted to the best results. Among his 
prominent characteristics were his 
scrupulous honesty, faithfulness to 
trusts, whether in private or official 
relations, and fidelity to principles 
which he miglit espouse wiihout re- 
gard to either j;o])uIar clamor or fa- 
vor. Mr. Church was also a member 
'•f the Red Men ami his connection 
with that order will cause him to be 
long rcmemliered bv h.is fellow braves. 



He was also a member of the Home 
Club and his good fellowship there 
made his loss greatly deplored by its 
meml^ers. For many years before his 
death he was also a member of Mer- 
riam Post, G. A. R. His death, Sep- 
tember 13, 1896, came w'ithout warn- 
ing and caused great surprise and pain 
in the community, with which he had 
become so thoroughly a part. 

He was married in Middletown, 
Conn., 1875, to Lucy R. Goodell, to 
whom three sons haye been born : 
Robert G., Howard W. and William 
B. Church, who with 'Sirs. Church, 
survive him and still reside in the 
same residence, 93 Crown street. 



WILLIAM F. ROCKWELL. 



William Francis Rockwell was born 
in Ridgefield, Conn., January 12, 1845, 
and died at his home in Meriden, 
Conn., January 5, 1901. His early 
education was acquired at a pri- 
vate school. He afterwards graduat- 
ed from Fort Edward Collegiate In- 
stitute. His business career began in 
the forwarding and commission house 
of Miller 15ros.. in Xew York, when 
about eighteen years of age. He 
held an important position with that 
concern for several years, being sta- 
tioned at Norfolk, \'a.. as supercargo 
of a vessel during" the war. In 1868 
he went to Washington, X. J., and 
engaged in mercantile business under 
the firm name of Cummins, Rockwell 
& Co. In 1874 Mr. Rockwell re- 
turned to Connecticut and became 
treasurer of the Ignited States Steel 



468 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




d 



'^^cpT. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



469 



Shear Company. In 1876 he partici- 
pated in the reorganization of the 
Miller Bros. Cutlery Company. That 
concern had failed for a large amount 
and Mr. Rockwell, in connection with 
four other gentlemen, bought out the 
])lant and reorganized the company. 
Mr. Rockwell became treasurer and 
general manager, and the late Lem- 
uel J. Curtis was the first president. 
At the death of Mr. Curtis, I. C. Lew- 
is became president, and in 1893, when 
Mr. Lewis died, Mr. Rockwell was 
elected president and held the ofifice 
until the time of his decease. In 1877 
Mr. Rockwell was one of the organ- 
izers and first president of the x\mer- 
ican Pocket Cutlery Association of the 
L'nited States, organized to look after 
the protective interests of the cutlery 
trade. He was also a member of the 
committee on the revision of customs 
laws of the Merchants' Association of 
N'ew York. While that organization 
is composed largely of importers and 
merchants, they recognized Mr. Rock- 
well's knowledge and experience and 
were glad to avail themselves of it. 

The following tri])rtc to Mr. Rock- 
well's character and ])()sili()n in the 
cutlery trade is from William 11. ]Ma- 
her, of Toledo, Ohio, who knew him 
long and intimately : 

"For twenty-five years 'Sir. Rock- 
well had been one of the controlling 
forces in the hardware trade of this 
countrw and has left his impress u])oii 
the tariff laws and rulings to an ex- 
tent that very few realize. He was a 
mamifacturer. but hr was something 
more than that: in a broad sense he 



was a statesman, and though he held 
no office his was the mind and brains 
and research and perseverance that 
furnished facts, figures and arguments 
to the men who made laws. He 
worked through them, meeting every 
point raised b\- the opposition, until 
to-day the .American consumer who 
wishes American goods cannot be 
fooled by having foreign stuff forced 
on him under an American name. 

"His battle for .\merican cutlery 
was something grand and Titanic. 
Mr. Rockwell began his battle as a 
lawyer prepares his case when im- 
mense issues are at stake. His fight 
was made on facts, facts, facts ! 
Every point was fortified with figures 
that could not be questioned. In that 
contest the American cutler triumphed, 
and if he wished to know who was his 
friend he need but listen to the mal- 
edictions heaped upon Mr. Rockwell's 
head by the importers, whose false 
brands and under valuation had been 
summarily interfered with. And 
when Congress ha_^l done its work Mr. 
Rockwell's task was seemingly but 
just begun. The men in the New 
York custom house had his knowledge 
at their command, and liis (|uick eye 
caught at every loophole through 
which the s])irit of the law might have 
been rendered aboriive. 

"< )f all ni\ ac(|uaintances T know of 
none who lias shown more resource- 
ful enu'gy. more knowledge of everv- 
thing connected with his business, or 
who has left or.e tithe of his impress 
upon his associates. In his own office 
and in his home he was a most genial 



470 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



host. In his city and state he was 
one of the controlhng minds, and in 
national affairs he was a power." 

Mr. Rockwell was married in 1876 
to Miss Louise Taylor, of Washing- 
ton, N. J. To them was born one 
son, Charles Francis Rockwell. 



GEORGE COOLEY. 



George Cooley, one of the substan- 
tial residents of the town of Meriden 




GEORGE COOLEY. 

and the veteran liveryman engaged 
in business at the present writing, was 
born in Ashford, Windham county. 
Conn., June 23, 1835. He is the son 
of RoweandMira (Snow) Cooley and 
his father was a well-to-do farmer of 
that town which is now Eastford. He 
was educated in the district school and 
brought up to work on the home farm 



until sixteen years of age, when he 
went to Hartford and learned the 
trade of a burnisher, first entering the 
factory of William & Asa Rogers and 
later being employed by J. H. Martin. 

He came to Meriden soon after and 
secured employment as a burnisher at 
the works of the Meriden Britannia 
Co. and for some years was employed 
by that company in Wallingford ; and 
during this time Samuel Simpson was 
a member of the concern. In 1864, 
while still employed by the Meriden 
Britannia Co., he started in the livery 
stable business on Broad street, by 
buying out William Fisher, where he 
soon recovered his previous failing 
health, and since that time he has been 
engaged in the livery business contin- 
uously. He remained on Broad street 
for a period of sixteen years, but be- 
fore he sold out the Broad street sta- 
liles to Mr. Smith, of Middletown, he 
had for four years at the same time 
been conducting also the stables of 
Willliam Parker on Main street. The 
latter stables he carried on successfully 
in all for twenty-one years, but May, 
1 90 1, he sold out the Parker stable 
and from J. H. McDonald, purchased 
the Meriden House stables, which he 
has since conducted. 

Mr. Cooley is a Republican in pol- 
itics and a member of the Home Club 
He is married to Emily J., daughter of 
Leander Parmelee, of Wallingford, 
once high sheriff of New Haven coun- 
ty, and l^y that marriage are t\\<> 
grown children : Irving G., the mana- 
ger of the Meriden Curtain Fixture 
Co., and Jennie, wife of C. S. Howaril. 



LIUGKAI'lilES. 



471 



FRANCIS STAXLEV l-oSTRN 



]-rancis Stanley I'ostcr, deceased, a 
lifelong resident of Meriden, active 
and popular in business life, a member 
of the firm of JSirdsey d^: b'oster, now 
Dirdsey & Raven, was born in this 
town April 25, 1840. He was the son 
of Ira and Harriet F. (Kclscy) Fos- 
ter. He was a grandson of !\Iathcw 
and Charlotte (Preston) Foster and 
their family name is one of the oldest 
and most familiar in this section. His 
maternal grandmother was Lucy, 
ilauglUer of Lot and Rhoda ( \\'ads- 
worth) Stanley, of New Britain, 
who was descended from one of the 
best known families of Hartford. 

Francis Stanley Foster attended the 
Corner school. \\'hen he was quite 
young his father removed from wdiat 
was known as Crow Hollow and built 
a house on the corner of Main and 
Ihitkr streets, the land at that time be- 
ing worth less than $300, but now val- 
ued at about $20,000. At sixteen 
years of age he entered the grocery 
story of H. D. P.assett on Broad 
street. Later he was employed as 
clerk l)y Jared Lewis, whose employ 
le left to fill the position of head clerk 
in the dry goods store of David S. 
Williams. He was a natural salesman 
and devel(»])i'<l into a successful mer- 
chant. He became the partner of I'di 
C. Birdsey in May. iF^jC). which \ydn- 
nership was cnntiiiued under llic name 
of B.irdsey & I'oster until his hmuuled 
death in 1P09. 

He was ])OFsessed of an especially 



lia]i])\- disposition and his good fel- 
lowshi]) was as full_\- ai)parent in his 
store as elsewhere. He was known as 
very genial, strictly honest, and one 
who treated all with due consideration. 
J [e was known as a good Mason and a 
loyal Odd Fellow and was a member 
of the Center lodges of both orders 
and also was a valued member of Key- 
stone Chapter, Hamilton Council and 
St. Elmo Commandery, Knights Tem- 
])lar. 

He was married October 22, 1863, 
to Mary J., daughter of Alanson and 
Clarissa (Wilcox) Birdsey. He died 
November 12, 1899. His wife, moth- 
er and a sister, Mrs. Martha Hillard, 
survived him. 

Alanson Birdsey, the father of Mrs. 
Foster, was the son of dershom and 
Lucy Coe 15ir(lse\ and was born in 
the present town of Middlefield in 
1807. He was a brother of Eli C. 
liirdscy, known as Squire Birdsey, of 
whom a sketch ai)pears elsewhere in 
this volume. The family moved tn 
East ]\Ieriden and after s])ending his 
younger days on the hdme farm he 
finally engaged in the grocery busi- 
ness on liroad street and carried on 
that trade for man\ \ears. 

Tn 1844 he built what was then 
kiiDwn as a most imposing brick man- 
sion on Broad stret't. wlure he resided 
until his death which occurretl June 
14. iSSi. wlun I'rancis S. I'oster and 
his wife became the occu])ants and 
since the death of lur husband it has 
continued to be occupied by Mrs. 

I'o^tU". 



472 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




FRANCIS S. FOSTER. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



473 




ALANSON BIRDSEY. 



474 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




WILLIAM GARLICK. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



475 



\\!L1JA.A[ GARLICK. 



W'illinni Gaiiick, whose death oc- 
curred October lo. 1904, at his home 
in South Meriden, was born in Shef- 
field, England, August 19, 1847. His 
parents moved to this countr\- when 
he was but three years of age : and 
he was reared in South Meriden. For 
many years he was engaged in the ice 
business and he was also a con- 
tractor at the Meriden Cutlery Com- 
pany's factory and president of the 
Colorado and Connecticut Gold Alin- 
ing Company. 

Mr. Garlick was educated in the 
South Meriden district school. At 
the age of fifteen he entered the em- 
ploy of the Meriden Cutlery Company 
in the same department in which his 
father was engaged, continuing there 
until he reached his majority. For 
three years thereafter he was em- 
ployed as inspector at the Aetna Cut- 
lery Works at New Britain. He 
then returned to take the etching con- 
tract at the Meriden factory, that con- 
nection continuing for nearly thirty 
years. 

Mr. Garlick had purchased his 
father's ice business in 1878 and in 
1889 he consolidated it with the Mer- 
iden Ice Company. He was elected 
president and served for five years. 
Tn 1894 he withdrew from this ccm- 
nectidn and started the leaver Lake 
Ice Company. Mr. (larlick being the 
sole owner. 

In 1898 Mr. Garlick made a tri]) to 
Alaska prospecting for gold in the 



Klondike. He was gone eighteen 
months, during which the ice business 
was successfully carried on by his 
wife and daughter. Returning home 
he formed the Colorado and Connecti- 
cut Gold Mining Company and was 
chosen president. Mr. Garlick was a 
member of Hancock Lodge, No. 28, 
I. O. O. F., of South Meriden, Pil- 
grims' Harbor Council, Royal Arca- 
num, and the Home Club, of Meriden. 
He was a member of the Methodist 
church. 

After r\Ir. Garlick's death his wife 
and daughter again assumed the man- 
agement of the ice business, which 
thev carried on in a successful man- 




ARTIIUR S. GARLICK. 

\KV for several months until dispos- 
ing of same to parties who now carry 
on the business under the same name — 
riie Heaver Lake Ice Company. 

Mr. ( larlick was held in high re- 
L;ard l:otIi ris a citizi-n and business 
man. lie was r.pright in his deal- 



476 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ings with his fellows and progressive 
in his ideas. He took great pride in 
municipal affairs and was ready to aid 
in anything that promised to advance 
the welfare of city or town. He was 
respected and liked by his employes 
in whom he always took a kindly in- 
terest. 

Mr. Garlick was married on No- 
vember II, 1875, to Nellie May Stev- 
ens, daughter of Philander and Eunice 
Stevens, of South Meriden. Two 
children were born, Miss Mabel Stev- 
ens Garlick, prominent in Meriden so- 
ciety, and Arthur Stanley Garlick, 
who is an instructor in Cincinnati 
University. Young Mr. Garlick has 
a bright future. He is a member of 
Meridian Lodge, F. & A. M., of Mer- 
iden, and is well known and liked in 
social circles. His advance in his 
chosen profession is certain, and the 
position he now holds in Cincinnati 
University is most promising. 



PAUL T. SALESKL 



Paul T. Saleski, president and 
treasurer of the wholesale grocery, 
fruit and produce dealing corporation 
which bears his name, and one of the 
most energetic and successful busi- 
ness men of the vicinity of Meriden, 
was born in Germany, September 2, 
1866. His father, Charles Wilhelm 
Saleski, was a well known manufac- 
turer of pottery and earthenware, 
who ' married Mary Lietz. Their 
children, fourteen in number, nine of 
whom are now living, are as follows : 
Gustav W., Charles M., a carpenter 



and joiner; Frank, August B., Anton 
A., of the Wilcox & White Co. ; Ce- 
cilia I., widow of Samuel H. W. Yale; 
Anna A., wife of John Velz, and Ida 
r\L, wife of Joseph Dumackowski, all 
of whom came to Meriden with their 
parents in 1878, where they have re- 
sided ever since, excepting Frank, a 
prominent dairy farmer of Walling- 
ford. 

The subject of this sketch, who was 
eleven years old when the family 
came to Meriden, having previously 
attended school in his native land, 
was further educated in St. Rose's 
parochial school of Meriden. He be- 
gan his business life as a clerk in the 
grocery store of Martin Booth where 
he began at a salary of seventy-five 
cents a day and remained until he had 
learned the business, to which he read- 
ily adapted himself. 

He began business for himself in 
1890 in a somewhat small way in 
partnership with J. L Parker under 
the firm name of J. L Parker & Co. 
In 1892 he bought his partner's in- 
terest and the growing and success- 
ful business was continued under the 
name of P. T. Saleski & Co. He af- 
terwards took an extensive trip to Eu- 
rope and the old world and upon his 
return again formed a partnership 
Avith Mr. Parker whose interest he 
again bought out in 1895, when he be- 
came an importer of foreign fruits as 
well as an extensive dealer in domes- 
tic fruits, vegetables and country prod- 
uce, having since been the only im- 
porter of fruits between Hartford and 
New Haven. The srowth of the bus- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



477 




6?-.<^ ^ 0^^^.,..^ 



4/8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




THE P. T. SALESKI LIUILDING. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



479 



iness, of which he has for many years 
been the head, has been remarkably 
steady and rapid. As early as 1901, 
the enterprise first began to show the 
evidence of success and was removed 
to South Colony street and later the 
adjoining store was added and im- 
provements costing $4,000 were made 
which included cold storage accom- 
modations and every facility for keep- 
ing fresh the goods sold to the trade. 
In 1905 a large four story brick 
structure was erected on the opposite 
side of the street at a cost of $25,- 
000. This is one of the most sub- 
stantial buildings in Meriden and 
admirably adapted for the large 
business carried on by the P. T. Sa- 
leski Co., a corporation which was 
chartered by the legislature, of which 
Mr. Saleski owns ninety per cent, 
of the stock, the balance being 
owned by trusted employes. In the 
basement of this building are the cold 
storage and steam heating plants. The 
first floor, where the handsomely 
fitted offices are, is devoted to fruits 
and produce, the second to groceries 
and the third to woodenware. The 
building is of buff brick with granite 
trimmings and is most conveniently 
arranged for the business now car- 
ried on there so extensively. The 
business of the company of whicli Mr. 
Saleski is the head, adds nuich to the 
mercantile life of Aleriden and several 
traveling men are now employed to 
wait ui)on the trade in adjoining 
towns. The success of Mr. Saleski 
from a poor boy, has been the result 
fif untiring energy, honi'st derdings 



with the trade and his ability to rise 
to the occasion. He has the respect 
of the comnumity and stands high in 
business circles. 

He was married September 28, 
1897, to Anne Reichardt, of Buffalo, 
X. Y., a lady of culture, who has since 
made him an excellent helpmate. To 
this union these children have been 
Ijorn, Henrietta, Eugene and LMiilii), 
and one who died in infanc\ . 

Mr. Saleski was iov many years a 
member of the Knights of Columbus, 
and a past grand knight of that or- 
ganization, and also of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen and St. 
Boniface society and others, but re- 
tired from them all in order to devote 
his time to his business and 
home. He is a Republican in politics 
and a member of the building commit- 
tee of St. Mary's Roman Catholic 
church. He is also a man who has 
never meddled with politics and is 
deeply devoted to his business, his 
family and his home. He resides in 
his own house on Liberty, street. 



C. A. GRAEBER. 



Rev. Charles Augustus Graeber, 
born in St. Louis, Mo., June 2/, 18.41, 
son of Carl August Graeber and Car- 
olina Reissner, entered the pariK-hial 
school of the Trinity Lutheran 
church when five years of age, then 
the Concordia College of the Synod 
of Missouri. Ohio and other states 
.\pril 4, 1853. On account of ill 
health he took u]) the ])raetical side 
of the ajxithecary's trade with Dr. 



48o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Tschirpe. In 1858 he re-entered the 
college and graduated in April, 1861. 
He clerked with Druggist Buenger 
for six months and then entered the 
theological seminary of Concordia in 
St. Louis. He graduated on March 
II, 1864, was ordained March 20, and 
accepted the missionary board's call 
to go to southeast Missouri, locating 
at Pilotknob, Iron Co.. Mo., preach- 




DR. CHARLES A. GRAEBER. 

ing and teaching there and at Farm- 
ington, Sainte Genevieve, Mine La- 
motte, and other places. His voice 
failing, he accepted a call to Rock- 
ville, Tolland Co., Conn., being in- 
stalled there December 16, 1866, sup- 
plying also at Broad Brook. August 
I, 1869, he accepted a call to the St. 
lohn's Lutheran church of Meriden 



and was installed August 22 by the 
Rev. F. W. Fochlinger, of New York 
city. He supplied Southington's St. 
Matthew society and New Britain 
mission, starting also a mission at 
New Haven, Conn. He accepted a 
call to the Wartburg Home and Luth- 
eran hospital in East New York in 
April, 1886. He resigned in April, 
1888, and returned to Meriden, devot- 
ing himself to the practice of medi- 
cine. 

He was married Aug. 7, 1864, to 
Miss Christina Elizabeth Haeppler, of 
St. Louis, Mo. This union was 
blessed with six sons and five daugh- 
ters. His wife dying in January, 
1902, he married July 4, 1904, Mrs. 
Crescentia Wilhelm, of Durham,. 
Conn. He has several children in 
Meriden now grown to maturity. 



ALBERT A. MAY. 



Albert A. May is one of Meriden's 
leading business men and has been a 
resident of this city for the past ten 
years. He was born in Northfield, 
Vt., on March 17, 1844, and was the 
eldest son of Hustin and Nufflet (Du- 
pheney) May. He sp6jit his early 
years and was educated in the town 
of Ludlow, Vt., graduating from the 
Black River academy in i860. 

Always intensely patriotic, he re- 
sponded to the first call for troops at 
the outbreak of the Civil War. enlist- 
ing as a private April 20, 1861, as a 
member of Co. I, Second Vcnnont 
Vol. Infantry. He saw much active 
service, participating in twenty-seven 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



481 



battles. He was wounded six times, 
and suffers to this day from the ef- 
fects of a badly shattered leg received 
in the Battle of. the Wilderness, May 
4. 1864. He was honorably dis- 
charged July 15, 1865, ranking as 
second lieutenant. 

After the close of the war and his 
recovery, to some extent, from his 
injuries, he established himself in bus- 




Phnto by Akers & Pigeon. 

ALBERT A. MAY. 

iness in Massachusetts, where he re- 
sided until the spring of 1896, when 
he came to Meriden and founded the 
I'equod Business College, which is to- 
, day one of the valued educational in- 
I stitutions of the city. For several 
\ears he has been engaged in the un- 
dertaking business in which he has 
met with marked success. 
31 



Mr. Ma\- is a past post commander 
of Merriam Post, G. A. R., and a past 
master in the Masonic fraternity. He 
has also been at the head of many 
other patriotic, fraternal and social 
organizations. In June, 1905, he was 
chosen department commander of the 
G. A. R. of the state of Connecticut, 
and served his term in that office most 
acceptably to the comrades in the 
state. He is also an earnest church 
and SundaA' school worker. 



HUBERT LITTLE. 



One of the best known merchants 
in Meriden is Hubert Little, a mem- 
ber of the corporation of The Little, 
Somers & Hyatt., and for over 
thirty years has been a valued 
resident of the town. He comes of 
distinguished ancestry on both sides, 
and is of the eighth generation in de- 
scent from Thomas Little, who came 
to Plymouth, Mass., from Devonshire, 
England, in 1630, and. in 1633 
married Ann Warren, daughter of 
Richard Warren, who came over in 
the Mayflower, and was followed in 
1623 by his wife and five children, 
who crossed the Atlantic in the good 
ship "Fortune." He is also descend- 
ed, through the line of Warrens, 
from one of the oldest families in 
England, and his descent may be 
traced directly to William de Warren. 
Earl of Xormandy. who died in 1088, 
and married ( hmdred. youngest 
daughter of William the Conqueror. 

Hubert Little is the son of William 
r.uckingham and Harriet N. (Palmer) 



482 



A CEXTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Little, and was born at Columbia, 
Conn., November 14, 1843, where his 
father was also born and was one of 
the more prominent men of that town. 
Hubert Little was brought up on his 
father's farm, and after attending the 
district school, finished his education 
at the Willimantic High school. He 
afterwards assisted in the work on the 
home farm. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

HUBERT LITTLE. 

He came to Meriden to learn the 
trade of a painter under his cousin, 
Charles L. Little, but finally formed a 
partnership with his brother, Elbert 
C. Little, and buying out his cousin, 
established himself in the paint, wall- 
paper and interior decorating busi- 
ness, under the firm style of H. Little 
& Co. After several rears of success- 



ful business, John E. Somers bought 
out the interest of the junior partner. 
The firm of which he has always been 
a member became Little, Somers & 
Hyatt in 1886, when Isaac B. Hyatt, 
the present chief of the Meriden Fire 
Department, bought an interest in 
the business, and which in 1904 be- 
came incorporated with a capital of 
$20,000. The concern of which Mr. 
Little is the head, is now one of the 
leading business houses of Meriden, 
and he is known as one of the most 
reliable in local circles. 

He has for many years resided in 
one of the most comely residences in 
that part of the town known as Wash- 
ington Heights. Mr. Little is a 
member of several fraternal organi- 
zations, including Pacific Lodge, I. 
O. O. F., and Pilgrims" Harbor Coun- 
cil, Royal Arcanum. 

He is a Republican in politics, but 
has never aspired to public office. 

He was married November 14, 187L 
to Alice L., daughter of Egbert 
Brown, of Columbia, Conn. ; she died 
May 20, 1877, and to her three chil- 
dren were born : Elora L., November 
18, 1872, died January 14, 1875 ; Clay- 
ton E., born December 19, 1874, died 
March 27, 1875 ; and Clinton E., born 
May 8, 1877, a successful traveling; 
salesman. Mr. Little has been again 
married to Martha L., daughter of 
William Williams, of Westfield, Conn., 
and they had these children : Edna M.. 
born January 28, 1879, died April 9. 
1883 ; Thomas Saxton, born Novem- 
ber 27, 1882, died May 12, 1883 ; Har- 
old Saxton, born July 7, 1884, and 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



483 



Burton Elbert, born May 4, i8yo, died 
October 31, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Lit- 
tle are botli influential members of 
the Trinity M. E. church in Meriden. 



JULIUS HO BART YALE. 



Julius Hobart Yale, a prominent 
agriculturist of Meriden. who resides 
in the house built by his ancestor, 
Xoah Yale, in 1761, was born in the 
house next to his present residence, 
July 3. 1863. He is a son of Julius 
Wilcox and Mary (Cooley) Yale and 
a descendant in the fifth generation 
from Noah Yale. ;' ' 

He was educated in A the public 
schools and since then he has con- 
ducted his present well cultivated 
farm of 115 acres which has been in 
the possession of his family for so 
many generations. 

His residence, although one of the 
oldest houses in Meriden, has been 
fitted by him with all modern im- 
provements. The water is supplied 
from an artesian well built in 1905 
and operated by a windmill. The sit- 
uation of his residence is most pic- 
turesque and delightful views are fur- 
nished from the windows. His fruit 
cellar, for he raises a large amount, is 
kept well ventilated by a system of his 
own invention which keeps his apple 
and vegetable bins at the proper tem- 
perature. His barns contain all mod- 
ern farming implements and the farm 
shows the result of careful cultivation. 
He is the possessor of a large herd of 
cattle and is also a dairyman of note. 

Mr. Yale has contributed much to 



the press and was for three years a 
correspondent for the Connecticut 
Farmer and a like term for the New 
England Homestead. He has also 
taken a prominent part in the town 
meetings of Meriden, and is known as 
a good speaker, well versed in the 
topics of the day. 

Since 1885 he has been actively 
connected with the Grange and in that 




JULIUS HOr.AKT VAI.E. 

vear was one of a committee of five 
to secure the charter members for the 
organization of the Meriden Grange, 
in which he has served as chorister for 
eleven years and two years each as lec- 
turer, overseer and master. He has 
for many years also been a memlier of 
the Center Congregational church, 
which soeiety he has served in various 
capacities. 



484 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 



He was married February 7, 1889, 
to Emma Louise Norton, of Guilford, 
Connecticut, a daughter of Geo. B. 
and Maria (Chalker) Norton, who 
before her marriage was for nine 
years a teacher in the schools of Guil- 
ford. Five children have been born 
to this marriage, three of whom are 
now living. 



SERENO D. SAIlTH. 



The subject of this sketch was born 
in Cheshire in the Cheshire Street 
district, receiving his education there 
and at the Lewis Academy, South- 
ington. He engaged with his father. 
Loyal Smith, in the carpenter and 
joiner business until 1858, when, up- 
on advice of Horace Greeley to voung 
men to "go west," he went to Illinois 
and with a partner engaged in house 
building near the city of Ottawa. 
There he heard one of the great de- 
bates between Stephen A. Douglas 
and Abraham Lincoln. After his re- 
turn he was employed by Deacon Ly- 
man Clark at whose sash and blind 
factory he made blinds by contract. 
This factory, located where the Ar- 
mour building now stands on South 
Colony street, was burned in the 
spring of 1865. That year he formed 
a partnership with C. L. Little in 
the manufacture of sash doors, and 
blinds, which was continued for about 
a year, when they sold out to Fin- 
ney & Clark. In 1876 Mr. Smith 
opened a store at 167 State street, for 
the sale of windows, doors, blinds, 



paints, oils, etc., which he continued 
until April, 1901, with fairly good 
success, disposing of his stock at that 
time to the Meriden Lumber Co., and 
since which he- has not been engaged 
in active business. 

Although not a member of any 
church organization he has for many 
years taken quite an interest in the 
Main Street Baptist church, con- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

SERENO D. SMITH. 

tributing according to his means to 
the construction of the edifice and its 
maintenance. 

On January i, 1863, he was 
married to Fannie E.. daughter 
of the late J. C. Beach, of South Col- 
ony street. She died in November 
the same year ; and in November, 
1866, he was again married to Ann:i 



1!I()(;R.\1'HII£S. 



485 



M. llanly. who died March 12, 1905. 
In poHtics ^iv. Smith may be 
classed as an independent, beheving 
it his duty to support the best man 
for office without regard to party. 
He voted for (irover Cleveland three 
different times; in 1896 and 1900 as 
a gold Democrat supported William 
McKinley. Mr. Smith, at this writ- 
ing, is a great admirer of Theodore 
Roosevelt. He now lives in retire- 
ment at his home, i Olive street, Mer- 
iden. 



pEORGE M. CLARK. 



George M. Clark, president of the 
Meriden X^ational Bank and since 
1865 an active resident of Meriden. 
was born at Willimantic, Conn., Oc- 
tober 5, 1844. His ancestors include 
men of standing and influence in the 
early history of this country and he is 
descended from Lieut. William Clark. 
one of the first settlers of Dorchester, 
Mass., and who came to this country 
from England in 1636, but in 1639. 
removed to Northampton , Mass. 
He served as a soldier in the King 
I Philip's WsLV and for fourteen years 
was a representative from Northamp- 
ton in the general court. George M. 
Clark's forefathers afterwards became 
prominent in Connecticut, and as far 
back as 1784. Jonatlian Clark, son of 
David, was born in Tolland where he 
grew to manhood and became a land 
owner and a jjrosjjcrous farmer. 
Silas Fuller Clark, son of Jonathan 
and the father Df the subject of this 
sketch, was also a native of Tolland. 



but spent the last five years of his life 
in Meriden, where he died in August, 
1900, and was buried in the Willi- 
mantic cemetery. He married at Wil- 
limantic, Elizabeth L. Woodworth, a 
daughter of Asa Woodworth, of Heb- 
ron, Conn. 

George AL Clark was the only child 
of his parents to grow to manhood, 
his twin brother having died in child- 
hood. Ele was educated in the public 
schools and also private schools of 
Willimantic where he prepared for col- 
lege, buf his close application to stud- 
ies caused his health to break dow^n 
and he had to give up the college life 
which. he had looked forward to with 
much .pleasure and ambition. 

He, therefore, began his business 
life at the age of sixteen, as a clerk 
in the Willimantic post office, but a 
year later entered the bank at Wind- 
ham, as teller, ever since which time 
he has been continuously associated 
with the banking business. In 1865 
he was invited by the late O. B. Ar- 
nold, then its cashier, to enter the Aler- 
iden National Bank and become its 
teller, which position he filled with 
faithful attention to his duties until 
1 89 1, when he was elected cashier. 
This office he held until the death of 
Mr. Levi E. Coe, president, when he 
was chosen president and since that 
date has been at the head of the insti- 
tution. Mr. Clark, from his long con- 
nection with banking, is properly re- 
garded as one whose conservative 
ideas and sound judgment have al- 
ways held the confidence of his di- 
rectors and the public in general. 



486 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



4S7 



Since becoming" a resident of Meri- 
■len. he has entered heart and soul in- 
II all matters where the welfare and 
^iH)d name of the town were at stake 
and is particularly active in church 
circles. He has for many years been 
a i)r(>minent member and one of the 
trustees of the First Methodist church 
of Meriden, in the afifairs of which he 
has been a valued participant. 

He was married in Alansfield to 
Lovisa Maria, daughter of Perry and 
Lois (Fenton) Holly, and two chil- 
dren have been born to them as fol- 
lows : George S. Clark, teller of the 
Meriden National Bank, who married 
Carrie Capen, of Norwich, Conn., and 
who have one child, Rolland B. Clark ; 
and Elizabeth Louise, assistant libra- 
rian at the Curtis Memorial Library, 
of Meriden. 



GEO. \'AN NOSTRAND. 



Ex-chief of Police of the City of 
Meriden, Geo. \ an Nostrand. un- 
der whom the department has been 
brought to a high state of eflficiency, 
was born in New York City, March 
25. 1 84 1. He comes from an old 
Knickerbocker family and his fore- 
fathers were among the Holland 
Dutch settlers of Manhattan Island. 
who were afterwards Quakers. Fie is 
a son of Ansell and Mary Van Nos- 
trand. of New York City, and his 
grandparents were George and Fanny 
\ an Nostrand. who resided at Far- 
mingdale. Long Island. He is also a 
nephew of Walt. Wliilman. His bov- 



hood days were s]jent largel\' with his 
grandparents and while he attended 
school in New York City, the great- 
er part of his education was obtained 
at Farmingdale. 

Li 1857 he started to learn the trade 
of a ship carpenter, but soon after be- 
came employed as brakeman on the 
Long Island railroad. He was pro- 




CKOROI-: \AX XO.STKAXI). | 

moted to baggage master and later be- 
came a conductor on a freight train 
on the New Jersey Central railroad, 
which controlled tlie Long Island 
railroad. Afterwards he secured a 
more lucratixe and resjjonsible posi- 
tion and became express messenger for 
Ho])e's Express Co.. his service being 
on the trains between New York and 
ReadiuL''. Pa. 



488 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



He came to Meriden in the fall of 
1867 and was for a short time em- 
ployed in the Britannia shop. When 
the Meriden Police Department was 
organized he was the first man ap- 
pointed a patrolman and for several 
years was No. i of the department of 
which he is now chief. During his 
long service he has been promoted ser- 
geant, captain, and April 30, 1898, was 
appointed chief, succeeding Roger M. 
Ford in that office. Chief Van Nos- 
trand is known as one of the most 
capable and trustworthy officers in the 
state ; and to his ideas of discipline and 
ripe experience in the business, has 
the police department of Meriden been 
brought to its present high standard 
of excellence. He has also become 
highly esteemed as a resident of the 
town and has shown an interest in 
everything that pertains to its wel- 
fare. 

He resides on Windsor avenue 
where in 1891 he built one of the 
comely residences of Meriden. In 
fraternal life, Mr. Van Nostrand is a 
Knight Templar Mason, being a mem- 
ber of Meridian Lodge, '^y, and St. 
Elmo Commandery, 9, of Meriden, but 
is affiliated with no other organiza- 
tions. 

During the Centennial celebration 
Chief Van Nostrand served as a mem- 
ber of the committee on public 
safety. 

In 1866 he was married to Sarah 
Kellam, of Glastonbury, Conn., a lady 
of gentle manners, but with a keen 
sense of business methods. They 
have no children. 



AUGUST SCHMELZER. 



August Schmelzer, a leading Ger- 
man resident, manufacturer, merchant 
and president and treasurer of the Au- 
gust Schmelzer Co., was born in Wer- 
dau, Saxony, Germany, in 1841, and 
came to this country in 1870. In 1873 
he began business in this city, opening 
a stationery store at the corner of 
Pratt and East Alain streets. In 1884 
he purchased the trucking business of 
James H. Chapman, which he has con- 
tinued ever since with growing suc- 
cess. 

He went into the coal and wood bus- 
iness in 1889 when he purchased the 
business and property of George C. 
Beadle, which he afterwards enlarged 
materially ; and in 1893 purchased the 
land on South Colony and Cooper 
streets where he had constructed for 
him coal pockets adjoining the tracks 
of the Consolidated railroad of 2,000 
tons capacity and where 350 tons can 
be unloaded daily. At the coal yards 
is all modern machinery for cutting 
and splitting wood; and in the con- 
ducting of his coal business as well as 
other enterprises he has been assisted 
by his son, Edgar E., now secretary 
and treasurer. In 1895 he removed 
his stationery and periodical store to 
Morse & Cook's block where he added 
cigars and tobacco ; and in 1896 began 
the manufacture of cigars which he 
now conducts on a large scale, his fac- 
tory adjoining the coal pockets. 

Mr. Schmelzer was one of the pion- 
eers of the German-American school 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



489 




^^^^isW^^^'^^fr^^. 



ff 



490 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



association, and since its organization, 
he has been one of the prominent mem- 
bers of the school board. He is also 
a member of Teutonia lodge, I. O. O. 
F., Meriden lodge, D. O. H., Aleriden 
Turn \'erein. Cosmopolitan clnb and 
the Meriden Saengerbund. And not 
alone as a prosperous and an energetic 
business man is Mr. Schmelzer well 
known to the public, for, with his man- 
ifold responsibilities, he has found 
time to devote eight years in the faith- 
ful service of the city government, six 
years of which he was a member of 
the common council. On committee 
work and in the council his honesty of 
purpose was never questioned ; for it 
was always his aim to exercise the 
same business care with the city's in- 
terests that he did in conducting his 
own private afifairs. 

He serves on the committee of re- 
ception and entertainment of the com- 
ing Centennial celebration. 



JAMES F. GILL. 



James Frederick Gill, who since 
1872 has been associated with the mu- 
sic store on West Main street, Meri- 
den, is one of the best known resi- 
dents of the town, and a business man 
of high standing in local circles. He 
is a son of George Gill, of Meriden, 
who for many years was a con- 
tractor at the works of the Meriden 
Cutlery Company. His mother was 
Emma Mitton, and his parents, of 
English birth, settled in Meriden, his 
father in 1858, and his mother in i860. 



The latter brought with her the 
subject of this sketch, who has since 
lived here continuously and grown up 
with the town. He was educated at 
the Hanover district school, and as a 
youth showed a talent for music, 
which was duly encouraged by his pa- 
rents. He took lessons from the late 
T. T. Mansfield, who was at that time 
organist of the old Corner church, 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

JAMES F. GILL. 

then located where the Meriden Opera 
house now stands, and afterwards be- 
came his assistant. Mr. Mansfield 
was also proprietor of the music store 
where Mr. Gill was first employed and 
to whose business and good will he 
finally succeeded and which he has 
maintained successfully since 1881. 
Mr. Gill became a music teacher un- 



RIOGRAPHIES. 



491 



(ler the in>tructioii of Air. Mansfield 
ami in years gone by has also taken 
part in numberless concerts and musi- 
cales. showing a deep interest in all 
musical matters. His music store 
contains a large stock of pianos and 
other musical instruments, sheet mu- 
sic, and musical merchandise of every 
description ; and having been estab- 
lished for so many years has become 
a most natural rendezvous for people 
musically inclined. ]\lr. Gill enjoys 
the confidence of his fellow townsmen 
in the fullest degree. 

He is the present secretary, and was 
for several years treasurer, of the Sec- 
ond Building & Loan Association of 
Meriden. the meetings of which or- 
ganization are held in his store. He 
is also a well known member of the 
different Masonic bodies, including 
Meridian Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; Key- 
stone Chapter ; Hamilton Council, 
and St. Elmo Commandery, Knights 
Templar. Mr. Gill, with his family, 
is a Communicant of All Saints' Epis- 
coi)al church. 

He was married January 11, 1882. 
to Mary E.. daughter of Mrs. Luc\' 
F. Hitchcock, of New Haven, and 
they reside at 195 Cook avenue, with 
their children, as follows: Emma A., 
Mora F. and Margaret M. Gill. 



A. H. GARDNER. 



Arthur Hugh (Gardner, senior mem- 

Ibcr of the insurance and real estate 

firm of A. H. & T. T. Gardner, was 

born August 3, 1853, in Charlotte, 



Washington count}', Maine. He 
comes from early colonial ancestry. 
His great-great-grandfather, Stephen 
Gardner, was born in Hingham, 
Mass., in 1727, and his son, War- 
ren (Jardncr, removed to I'embroke, 
Me., where the family have remained 
through several generations and con- 
tinued in agricultural pursuits. Isaac J. 
Gardner, father of Arthur Hugh and 
Irving I. Gardner, was also a well- 
to-do farmer. His wife was Annie 
L., daughter of Hugh Potter. He 
was also a farmer of Pembroke, and 
was born in Scotland. 

A. H. Gardner was one of a family 
of nine children, eight of whom are 
now living and from the fact that 
the 'Soil at the ])lace of their birth is 
not sufficiently fertile for successful 
farming, four of the five boys are now 
in Meriden or vicinit}'. 

A. H. Gardner came to Meriden at 
the age of nineteen and first secured 
employment in the greenhouses on 
the farm of the late Randolph 
Linsley, through which now extends 
Linsley avenue, where in later years 
Mr. Gardner built a comfortable res- 
idence for himself. Air. Gardner af- 
terwards worked two years in the 
market of S. C. Paddock and later in 
the store of Augur & Gardner where 
he continued as a clerk for a number 
of years luUil he 0])ened a first class 
restaurant in the then new Pacific 
lodge building on State street and 
i-ontinued until he engaged in the in- 
surance business, afterwards taking in 
as a ])artner his brother. Irving L 
( iardner. 



492 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Mr. Gardner is a prominent mem- 
ber of the Main street Baptist church 
and has taken a deep interest in 
all its affairs, having filled the offices 
of deacon, trustee, collector, usher 
and superintendent of the Sunday 
school. He has also served as a di- 
rector of the Meriden Y. M. C. A., 
is a member of Center lodge, A. F. 
& A. M. and the Roval Arcanum. He 



I. I. GARDNER. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

A. H. GARDNER. 

is known as one of the influential and 
public spirited men of Meriden. 

He was married in 1879 to Julia 
Pearce, daughter of Captain Marion 
Small, of Eastport, Me., and they 
have one child. Mr. Gardner re- 
sides on West Main street, and 
with his brother also occupies their 
summer home at Westfield. 



Irving Isaac Gardner, who since 
1 89 1 has been a member of the rea 
estate and insurance firm of A. H. & 
I. I. Gardner was born in Charlotte. 
Washington county. Me., August 3. 
i860. His early progenitors are re- 
corded in the sketch of his brother, A. 
H. Gardner, immediately preceding. 
He attended the district school of his 
native town winters, until he was sev- 
enteen years old, following the pur- 
suits of his father summers. 

His parents were upright, Christian 
people and like his brothers he was. 
reared in the paths of rectitude. He 
attended the Eastport High school for 
one term and concluded his education 
at the high school of Pembroke, Me. 
After teaching in the country schools 
of Charlotte and Pembroke, he came 
to Connecticut in 1880. He worked 
at first for a season on a farm in Ken- 
sington where his employer after- 
wards engaged him to teach the 
"Ledge School" in winter. 

He afterwards went west, stopping 
at Chicago for emploAment but con- 
tinued to Stillwater, Minn., where he 
taught school another winter, the fol- 
lowing spring going further west to 
Montana, stopping at North Dakota 
to take up a government homestead. 
He returned, however, to Stillwater 
and again taught school there: and 
the next spring returned to North Da- 
kota to complete his legal "home- 
stead" residence. Finally returning to 
Meriden, he has ever since resided 
here with the exception of four years 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



493 



when lie was bookkeeper at the Mal- 
leable Iron Works in New Britain. 

Since he became associated with his 
"brother in the insurance business, the 
firm has become extensively engaged 
in real estate and their business has, 
from a small beginning, increased to 
large proportions through their activ- 
ity, knowledge of property values and 
Cf^nscientious business methods. Mr. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

I. I. G.VRDNER. 

iardner is secretary of the Pacific 
eal Estate Company and, like his 
)rother. is a man of strong personal 
haracter and executive ability. 
He has been a member of the O. 
A. M. Pilgrims' Harbor council, 
^oyal Arcanum, and is also an Odd 
^>llow. He is a first trustee of the 
Jain street Baptist church, where 



he is, at the present writing, the su- 
perintendent of the Sunday school. 
He served for many _\ears as a trus- 
tee and director of the Y. M. C. A. 
and w'as vice president of that insti- 
tution during the process of recon- 
struction through which the .\leriden 
association passed. 

He was married in 1886 to Inez B. 
Upson, of Kensington, who died 
March, 1904, of pneumonia. Eight 
children were born to them, six of 
whom are now living. The life work 
of the Gardner Brothers has been 
with their large family, l)oth con- 
sidering it a higher duty and 
a greater pleasure to devote their time 
to its interests, to their home and the 
church than to the man}- calls of lodge,, 
political or social life. 



CHARLES S. PALMIER. 



Charles Scranton Palmer, architect 
of Meriden, is the son of Ralph A. 
and Sarah A. Palmer, who in 1903 re- 
moved to Braidentown. Morida, where 
for twenty-five years they have owned 
a productive orange grove. Their 
son, a young man, has achieved well 
deserved success in his chosen life 
work, his reputation having been 
well established when he opened an of- 
fice in the G. A. R. building, .Meriden, 
in the spring of 1905. ?Ie first became 
associated with a leading architect 
and builder and acciuired his knowl- 
edge of his profession by a fortunate 
experience in practical building con- 
struction. This, coupled with an in- 
born talent and possession of modern 



494 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ideas and good taste, has enabled him 
to plan several pleasing and practical 
buildings and residences constructed 
recently. His success in planning 
and also in superintending the con- 
struction of manufacturing plants in 
various sections of New Englaand, 
and now especially the large fire de- 
partment building of which the city 
of Torrington is so justly proud, all 




CHARLES S. PALMER. 

are creditable to his efforts. Mr. Pal- 
mer makes a deep study of architec- 
ture and is especially efficient in plan- 
ning fireproof buildings of which he 
lias made a specialty. He has proven 
liimself an architect of modern and 
progressive ideas and his success has 
been due to his ability to plan and 
^superintend the construction of build- 



ings in keeping with the age whicl 
marks the close of the first cen 
tury of Aleriden's incorporation as i 
town. One of his notable achieve- 
ments is the new $75,000 school build 
ing in process of construction on Wesi 
Main street, his plans being selectee 
in competition with those of oldei 
and more celebrated architects. Ht 
is a member of the Home Club, Meri-| 
dian Lodge, yy, A. F. & A. M. ; Key-i 
stone Chapter, R. A. M., and St. Elmc, 
Commandery, K. T. ; Pyramid Tern-: 
pie. Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport: 
Mr. Palmer stands high in his profes: 
sion and has shown an active interes' 
in the advancement of his native town ' 
He was married October 18, 19051' 
to IMaude Elizabeth Hendey, of Tor-| 
rington. 



WM. W. ^lOSHER. : 

William Wooster Mosher, a lead- 
ing and valued citizen of Aleriden; 
and who for thirty-nine years, a.' 
proprietor, has been engaged in thf, 
drug business in the same location on' 
Colony street, was born in Canajo-: 
harie, N. Y., July 4, 1843. He is the: 
son of Benjamin Weaver Mosher.'^ 
born at Duanesburg, X. Y., April 13' 
18 16, who on December 31, 1835, mar-' 
ried Anna Maria Wooster. Theiri 
children comprised three girls and 
two boys. He is also descended from 
Rev. Hugh Alosher, who came to tliis^ 
country from England about 1632 and 
who until his death continued as a, 
preacher of the gospel in Massaclm- 
setts and Rhode Island. 



lUOCiKAl'lIlKS. 



495 



W . W. MosIkt Ccimc to Mcridcn in iS()^ as 
a ck-rk in ihc drng" store of 1. V>. Klock, Ijul 
two wars after became the proprietor of the 
present store, which he has carried on ever 
>ince with tliat measure of idtimate success 
wliich is but the resuk of an old estabhshed 
business conducted with due rej^ard for the 
intere>ts of a lt)\al patrona.ge. Shortl}- after 
he enj^aged in business for himself. Mr. Mosh- 
er associated his father with him. and who 
continued tlius until his death which occurred 
April 2y, 1896. after having been a partner of 
his son for twenty-nine years. The late ]'>. \\ . 
Mosher was an upright and highl\- respected 
business man. His father before him was a 
clergyman of the Methodist denomination and 
he became a consistent comnumicant of that 
faith. He was one of the original members 
of Trinity M. E. church, Meriden, and was 
one of its trustees. 

His son, W. W. Mosher. has been honored 
by election to man\ offices of honor and trust 
in Meriden, having served one year as coun- 
cilman ; four years as alderman ; treasurer of 
the town for seven years, and city treasurer 
for two }ears. He has for mam years been 
a prominent member and one of the vestry- 
men of St. Andrew's Episcopal church. In 
i8<>3 ui)on the death of George R. Curtis, he 
was elected treasurer of the Curtis Home of 
Meriden. which office he still holds, in addi- 
tion to being, at this writing, one of the agents 
of the I'Mwin K. Curtis fund. Mr. Mosher is 
a member of the Meriden i;u.siiie.-s Men"s As- 
sociation and IJoard of Tradi'. also of the Con- 
necticut IMiarmaceutical .Association and .Mer 
iden Druggists' .Association, lie is also a 
member of Meridian Lodge. A. I\ &• A. M.. 
an<l Keystone Chapter. R. A. M.. of Meriden 

In 1868 he was married tn Cxnlbia A.. 
<laughter of lames A. I'rarv and to 




1:. w. Mnsiii;i; 




W. W . MdSIIKU. 




W . 1;. MDSIIKU. 



496 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



them have been born one son, VVil- 
Ham Reid Alosher, born in Meriden 
August 20, 1869. 

W. R. Mosher was educated 
in the Meriden pubhc schools 
and after attending the High school 
three years, became associated with 
his father's business and since 1888 
has applied himself to the interests of 
the now large and thriving establish- 
ment. He is a member of the Con- 
necticut Pharmaceutical Association, 
Meriden Board of Trade, and has for 
some }-ears been treasurer of the Mer- 
iden Permanent Building and Loan 
Association. He was married Sep- 
tember 19, 1894, to Katherine Eu- 
genia, daughter of the late T. M. 
Smith, of Meriden. 



ARTHUR SHERMAN LANE. 



Arthur S. Lane, prominent in the 
public and social life of Meriden, and 
treasurer of several corporations, was 
born in Kent, Litchfield county, Con- 
necticut, October 27, 1864. He is the 
eldest son of John Sherman Lane, 
concerning whom much is stated else- 
where in this volume. Arthur S. 
Lane was educated at the private 
school of J. H. Hurlburt, Lime Rock, 
Conn., and since entering business life 
has shown a marked aptitude for the 
responsibilities he has been called up- 
on to assume. 

In March, 1880, he was appointed 
agent of the Housatonic railroad at 
West Stockbridge, Mass., the follow- 
ing month being transferred to Ca- 
naan, Conn., a station on the same line 



and still later in the same year to 
Bridgeport. In March, 1881, he en- 
tered the employ of the N. Y., N. H. 
& H. R. R., where for a period of ten 
years he served that company efficient- 
ly as freight cashier at its Harlem 
River terminal at New York City. This 
position he resigned in March, 1891, 
to enter into partnership with his 
father who had, a short time before, 
established the stone crushing and 
road building business. 

The business of John S. Lane & 
Son has developed into a large 
and profitable industry and other 
quarries than the one in Meriden, 
have been opened and are operated by 
the following corporations, of which 
Mr. Lane is the treasurer: John S. 
Lane & Son, Inc. ; Conn. Trap Rock 
Quarries, Inc. ; Lane Quarry Company 
and The Lane Construction Company, 
the operations of which are chron- 
icled in another part of this volume. 

He is also one of the directors of 
the Meriden Savings bank. Since 
becoming a resident of Meriden, he 
has taken a prominent part in public 
atTairs. He was elected and served 
as a member of the board of alder- 
men from the First ward, in 1896-7, 
and during his services in the city 
government, was chairman of the 
committees on parks and streets. In 
1897 he was nominated by the Repub- 
lican party, of which he is one of the 
local leaders for mayor of Meriden, 
but was defeated in the Democratic 
"landslide" of that year. 

He is a member of the First Con- 
o-reeational church of Meriden and 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



497 



has served as a member of its several 
official boards. He was the first char- 
ter member of Alfred H. Hall Coun- 
cil, Royal Arcanum, and is a member 
of the Home Club of Meriden. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

ARTHUR S. LANE. 

He was married in New York City 
]\Iay 15, 1884, to Carrie Eva Shove, 
daughter of Oliver Prince Shove of 
that city. Children of the marriage 
are: Gertrude Emma and Grace 
Louise, twin daughters, born March 
13, 1889, and Samuel Virgin, born No- 
vember 6, 1897. 



E. T. SILLS. 



Elias Taylor Sills, a leading mer- 
chant of Meriden, engaged in business 
as a bookseller and stationer, was born 

3-' 



in Nottingham, England, July 16, 
1855. His early education was ob- 
tained in his native town, but when he 
was twelve years of age, the family 
removed to Sheffield; and there he 
concluded his education by an attend- 
ance at the People's Business College, 
from which he graduated at the age 
of sixteen. After acquiring a thor- 
ough and practical business expe- 
rience in mercantile life in England, 
he came to this country and direct to 
Meriden in 1880, three years later en- 
gaging in business, but on a nmch 







1 




^kg^tk 


r 




' iH 


L 




^i 


11^^^ 




41 


^^^H 




il^i/M 


^^H 


. '4 . 


^* Jfci Va^H ^1 


B 



KLIAS T. .SILLS. 

smaller scale, than at the ])rcscnt day. 
Previous to securing his ])resent lo- 
cation in Palace block, he had con- 
ducted business at two other locations 
near his present store, however. He 



498 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



first started on Colony street, where he 
estabHshed himself thoroughly by his 
painstaking attention to his trade and 
his thorough knowledge of the wants 
of a discriminating public. He later 
removed to West Main street, above 
his present location but in December, 
1901, purchased the business of the 
former occupant and removed his 
stock thereto. His store, which is 97 
feet deep and 40 feet in width, con- 
tains one of the largest and most com- 
plete stocks of books and stationery 
in Connecticut ; and the basement, 
filled with toys, resembles, in the hol- 
iday seasons, a perpetual fair. The 
success of Air. Sills as a merchant, 
while somewhat remarkable, is no less 
deserved ; for he has always held the 
well merited confidence of a large and 
constantly increasing patronage. 

He is a member of the Home Club ; 
Alfred H. Hall Council, Royal Arca- 
num ; jMeriden Board of Trade : Aler- 
iden Business IMen's Association, and 
is one of the directors of the Second 
Building and Loan Association of 
Meriden. 

He was marrietl June 6, 1895, to 
Winogene, daughter of Mrs. Laura L. 
Payne, of East Haddam, and resides 
in his own home on Wilcox avenue, 
which he had built in 1895. 



WILLL\.AI M. QUESTED. 



William M. (Juested, cashier of the 
]\Ieriden National Bank and one of 
the board of fire commissioners of 
Meriden, received his education in the 
public schools of Meriden and Albany, 



N. Y., finishing his studies at the Jen- 
nings' Seminary for Boys at Aurora, 
111., and began business life as a clerk 
in the shipping room of the Wilcox 
Silver Plate Co., but shortly after- 
wards secured a position as clerk in 
the Meriden National Bank where he 
has ever since remained. By careful 
attention to his duties he received well 
deserved promotions, and after work- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

WILLIAM M. QUESTED. 

ing Up through the positions of book- 
keeper and teller, was elected cashier 
of the bank in Januar}-. 1905. 

While Air. Quested has for many 
\ears been an active resident of Mer- 
iden, he has never sought nor accepted 
public office, excepting that which he 
now holds as one of the fire commis- 
sioners of Meriden. To fill out the 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



499 



unexpired term of Fred M. Hotchkiss, 
he was first appointed in iyo2, l)ut in 
1903 he was reappointed for a full 
term of four years, in which capacity 
he now serves. Mr. Quested is a thir- 
ty-second degree member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, being a member of the 
following branches of the order in this 
city and elsewhere : Meriden Center 
Lodge. A. V. & A. M. ; Keystone 
Chajiter. R. A. .M. ; Hamilton Council, 
R. & S. M. ; St Elmo Commandery, K. 
T. : a member of the Scottish Rite 
bodies of both X'ew Haven and 
Bridgeport ; also of PVramid Temple, 
Mystic Shrine. He is prominent in 
Odd Fellowship, being a past grand of 
Center Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; a past 
grand of ( )asis Encampment. He was 
formerly a member of the Patriarchs 
Militant, is now a member of the 
Meriden Wheel Club, Meriden Ritle 
Club, Citizens' Rifle Club. [Meriden 
Business Men's Association, and since 
1885 has been one of the directors of 
the y. 'SI. C. A., of w'hich he has also 
been treasurer since 1903. He has for 
a number of years been associated 
with the Center Congregational 
church, and during i(S(;3-4-5 served a 
cerm as one of its deacons, being also 
prominent in the offices of the Bible 
school of that church since 1880. 



F. L. MURDOCK. 



Frederick L. Murdock. a leading 
l)ractitioner of the dental profession. 
and whose handsomely furnished of- 
fices have for some years been located 
in the Wilcox building, is one of the 



better known professional men of 
Meriden. He is of English birth, but 
came to America when a boy and re- 
ceived the greater part of his educa- 
tion here. 

After graduating at the High 
school, he took a course in arts and, 
upon receiving the degree of B. A., 
he returned to I^ngland and took a five 
years' course in dentistry at London, 
under the famous professor, B. B, 




KKKDl'.KU K 



M ri^noCK'. 



W^olscott. .M. n.. L. I). S. He re- 
ceived his admission tn practice, there- 
fore, in ICngland. but afterwards went 
to Montreal. Canada, and took a post- 
graduate course of three years under 
tlie instruction of J. W. P.e<lf<ird. L. D. 
S.. T). 1). S.. a celebrated s])ecialist in 
crown and liridue work. I'rom his 



500 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



long college course and diligent study, 
he was well fitted for the practice of 
his profession, when he located in 
Syracuse, X. Y., and first began prac- 
tice. At Syracuse he associated him- 
self with S. C. Dayan, M. D., D. D. S., 
a specialist in diseases of the mouth. 
It was in 189 1 that Dr. Murdock, 
who was thus especially well fitted by 
experience and knowledge of his pro- 
fession in all its branches, came to 
Meriden and began the practice which 
he has ever since continued. He has 
built up a large and lucrative practice, 
especially with those who comprise the 
leading families of this vicinity. That 
he understands his profession in as 
great a degree as any leading dentist 
of the state, is acknowledged by his 
patients and fellow practitioners, 
among all of whom he is both well 
known and popular. He is a member 
of the Connecticut State Dental Asso- 
ciation, and is also well known in Mer- 
iden social life, being at this writing, 
president of the Home Club, of which 
he was one of the members instru- 
mental in causing the present hand- 
some clubhouse to be constructed. Dr. 
Murdock is an enthusiastic sportsman 
and is an adept with the rod and gun. 
He also drives one of the fastest auto- 
mobiles in the state and is a member 
of the committee having in charge the 
automobile parade to be held during 
Centennial week in Meriden. 



LEW ALLEN 



ciated with newspaper making in 
Meriden. In age as well as in years 
of actual newspaper writing he is the 
oldest man in the profession in the 
city. Born in New York in 1852, he 
came to Meriden in 1870 and a few 
years thereafter began to report for 
Riggs' Daily Recorder and Gibbons' 
Weekly Citizen. He has been con- 
nected with newspapers ever since. 
He was employed in New Haven, 
though residing in Meriden, at the 
time The Meriden Daily Journal was 
started twenty years ago by Francis 
Atwater, Frank E. Sands, Thomas L. 
Reilly and Lew Allen. The Journal 
Publishing company was fonned and 
of this Mr. Allen is vice-president. 
He has been the active editor of The 
Journal from its first publication and 
to it has devoted all his time and en- 
ergy, engaging in no other enterprises 
or undertakins:s. 



F. E. SANDS. 



For more than thirty years the 
name of Lew Allen has been asso- 



Frank Elbert Sands, one of the 
most familiar figures in Meriden busi- 
ness and social life, is a son of Jesse 
and Mary Melvina (Turner) Sands, 
and was born July 17, 1863, in New 
Fairfield, Conn., which town was set- 
tled by his maternal great-great-grand- 
father and associates, on a grant from 
the general assembly. On his moth- 
er's side he is a direct descendant of 
John Wakeman, the first treasurer of 
New Haven colony and is eligible 
through his progenitors to the Sons 
of the American Revolution, and of 
which societv he is a member. His 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



501 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 



LEW ALLEN. 



502 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 



FRANK E. SANDS. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



503 



early days were spent in New Fair- 
fielil and Danbury where he attended 
school until fourteen years of age, 
when he removed to Xew Haven. 
There he ])repared for Yale Univers- 
ity under private tutors and entered 
in the fall of 1882, graduating with 
the class of '85 S. with the degree of 
Ph. L5. as civil engineer. While wait- 
ing for the commencement of work 
on a railroad line to which he was to 
become attached, he was for a time 
engaged in the wholesale produce bus- 
iness, but. that not being to his taste. 
he became connected in 1885 with the 
Xcw Haven Union. 

Early in 1886 he became interested 
in the formation of The Journal Pub- 
Hshing Company in Meriden and 
moved to this city. He was elected a 
director and treasurer of the company 
and has filled those positions ever 
since, his active duties being entirely 
devoted to that company in the posi- 
tions noted as well as business mana- 
ger of The ^Nleriden Daily Journal. 

.Mr. Sands is a member of the 
Home Clul) and was for a number of 
years chairman of its executive com- 
mittee and its president in 1897-8. He 
is also a director of the Home Club 
Realty corporation and was an active 
member of the committee that planned 
and l)uilt the present handsome club 
house. He was one of its founders 
and is a member of the board of gov- 
ernors of the Meriden (iolf Clul). He 
also belongs to the Colonial Clul). .\. 
H. Hall Council. R. A., the Loyal .Ad- 
dition, the Knights of Maccabees and 
Silver City Lodge. A. ( ). L'. W.. and 



is a director of the Meriden Business 
Men's Association. He is particular- 
ly well known in newspaper circles 
outside his own town and is secretary 
of the Associated Dailies of Connec- 
ticut. When the Aleriden Centennial 
was planned Mr. Sands was chosen as 
chairman of the committee on public- 
ity and souvenirs and it is largely to 
his efforts that the centennial cele- 
bration has been so widely and wisely 
advertised and successfully carried on. 
He w^as married April 26. 1888, to 
Alice Louise Brasee, daughter of 
Judge John Schofield Brasee and Anna 
(Dickinson) Brasee, of Lancaster, 
Ohio. They have one daughter, 
Anna Brasee Sands, born in 1889. A 
son. Trafford Turner B)rasec, died in 
infancv. 



CEPHAS B. ROGERS. 



Cephas Brainerd Rogers, one of 
Meriden's most successful business 
men and the senior of the once well- 
known firm of C. Rogers & B)ros.. was 
born in Saybrook, Conn.. December 
30, 1836. I lis ])arents, Hcrvey and 
Elizabeth (Tryon) Rogers, moved to 
Meriden to engage in the hotel l)usi- 
ness when their son, Cephas, was thir- 
teen years of age. 

His education was ])ursued in the 
schools of Meriden. Later he took a 
]M)sition as clerk in the ollice of the 
Meriden Luml)er cK: Coal Co. He 
again resumed his studies at the Mer- 
iden Academy where he fiinslied his 
schooling; but he has always addeil to 



504 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



his education by reading, travel and 
experience until he may be styled a 
self-educated man. 

Previous to the Civil War, Mr. 
Rogers engaged as a clerk in the New 
Haven House, which hostelry was the 
rendezvous of distinguished men of 
the state and nation in political, mili- 
tary and educational circles, and he 
became acquainted with many notable 
men. Among them was Abraham 
Lincoln, who came to Meriden es- 
corted by a committee of which Mr. 
Rogers was one, and delivered an elo- 
quent political speech. Mr. Rogers, 
who was always an ardent and loyal 
Republican, was so impressed with 
Mr. Lincoln that he went to Wash- 
ington when Mr. Lincoln became 
president and heard his first immor- 
tal inaugural address. Still later, Mr. 
Rogers took charge of the Wadawa- 
nock House, a summer hotel in Ston- 
ington. Conn., and soon after became 
manager of the St. Denis Hotel, in 
New York City. He was very suc- 
cessful in both enterprises. 

In February, 1866, the partnership 
of C. Rogers & Bros, was organized 
for the manufacture of silver plated 
goods. The firm consisted of the 
three brothers, Cephas B., as presi- 
dent ; Gilbert and Wilbur F. Rogers. 
Beginning in a small factory, the bus- 
iness advanced rapidly until the name 
of C. Rogers & Bros, on spoons, 
knives and forks, became known 
throughout the world for quality and 
beauty of design. The business of C. 
Rogers & Bros, was successfully car- 
ried on for nearlv fortv vears, when 



in 1903 it was sold to the Interna- 
tional Silver Company, the greatest 
silver-ware corporation in the world, 
and Cephas Rogers and his two 
brothers retired to private life. 

Mr. Rogers is also a public spirited 
man and has always been identified 
with local affairs in Meriden. He 
was a valued member of the city coun- 
cil for six years and is now a director 
of the First National Bank of ]\Ieri- 
den and a trustee of the City Savings 
Bank. In 1880 he made a trip to Eu- 
rope, combining business with pleas- 
ure while visiting their branch house 
in London. The last honorable po- 
sition which has been bestowed upon 
Mr. Rogers is a membership in the 
National Geographical Society at 
Washington, D. C. In religion, he is 
a most devoted Methodist and great- 
ly interested in the First Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of Meriden, to 
which he has always been a liberal 
contributor. He has been a member 
of the official board since 1866 and at 
the present time is the president of 
the board of trustees. In 1888 he was 
made president of the New York East 
Lay Electoral conference held in Mid- 
dletown. Conn. In 1900 he was a lay 
delegate from the New York East con- 
ference to the Alethodist Quadrennial 
general conference at Chicago. In 
1904 he was again delegate to the 
Methodist general conference at Los 
Angeles, Cal. Mr. Rogers has also 
been a trustee of Wesleyan Univers- 
ity, at Middletown, Conn., for twenty 
years. He was the first subscriber 
to the "Additional Endowment Fund" 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



505 




5o6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



of that university, heading the Hst 
with twenty-five thousand dollars. 

In 1870 he was married to Margaret 
Clark, daughter of Dr. Peter F. and 
Anna (Goodwin) Clark, of New 
York City. Mrs. Rogers is noted for 
her charming hospitality and is prom- 
inent in church and social life. She 
is a member of Susan Carrington 
Clarke Chapter, D. A. R,., is on the 
board of managers of the Meriden 
Hospital and also one of the board of 
managers of the Young Women's 
Christian Association. Their home is 
the Rogers homestead, located on 
North Colony street, and is one of re- 
finement and taste. 

Mr. Rogers has reason to be proud 
•of "both his maternal and paternal an- 
cestry. On the maternal side he is 
the ninth generation descended from 
John Alden and Priscilla Mullins of 
the Mayflower. On the paternal side 
he is a lineal descendant of John Rog- 
ers, who suffered martyrdom in the 
reign of Queen Mary in the year 
1555. James Rogers, the first of the 
family in America, descended from 
John Rogers, the martyr, who came 
to this country in 1635, made the 
voyage in the ship "Increase," from 
London, and settled in Stratford. 
Conn., where he married Elizabeth 
Rowland. In 1637 James Rogers was 
one of the six men from Saybrook, 
who, under Captain John Underbill, 
took part in the Pequot War. He af- 
terwards removed to New London, 
Conn., and became prosperous and in- 
fluential in the church and the colony ; 
was sent seven times as representa- 



tive to the General Court between 1662 
and 1673 and at one time be was 
speaker of the house. Ichabod Rog- 
ers, of New London, Conn., grand- 
father of Cephas, was a soldier in the 
war with England in 1812, and his 
great-grandfather, Ichabod Rogers, 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
\A''ar. 



GILBERT ROGERS. 



Gilbert Rogers, for many years a 
well known manufacturer and a most 
loyal and patriotic citizen of Meriden. 
was born in the historic town of Say- 
brook, in the old Tryon homestead oc- 
cupied for many generations by his an- 
cestors, July 4, 1838. He is directly 
descended from John Rogers, cler- 
gyman, one of the first martyrs under 
Queen Mary, born in England in 1505 
and burned at the stake, February 4, 
1555, for his denunciation of Roman- 
ism. James Rogers, his paternal an- 
cestor from whom he comes in the 
ninth generation, came to America in 
1635, and from James first and hi^ 
wife Elizabeth (Rowland) Rogers, hi> 
genealogy in synopsis is as follows: 
James ist, James 2nd, James 3r<l. 
James 4th. Ichabod ist, Ichabod 2n(1. 
Ichabod 3rd, Elam Hervey and Gil- 
bert. 

On the maternal side he comes from 
the Tryon family of the nobility of 
England. Among his progenitors art 
Sir Thos. Tryou, who left a large es- 
tate ; Baron Peter Tryon of Maiden. 
England, who also left a large un- 
claimed estate and General Wm. Try- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



507 





^H 


^^I^^^^^^^^^^^^HBifeiitt 


^^1 




o^^l 


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-^^ 


J^^^^^^l 






^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Kgi^n^ 





I'lK)to by Akors & Pigejii. 



^JjUvC /fl 




5o8 



A CEiNTURY OF MERIDEN. 



on, LL. D., governor of North Caro- 
lina in 1765, and of New York in 1771, 
who owned large estates in London 
and Flanders, England. He was a 
Tory and a general in the British 
Army during the Revolution, and with 
his soldiers created much havoc in 
Connecticut ; but on account of having 
a favorite nephew at Yale College, 
treated New Haven with extreme len- 
iency. On the maternal side, Gilbert 
Rogers is also descended from Dr. 
Chas. Goodrich, a son of an English 
nobleman, also from Dr. Chas. Bulk- 
ley, son of Rev. Gershom and Sarah 
Chauncey (Bulkley), daughter of 
Rev. Dr. Chas. Chauncey, who be- 
came the second president of Harvard 
College in 1654, which office he held 
until his death, February 16, 1672. He 
is also in the ninth generation lineally 
descended from Peter Bulkley, D. D., 
who came to America in 1639. 

He is a direct descendant of John 
Alden and Priscilla Mullins, his wife, 
who came to this country in the May- 
flower in 1620, to whom he traces his 
ancestry back directly through nine 
generations, as follows : 2nd, Eliza- 
beth (or Betty) Alden, daughter of 
John, married Wm. Peabody ; 3rd, 
Lydia Peabody, daughter of William 
Peabody, married Daniel Grinnell ; 
4th, Mary Grinnell, daughter of Dan- 
iel Grinnell, married Robert Lay, De- 
cember 12, 1703; 5th, Jeremiah Lay^. 
son of Robert Lay, married Pru- 
dence Belden ; 6th, Huldah Lay, 
daughter of Robert Lay, married Dan- 
iel Jones ; 7th, Belinday Jones, daugh- 
ter of Daniel Jones, married Jedediah 
Try on ; 8th, Elizabeth Try on, daugh- 



ter of Jedediah Tryon, married Her- 
vey Rogers ; 9th, Gilbert Rogers, son 
of Hervey Rogers, and the subject of 
this sketch. 

Gilbert Rogers was the fifth son of 
Flam Hervey and Elizabeth (Tryon) 
Rogers. He attended the little brick 
school house in what is now known as 
Old Saybrook, but when he was quite 
young, the family removed to Meri- 
den, where he attended the private 
school taught by Henry D. Smith. 
He began his business career as a boy 
of fourteen years, when he became 
employed by Luther Webb, at whose 
factory pocketbooks were then exten- 
sively made. After two years he en- 
tered the factory of Chas. Parker, 
where he remained for five years, dur- 
ing which time he learned the trade of 
finishing flat ware. In 1858 he re- 
moved to Hartford where he was em- 
plo}'ed by the Hartford Silver Plating 
Company, but later by Rogers, Smith 
& Co. He was afterwards made su- 
perintendent of one of the departments 
of the Rogers Bros, silver plating fac- 
tory at Waterbury ; but after two 
years, he formed a partnership with 
Asa H. Rogers and engaged in the 
manufacture of silver plated spoons 
and hollow ware, in a factory on Nas- 
sau street. New York City. Like 
many other concerns when the Civil 
war broke out, business operations 
were suspended, and Mr. Rogers, re- 
turning to Meriden, received the ap- 
pointment as U. S. enrolling officer, 
which duties he fulfilled for the gov- 
ernment for one year. 

It was in 1866 that with his broth- 
ers, Cephas B. and Wilbur F. Rogers, 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



509 



the concorn of C. Rogers & Bros. 
was formed. lUiildini^' a factor}' 011 
Butler street, now owned 1)\' the In- 
ternational Silver Co., they first en- 
gaged in the manufacture of casket 
hardware, shrouds, etc. Later the 
finn hegan making plated forks, 
spoons, knives, etc., and built up as en- 
viable a reputation as any concern in 
this country. 

During- the World's fair at the Cen- 
tennial exposition held in Philadelphia 
in 1876. Mr. Rogers had charge of the 
C. Rogers & Bros." exhibit. 

The large business being sold to the 
United States Silver Corporation in 
1902, Mr. Rogers retired from busi- 
ness until 1905, when he again estab- 
lished himself in the manufacturing 
world l)y starting a factory at West- 
field. Mass., for the manufacture of 
casket hardware and other metal 
g-Qods, which is now largel}' conducted 
by his sons. 

Mr. Rogers has for many years 
been one of the directors of the City 
Savings Bank and was also one of the 
organizers of the Walnut Grove Cem- 
etery Association, of which he is one 
of the directors. ]\Ir. Rogers has also 
served the city and town of ]\Ieriden 
in public cai)acities, having been a 
member of the city government and 
the board of selectmen, lie is also a 
memlter of the town hall building 
Committee, and the committee of citi- 
zens ai)p(Mnted for the Centennial Cel- 
ebration of 1906. 

He is a member of Meridian Lodge, 
77, .\. F. & A. M. : Keystone Chap- 
ter, i-j, R. A. M.: Hamilton Council. 



22, R. & S. :\L; Capt. John Couch 
r>ranch. Sons of the American Revo- 
lution, and the First AL E. church, of 
Meriden. in the last named he served 
for man\- years as superintendent of 
the Sunday school and secretary of the 
official board. 

Mr. Rogers has always been a Re- 
l)ublican in politics and cast his first 
vote at Waterbury, November, i860, 
for Abraham Lincoln, and whom he 
afterwards saw riding in his carriage 
in Xew York Cit}-, on his way to the 
inaugural ceremony. 

With his two sons he went abroad 
in 1900, visiting the world's fair ex- 
position at Paris, afterwards traveling 
extensively over Europe, visiting the 
])rincipal places of interest of Switz- 
erland, Italy, Germany, Holland, 
France, England and Scotland. 

He was married February 6, 1867, 
to Estelle Victorine Rogers, and to 
them have been born the following 
children: .Mal)el I^stelle, born March 

23, 1 87 1, married b'rederick Arthur 
Wright; Eugene Culver, born January 
8, 1876, associated with his father in 
business at ^\'estficld ; Rali)h (Gilbert, 
b.orn .\])ril 8, 1878, likewise interested 
in business with his father; and Wil- 
liam and Emerson, twins, who died 
in infancv. 



WlLl'.lk I'ISKI-: R( )C.ERS. 



\\'ill)ur I'iske Rogers, a distin- 
guished member of the Grand .\rmy, 
and until his recent retirement a lead- 
\\vz manu.facturer of Meriden, was 



5IO 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



born in Saybrook, Connecticut. July 
1 8, 1 84 1. While he was still a boy 
he moved to Meriden, and, after at- 
tending school here, secured work 
at the Chas. Parker factory, be- 
ing only twelve years of age at that 
time. He soon became very skillful 
as a silver-plater, and worked at that 
trade until 1861. At the outbreak of 
the Civil War, Mr. Rogers, while 
working at his trade in New York 
city, was one of the first to respond 
to the call of his country. He was 
one of the party of the loyal mob 
who compelled every newspaper of- 
fice in New York to display the Union 
flag and, on the first day following" 
President Lincoln's first call for 
troops he enlisted. On May 2, 1861, 
he was mustered in as a private in 
Company F, Fourth N. Y. \'. I., 
called the First Scott Life Guard, be- 
ing composed in part of the old organ- 
ization of New York Volunteers under 
General Scott in the Mexican War. 

^Ir. Rogers was in the battle of 
Big Bethel, the first formal engage- 
ment of the war, and remained with 
the regiment luitil the expiration of 
its two years' service. He was in the 
engagements at Antietam, Fredericks- 
burg and Chancellorsville, the regi- 
ment volunteering to go into the lat- 
ter fight after its time had expired. 
For this conduct it received a mag- 
nificent reception from the City of 
New York on its arrival home, where 
it was reviewed by General Scott at 
the Fifth Avenue Hotel. 

Mr. Rogers was in all the battles 
participated in by the regiment and 



held the rank of third sergeant and 
right general guide. 

After being at home three months 
he re-enlisted in Company G, Thirty- 
fifth N. J. Zouaves, and was made 
sergeant and general guide of that 
regiment. He was with General 
Sherman when the latter made his fa- 
mous expedition across the state of 
Mississippi to Vicksburg, and his 
more famous march to the sea. 

Mr. Rogers remained with the reg- 
iment until the close of the war. tak- 
ing part in every engagement and nev- 
er being off duty, wounded or sick in 
hospital — a truly remarkable record. 

In 1865. he returned to ^ileriden 
where he formed a partnership with 
his two elder brothers known as C. 
Rogers & Brothers. 

Mr. Rogers is a Republican in poli- 
tics, and was an alderman from 1895 
to 1899, serving on many important 
committees. He is active in the 
First [Methodist Church, being a mem- 
ber of the official board. He is a 
member of the Army and Xavy 
Club of Connecticut, the Sons of 
the American Revolution, the Royal 
Arcanum. and was a charter 
member of Pacific Lodge, No. 
87, L O. O. F. In ^lerriam Post, 
No. 8, G. A. R., he is especially 
prominent, having served as com- 
mander of his post, aide-de-camp to 
the national commander-in-chief, in- 
spector of Department of Connecticut, 
delegate to the national encampment 
at St. Louis, junior commander, sen- 
ior vice and department conimandt'- 
of the G. A. R. of Connecticut. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



5ii 




512 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Mr. Rogers is an able writer and 
speaker, and an upright and highly re- 
spected citizen, and has traveled ex- 
tensively. In 1894 both he and Mrs. 
Rogers made a long trip abroad, vis- 
iting the principal countries of Europe. 

He was married January i, 1867, 
to Miss Mary J- Corbin, daughter of 
Hezekiah H. and Maria B. (Ryder) 
Corbin, and niece of the proprietors 
and founders of the great hard- 
ware manufacturing concern of P. & 
F. Corbin Manufacturing Co., of New 
Britain. Mrs. Rogers, who was once 
for four years a teacher at the 
Corner school and a graduate of the 
State Normal school, is a woman of 
rare personal attainments. She has 
ever taken a leading part in church 
work and woman suffrage. She has 
for some years been president of the 
local Political Equality club, and the 
Meriden Humane society. For the 
past ten years she has been 
president of the Ladies' Aid so- 
ciet}'' and by virtue of that ofHce a 
member of the official board of the 
First M. E. church ; she is also treas- 
urer of the Connecticut Woman Suf- 
frage League ; was the first president 
of Merriam Woman's Relief Corps of 
Meriden, and was the first woman to 
serve on the Meriden school commit- 
tee before the consolidation of the dis- 
tricts ; also the first woman in the state 
to be elected a member of the High 
school committee, of which she was 
made chairman. She is also a prom- 
inent member of Susan Carrington 
Clarke Chapter, D. A. R. 

Mr. and ]\Irs. Rogers have had three 



children : Zula Elizabeth, born Sep- 
tember 21, 1874, a graduate of Wes- 
leyan LTniversity and a talented lin- 
guist and mathematician ; Burton 
Cephas, born April 12, 1876, secretary 
of the Connecticut Telephone & Elec- 
tric Co., of Meriden ; and Howard 
Wilson, born December 27, 1879, ^"d 
died May 30, 1883. 



LEVI BRADLEY. 



Levi Bradley (deceased), while a 
lifelong resident of Cheshire, was 
closely identified with the town of 
Meriden and built the first brick 
block here, located at the corner of 
High School avenue and West Main 
street. He was in many respects 
a remarkable man and is remembered 
for his strong personal character and 
high attainments. He was the son of ' 
Daniel Bradley, a Vermont farmer, ; 
who was driven to abandon his farm 
by the ravages of the British during 
the Revolutionary war and removing ; 
first to Hamden, Conn., finally settled 
in Cheshire. There Levi was born, ! 
November 11, 1792. As a boy he 
worked on his father's farm where he | 
gave his industrious services until at : 
the age of seventeen he "bought his 
time" of his father up to the time he 1 
was twenty-one and with a horse and 
wagon filled with goods, secured on I 
the credit of his name, started out to | 
win success in mercantile life. At 
the age of twenty-one years he had 
earned sufficient money by peddling 
to pay for his time annually and at 
the age of twenty-three years to 



514 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



buy all of his father's farm. 
His business as a dry goods peddler 
was carried on by him with remark- 
able success and he was given a 
hearty welcome everywhere he drove 
his team. His routes extended 
through several of the Southern 
states and he carried on his business 
before the advent of the steam rail- 
road. Many streams had to be ford- 
ed, too, in order to reach the villages 
which he supplied with dry goods, as 
bridges were few and widely scat- 
tered in that territory in his traveling 
days. 

His unusual energy and business 
capacity not only won him the confi- 
dence of his customers, but so good 
and shrewd a buyer was he that his 
fellow peddlers, and they were nu- 
merous in those times, one by one, 
gradually delegated him to do their 
buying. Finally, when at the age of 
twenty-seven he had married and set- 
tled down on the Cheshire farm, af- 
ter he had stopped peddling, he 
became the New York buyer for the 
members of his craft, which trust he 
assumed for some years, his judg- 
ment being held in high regard by 
them. 

As a farmer Mr. Bradley was any- 
thing but a failure ; for his crops were 
ever large and his land showed the 
result of care and high cultivation. 
He took a pride in his property and 
in the product of his farm ; and he 
won many prizes at state and town 
agricultural exhibits. It was Levi 
Bradley who first undertook the pro- 
duction of wheat in Cheshire and af- 



ter having procured his seed from 
New York state, his crops of wheat 
were much admired by visiting sight- 
seers. 

He was also the discoverer of the 
first barytes mine in Cheshire. While 
driving along the highway where men 
were plowing on the roadside his at- 
tention, which was naturally observ- 
ing, was called to a peculiar looking 
white stone and upon examining it 
found it to be of unusual weight for 
its proportion. Putting the stone in- 
to his wagon, the following day he 
submitted it to Prof. Silliman of Yale 
College. His analysis prompted Mr. 
Bradley to immediately buy an option 
where the mineral was, which he did, 
and he afterwards sold the farm to a 
New Haven firm at a handsome profit, 
who in turn mined from the property 
several million dollars' worth of the 
mineral, Mr. Bradley being for two 
years employed as superintendent of 
the mine. 

Mr. Bradley was recognized as a 
man whose moral worth was a whole- 
some and strong virtue in the com- 
munity where he lived. While 
thrifty in connection with his farm 
he kept well abreast of the times and 
thoroughly informed on the topics of 
the day. He was also a great read- 
er, and his knowledge of men and pub- 
lic affairs won him the admiration of 
those who knew him. His good 
qualities were recognized by his fel- 
low townsmen in a marked degree; 
and he was called upon to serve 
Cheshire in the State Legislature. 

He was married September 30, 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



515 



18 ig. to Abij^ail Ann, daughter of 
Samuel and Patience (Peck) Atwa- 
ter. of Cheshire. Aliss Atwatcr was 
a woman of rare personal attractive- 
ness and was called the belle of her 
native town. She was also beautiful 
in character and always did her duly 
as a wife and mother and enjoyed the 
distinction of being a true daughter of 
the American Revolution. She lived 
to the age of ninety-seven and her por- 
trait at ninety-two is herewith pre- 
sented, accompanying that of her es- 
timable husband. Their children were 
Emeline Amelia, born December 19, 
1820, and married Alfred P. Curtis ; 
Samuel Atwater, born Jan. 18, 1823 ; 
William Lambert, born May 25, 1826 ; 
Nathaniel Lyman, born December 27, 
1829, and Abbie Ann. born Feb. 26, 
1833. The last named married Wal- 
ter Hubbard and died in 1855. Two 
of these sons, William Lambert and 
Nathaniel Lyman, the former of whom 
died in Hingham, Mass., December 
15, 1894, achieved marked prominence 
in the business world from the lessons 
in industry, perseverance and manly 
courage taught through the example 
of their father. William L. I'radley. 
for fifteen years a resident of Meriden 
and who removed to I'oston in 1862, 
was the founder of the I'.radlc)- 
Fertilizer Co., of Boston, Mass. ; and 
Nathaniel L. Bradley, a leading resi- 
dent of Meriden and treasurer of the 
Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Company. 
Another captain of industry who 
benefited l)y the wise teachings of 
Levi Bradley, was Charles Parker, 
of Meriden, who before he made his 



lirst start from which he achieved 
world-wide fame as a manufacturer, 
spent three years on Mr. Bradley s 
farm. 

Levi Bradley died at Meriden 
March 18, 1877. He was a man of 
decidedly Christian sympathy and was 
a liberal supporter to the cause of re- 
ligion. His life furnished an excel- 
lent exani])le for those who are to 
follow him. 



GEORGE GAY. 



A citizen of Meriden, justly remem- 
bered as an upright man of sterling 
worth, was George Gay, who, after 
having been most active as a builder 
and later as a box manufacturer, died 
at the age of eighty-one years. He 
resided in his cnvn residence at the cor- 
ner of Center and Camp streets, the 
last eleven years of his life in well 
earned retirement from business cares, 
until death claimed him from old age. 
He was born in Dedliani. Mass., Oc- 
tober 22, 1816. 

He learned the trade of a carpenter 
in Roxl)ury, Mass., and at the age of 
thirty-six years located in ^Meriden, 
with which he was thereafter promi- 
uenlly identified, l^ngaging in busi- 
ness as a contractor and builder just 
])revious to a period of rapid growth 
,,f Meriden mainifacturing. he made 
the most of his dpiiortunities and soon 
l)ecame one .'f ilu leading builders of 
the town. In the construction of build- 
ings, he was exceedingly thorough 
and he enjoyed deservedly the confi- 



>I«> 



A CESrnTKIf OF MEKIPEX- 




t»jiF6 litittrTri^. h-pA-. 1^ ■ 



14< 



E]OGE_APHlES. 



517 



■:ib day. 
Hit first shop was located cm State 

' ^ ' ' ; 'is sold the land 

■ .-c.nnia Company' 

juiit a portion of their woriffi on 

^ ■ ^ ' - -^ -d. 

- 3t 

■•;• jmer of State and Ctosb streets, 
ed for a time as a 
• fotinded the coopex- 
c^ i.- wooden hox. industij, "vviiich 
1886, when lie sold 
'jdd. 
Dttrin^: IVIr. Ga3'*6 career as a htiild- 
"^►er of the factories, sev- 
•_:, . _ _ riidences, business hlocks 
and two chnrches were iDtult hj 
hj^: ^^^tOTL'^i the bnil ding's still stand- 
;:i^' cLi i. monmnent to his thorough 
vk ork may be mentioned the following: 
• Meriden Britannia Com- 

: _-. . - . .nden Silver Plate Congjany, 
J. Wilcox & Go. (now the Meriden 
\\" ..'Jen Co.; ; the First Methodist and 
AiLin Street Baptist chnrches: resi- 
dence of the late Dennis C Wilcox, 
by Mrs. Horace C. Wil- 

:. . Street ; residence of the 

-c-', Jedediah Wilcox, now o\\'ned by 

' '- :• t-r AV. Parker, on Broad street: 

"nt reaidence of tbe late Isaac C. 

Lewis. Main street, in which one of 

-' -ers. !Mrs. Kate A. L. 

.-^ .:.. :,. .> resides. 

At the time of his death, Mr, Gay 

respected, not only as the 

.^.. . „.^der in Meriden. but as a 

"lan who always did his dntv as he 

-^'^ :t in whatever capacity he was 

c^litrl upon t-- t^-^-r. ]\jj._ Qa-^- .^2^5 



first selectman of Meriden for five 
jk'eaxB consecutively, from 1868- 1872, 
and immediateh' following that, was a 
member of the cit\- government as 
councilman, and in 1872 was a mem- 
ber of the board of aldermen. As Mr. 
GaA' built a goodly- portion of old Mer- 
iden and was justly' esteemed in the 
commimity for his heartfelt interest 
in the affairs of the town, his memorv" 
will still survive him man^- years. 

He left two daughters: Mrs. A. G. 
Finne}- and ]\Irs. Charles F. Linsle}-, 
the latter of ]\Ieriden. 



JOSEPH MORSE. 



Joseph Morse, son of Harley and 
Harriet Morse, was bom November 
12, iS2y, in YalesAiUe, town of Wal- 
lingford. Conn. He came to Meri- 
den in the early forties and engaged 
in tibe butchering business. Later, 
he began dealing in real estate and 
soon gave his entire attention to 
this business. He bought largel}- 
and made many improvements : and 
as the 3^ars passed his business 
became large and his holdings of prop- 
erty great, ail of -w-hich he managed 
wisely and welL He cq>ened up more 
streets in the town of Meriden than 
any other man, among them being: 
Willow, A'eteran, Columbia, Merriam. 
Walnut. Plumb, Yale avenue, North 
Hickory. Water. Reservoir avenue. 
Spring. Springdale avenue. Clark, 
Hill. Park. IMorse, High, Fraiy ave- 
nue and Xorth Spring. 

As stated, he was a good manager 
and possessed an excellent judgment; 



5i8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



519 



was energetic and industrious and 
made money rapidly, becoming one of 
the largest holders of property in Mer- 
idcn. 

He owned a portion of the State 
school property and the section of the 
town known as Morsetown. In 1896 
he owned thirty-two dwellings, seven 
acres of land and five business blocks, 
being sole or part owner in the latter. 
It was then estimated that he had 
about two hundred tenants. 

Mr, Morse was also a large owner 
of land in Kansas, at Wichita, An- 
thony, Pratt, Emporia, Junction City, 
Salina and other small places. 

Mr. Morse was a self-made man, 
beginning life without a dollar, yet 
possessed of good health, and started 
out in life w'ith a determination to suc- 
ceed. 

He was willing, possessing natural 
tact and ability, which, together with 
his energy and close application to 
business, brought remarkable success. 

In all his business transactions he 
was regarded as thoroughly honest 
and most reliable, his integrity and 
honesty being of the highest order. 
He possessed ability and was shrewd 
in matters pertaining to real estate 
transactions. 

His judgment was considered very 
superior. Mr. !Morse held the office 
of town assessor and was also a mem- 
ber of the common council at one time. 
He was a vestryman of St. Andrew's 
church and was the last surviving 
member of the vestry that directed 
the parish when the church was on 
Broad street; was a director in the 



I'irst National bank and a trustee of 
the City Savings bank. 

In 1852 Mr. Morse married Lucy 
A. Hall, a daughter of Casper A. Hall, 
son of Crenton Hall, the founder of 
^[eriden, the first representative from 
this town in 1806. The children by 
the marriage were George N., born 
October 16, 1853 ; Lilla E., born Au- 
gust I, 1857; Eva L., born July 4, 
1855, died September 12, 1861 ; Jo- 
sephine M., born September 17, 1869; 
Lucy M., born November 17, 1871. 

Mr. Morse died October 16, 1897. 



GEORGE N. MORSE. 



George W jMorse was born in this 
city October 16, 1853, at the old 
Morse homestead, which stood at the 
corner of East Main and Veteran 
streets. The building has now been 
made over into a store and is occu- 
pied by the Meriden Tea & Coffee 
Company, 

Mr. Morse is a descendant of John 
Morse, born 1604, who was one of 
the seven Puritans of that name wdio 
emigrated from England to America 
in 1635, settled at N^ew Haven ; and 
was one of the founders of W'alling- 
ford in 1670, and was a deputy and 
conmiissioner to the General Court for 
fourteen years, dying in 1707 at the 
age of 103. On his maternal side Mr. 
Morse is a descendant of Rev, Sam- 
uel Hall, of Cheshire, born 1695, 
died 1776. who married Amie Law, 
daughter of Gov. Jonathan Law and 
granddaughter of Ciov. \\'illiani I'rcn- 
ton of Rhode Island. 



520 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 





^^T^^y^^^^y^ 




/ 



/' 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



521 



After the usual training- in the com- 
mon schools, ]\lr. Alorse attended, 
when sixteen years of age, the Con- 
necticut Literary Institute at Suffield 
in 1869-70. For several years he was 
correspondent of the New York Alir- 
ror and the Turf, Field and Farm. 
He has been at one time or another 
in various mercantile pursuits. In 
1872 he was a member of Charter Oak 
Hose company in the old volunteer 
fire department. In 1882 he moved 
to Kansas City, but returned to Meri- 
den the following year ; was mar- 
ried in 1877 to Mary A., daughter of 
John C. Byxbee, by whom he has had 
two children : John B., born in 1880, 
and Ida L., born 1882. He has been 
a prominent figure in local and state 
politics. At the state convention held 
in Hartford in May, 1888, to choose 
delegates to the Democratic national 
convention, he was chairman of his 
town's delegation. He was a dele- 
gate to the state convention held in 
September of the same year at New 
Haven, presenting the name of Hon. 
Carlos French for governor in the 
county caucus, and E. B. Manning to 
the convention for electoral delegate. 
The latter was nominated and elected. 
Mr. Morse was nominated for state 
senator in 1888 and was elected by a 
plurality of 353. In the presidential 
campaign of 1888, he organized and 
was president of the Cleveland Demo- 
cratic club of Meriden. In the state 
Senate he was chairman of the manu- 
factures and woman's suffrage com- 
mittees ; introduced and advocated the 
])assage of the cigarette bill, which 



is now a law. The most notable 
speeches which he delivered in that 
body were those on ballot reform, the 
\\'estport ballot box contest, oleo- 
margarine, and the Storrs School ap- 
])ropriation. He was the author of 
the famous Parnell resolutions, which 
were finally passed by the General As- 
sembly after a bitter contest. He or- 
ganized and is secretary of the Sen- 
ate Club of i88(;-()0. He was chair- 
man of the town delegation to the 
state convention held in Hartford in 
September, 1890, and at this conven- 
tion was a candidate for the office of 
secretary of state. He is a member 
of St. Andrew's Episcopal church ; 
Sons of the American Revolution ; 
]\Ieriden \'eteran Firemen's association 
and town hall building committee. 

In 1902 Air. ]\Iorse was a candidate 
for congressman from the Second dis- 
trict, opposing N. D. Sperry, of 
New Haven, by whom he was defeat- 
ed. He has never held any town or 
city office except chairman of the 
Democratic town committee. 



G. W. I'RAXCIS. 



The suljject of this sketch, for many 
years a prominent resident and busi- 
ness man of Meriden, was born in 
Wethersfield, Conn., a son of Elias 
and Sarah (Griswold) Francis. He 
\ms given the name of (ieorge \\'ash- 
ington Francis, as he was born Feb- 
ruary 22, 1831, which fact prompted 
his parents to name him in honor of 
the father of his country. His birth- 



522 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON FRANCIS. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



523 



place was at the old Francis homestead 
located on what is now known as the 
corner i)t Hartford avenue and Pris- 
on street, Wethersfield. He was one 
of a family of eleven children and w^as 
a half bmther of the late Mrs. Ben- 
jamin Twiss, of Meriden. His 
grandfather was John Francis, third, 
who served as captain in the Revo- 
lutionary \\''ar, and married Rhoda 
Wright. His great-great-grandfath- 
er, John Francis, second, married Eu- 
nice Dickinson and his great-grand- 
father, John Francis, jr., married 
Mary Hatch. His father, John Fran- 
cis, married Mary Crittenden. 

George Washington Francis spent 
his early life in healthy surroundings 
of culture and inherited those habits 
of industry which became necessary 
when the slaves of Connecticut re- 
ceived their freedom ; two of whom 
belonging to the family, were cared for 
during their lives by the father of Mr. 
Francis. George Francis learned 
his trade in Meriden, serving his ap- 
prenticeship under Henry Beadle who 
conducted the harness business at the 
corner of East Main and Pratt streets, 
and upon coming to Meriden first 
boarded with his sister Elizabeth, who 
was Mrs. Beadle. In time he became 
[proprietor of the business and con- 
uctcd the store in which lie learned 
is trade, and afterwards built the 
resent three-story building at the cor- 
er of East Alain and Pratt streets, 
n which he conducted the harness 
Jusiness, later adding trunks and bags 
o his stock of goods, until his death 
vhich occurred on July i, 1872 and 



which was caused by smallpox con- 
tracted from one of his employes who 
had varioloid in such a mild form that 
no one knew of his affliction. 

Mr. Francis was a member of ]^Ier- 
iden Center Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and 
was affiliated with no other organiza- 
tion. Although he never united with 
a church, he held a high regard for 
the Word of God, as a result of his 
early religious training and for many 
years was a regular attendant at the 
First Baptist church. To this church 
he contributed generous support, until 
with his family he became an attend- 
ant of the Main Street Baptist church 
at which edifice a service was held in 
his memory the Sunday following his 
death, and during which Rev. O. T. 
Walker, his former pastor, paid him a 
deserved tribute. Of his life it can 
be said he acted well the true Chris- 
tian part. 

He was married December z"], 1855, 
to Emily Fine, of New^ Brunswick, N. 
J. Their children are Nellie Gilbert 
(Mrs. Arthur M. Alderman) and 
Bessie Francis, of Meriden. Grand- 
children that survive now are Howard 
Francis and Walter Arthur Alderman. 



L. P. EDGERTOX. 



L. P. Edgerton, the senior member 
of the firm of Edgerton & Immich, is 
a native of Coventry, Tolland county. 
Conn., and was born January 31. 1833. 
He is the son of Justin P. and Mary 
(Barrows) Edgerton. His father 
and grandfather carried on adjoining 
farms at Covcntr\-. where the familv 



524 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



were tillers of the soil for many gen- 
erations before. 

Mr. Edgerton obtained his educa- 
tion by attending the district school 
during three months of the year and 
remained upon the farm of his father 
until the age of twenty-two, when he 
began his mercantile career by enter- 
ing a grocery store at Willimantic. 
He afterwards spent eight years in 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

L. P. EDGERTON. 

New York City with his brother, Da- 
vid B., in the manufacture of cloaks 
and wraps and conducted a wholesale 
business. During the Civil war, in 
connection with his brother, Mr. Ed- 
gerton opened a store at Norfolk, Va., 
which he carried on for six months. 
Duringthis time his patrons were com- 



prised entirely of northern soldiers, 
owing to the bitter feeling against the 
north which prevailed at that time. 
On account of ill health, Mr. Edger- 
ton removed from New York City to 
New Britain, and to get the benefit 
of out-door life he rented a farm, 
which he conducted with profit until 
1870. 

It was in that year that he came to 
Meriden and bought out the coal bus- 
iness of Frederick Williams, which he 
carried on for two years and after- 
wards sold to Amos Ives. In 1874 he 
established himself in his present line 
by buying out the express and for- 
warding business of Mr. Forsyth. 
His first stables were on Veteran 
street. He afterwards removed to 
stables on Pratt street, later had an 
ofifice on State street near Main ; and 
after the railroad freight depot was 
built in its present location, the firm of 
Edgerton & Immich bought the land 
and built the present large stables 
which have ever since been situated 
directly opposite. The business of the 
firm has more than quadrupled in tin 
past thirty-two years, and its growth 
has been steady and substantial. 

Mr. Edgerton's extended business 
career has been an honorable one and 
his dealings with the public conducted 
upon lines of fairness and liberality. 
His even disposition and genial qual- 
ities have made him a favorite with 
all who have been associated with him, 
both in business and private affairs. 
He has never possessed aspirations for 
a public career, although he has been 
given ample opportunity. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



525 



He was married November 29, 1855, 
to Harriet Eliza Flower and they cel- 
ebrated their fiftieth wedding anniver- 
sary in [Nleriden in 1905. Their 
chiKlren are Frank C, vice-president 
and treasurer of the Kelsey Press 
Company of Meriden ; and ^linnie, 
(Mrs. Edward S. Thompson), also of 
Meriden. They have also two grand- 
children and one great-granddaughter. 



mich. From his long connection with 
the teaming business, Mr. Immich has 
become thororghly familiar with the 
wants of the public, his concern is so 
well able to supply. During the last 
few years, and owing to the somewhat 
poor health of Mr. Edgerton, a large 
amount of the responsibility of the bus- 
iness has devolved upon him ; and to 
his energy and grasp of business sit- 



HENRY L. IMMICH. 



Henry L. Immich, junior member of 
the firm of Edgerton & Immich, was 
born in New London, April 18, i860. 
He is of (icnnan descent and his pa- 
rents were Peter and Elizabeth Im- 
mich. They came to this country 
from Germany and located in New 
London more than twenty )ears be- 
fore their son was born. He was giv- 
en a liberal education in the public 
schools of his native town and was 
graduated from the Bulkeley High 
school, after which he took a course 
at the Eastman Business College, 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 

Coming to IMeriden in 1880 he en- 

reil the store of Ives. L'i)ham (!:v: 
Rand, which at that time was in the 
l)resent location of Howard Bros. 
After being employed in the dry goods uations, has a share of the ])rescnt 




Photo by Akpi-s & Pigeon. 

IIENRV L. IMMICH. 



business for one year, he secured a po- 
sition in the Meriden freight ofifice of 
the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad. Soon 
ifterward he became associated with 
L. P. Edgerton as clerk, three years 



prosperity of the firm been brought 
about. 

He is a member of Pilgrims' llarl)or 
Council, Royal Arcamnn ; the A. O. U. 
\\'.. tlie Colonial Club of .Meriden 



later entering into the partnership as and .Meriden lUisiness Men's .\sso- 
1 member of the firm which has ever ciation, and is a comnnmicant of St. 
^ince been that of Edgerton & Im- .\ndrcw's E])isoo])al church. 



526 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



He married Adelaide L., daughter 
of Sarah A. Douglass, to whom two 
sons and two daughters have been 
born as follows : Hollis Douglass, who 
in June, 1906, was graduated from the 
Sheffield Scientific School of Yale 
University ; Walter Lewis, Ethel Cor- 
inne and Faye Madeline. Since his 
marriage ]\Ir. Imniich has resided at 
161 Curtis street, where he has en- 
joyed the respect of his neighbors 
as well as in the business circles where 
he is a potent factor. 



J. H. GAMIER. 



John Henry Gamier, deceased, but 
for many years one of the most popu- 
lar men in the mercantile life of Mer- 
iden, was born October 20, 1850, of 
English parentage and French de- 
scent, near London, England. After 
receiving a good education in his na- 
tive language and growing to man- 
hood, he came to America and secured 
a position as shipping clerk in a whole- 
sale men's furnishing goods house, in 
Boston, becoming a resident of Mer- 
iden in 1878 where he remained until 
his death which occurred November 
2, 1901. 

He engaged in the clothing business 
in 1879 in the Lewis block on Main 
street ; in 1880 forming a partnership 
with Almon J. Fletcher, and the busi- 
ness has, to the present time, been 
continued with growing success un- 
der the title of The Boston & Mer- 
iden Glothing Go. ; but since the de- 
cease of Mr. Gamier, his interest has 
been retained by his widow. Upon 



the completion of the Wilco ; 
block, the business was remove j 
to the present location; but the storj 
afterwards became enlarged from tim: 
to time. In 1899 the adjoining storl 
was taken in and the partition tor 
down, afterwards fifty feet were add; 
ed to the depth of the now doubl! 
store, and in 1901 a portion of th 
basement was rebuilt and converts ; 
into a department for the sale 0; 




JOHN H. CAMIER. 

trunks and bags. The store is no\s 
127 feet deep and 50 feet wide 
of which an uninterrupted view is tc 
be obtained from any part of the floor, 
comprising one of the handsomesi 
and finest in New England. Mr. 
Gamier became, therefore, one of the 
most successful business men of the 
town and was held in high regard by 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



527 



the numerous patrons of the store and 
a large circle of friends with whom 
he became a favorite. 

I'or many years before his death, he 
was a member aiid one of the trustees 
of the Main Street Baptist church ; 
was a member of Center Lodge, 97, 
A. F. & A. M. ; Keystone Chapter, 27. 
R. A. M. ; Hamilton Council, 22, R. 
& S. M. ; St, Elmo Commandery, 9, 
K. T. ; and Myrtle Lodge, 4, K. of P. 
He was married in Boston, October 
14, 1878, to Xellie S. Warner, whose 
great-grandfather was a Revolution- 
ary soldier and who is descended in 
the maternal line from the Ballon 
family which located at Rehoboth, 
Mass.. about 1620. Mrs. Camier is 
a member of the Trinity ]\L E. church 
and cared for her husband with great 
devotion through his years of infirm 
health. 



A. J. FLETCHER. 



Almon John Fletcher, who since the 
death of his partner, has assumed the 
rntire management of the business of 
The Boston & Meriden Clothing Co., 
j was born at Acworth, N. H., August 
15, 1842. He is a son of John and 
Almina (Tandy) Fletcher and was 
reared on a farm in East Lempster, N. 
H., and attended the district schools 
of that vicinity. After obtaining 
some experience in mercantile life, but 
l)ofore he attained his majority, he 
[enlisted for three years as a soldier 
|in the Civil war, going to the front 
s a member of Company G, 9th N. H. 
ols. Infantry, He was present and 



took part at the battles of South 
}iIountain and Antictam, being 
wounded by a shell in the latter en- 
gagement and receiving his honorable 
discharge from service through his 
disability. 

After recovering from his injuries 
at his home, he went to Winchendon, 
Mass., and became employed in a ma- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

ALMON J. FI-FTniER. 

chine shop. After three years he 
went to Boston and continued to work 
as a machinist for a time, and later 
became a clerk in a store there. He 
came to Meriden in 1879 and shortly 
after formed a partnership with 
John H. Camier, who had established 
a clothing business in the Lewis block, 
which afterwards became known 



528 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



as The Boston & Meriden Clothing- 
Co., the active management of which 
now large concern has for many years 
devolved npon him, especially since 
the decease of Mr. Camier, as stated 
just previous to this article. This 
clothing company has an enviable 
record for success and fair dealing, 
extending over a period of twenty- 
seven years. Few men of Meriden 
enjoy the confidence of their fellow 
townsmen to a greater extent than 
does Mr. Fletcher or than did his de- 
ceased partner, Mr. Camier. In 1883 
they established a branch store at Mid- 
dletown which was also carried on by 
the firm, but after the death of Mr. 
Camier, was sold to others, the large 
Meriden store being all that Mr. 
Fletcher could attend to. Mr. 
Fletcher is known as one of the re- 
liable and capable merchants of the 
town, respected for his probity of 
character and industry. 

While devoted to his business, he 
finds time for activity in church work 
and is one of the stewards of the Trin- 
ity M. E. church, and a teacher in the 
Sunday school. He is also a member 
of Pacific Lodge, 87, I. O. O. F., and 
Merriam Post, 8, G. A. R. 

He was married June 7, 1883, in 
Meriden, to Tama (Davis) Warner, 
widow of Edwin T. Warner and 
mother of Mrs. Camier. She was a 
valued member of Trinity M. E. 
church and was known as an exem- 
plary Christian character and a kind 
and devoted wife and mother. She 
was a capable business woman 
who carefully conserved the estate in- 



herited from her father. She died 
January i, 1892, and was buried at 
Walnut Grove cemetery. 



CHARLES H. PINKS. 



Charles Henry Pinks, druggist of 
this town and active head of the Mer- 
iden Drug Company, was born in 
South Meriden, December 4, 1858, 




Photo by H. T. Shaw. 

CHARLES H. PINKS. 

and with the exception of three years 
has always resided in Meriden. He is 
a son, and with the exception of Ida K. 
Pinks, a member of his household, is 
the only surviving child of Edwin C 
and Sophia C. Pinks, natives of New- 
Britain, and he comes from old New 
England ancestry on both the pater- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



529 



nal and maternal sides. His early 
education was obtained in X"e\v Brit- 
ain where his family name has been 
a familiar one for several generations 
and where his parents, now deceased, 
rest from earthly cares. He after- 
wards went to school in Meriden and 
Woburn, ]\Iass., finishing his educa- 
tion at Wilbraham Academy, Wilbra- 
ham, Mass. He began his business 
career as a clerk in the Meriden post 
office, under the late Erwin D. Hall. 



reputation for reliability and accuracy. 
In 1886 Mr. Pinks was one of the or- 
ganizers of the present corporation of 
which he has ever since been the treas- 
urer and manager ; and under his pro- 
gressive ideas and close application, 
the business has grown to large pro- 
portions, the location being in the 
heart of Meriden and near the busiest 
corner of the main thoroughfare. 

Mr. Pinks is a member of the Con- 
necticut Pharmaceutical Association ; 




I'li.ito l.y R. S. Oodl'rey. 

RICSIIJENCE OF CHARLES H. PJXKS. 



He afterwards entered the drug 

business, with U. G. Harrison as a 

artner, later succeeded E. A. Bur- 

ick, after which was formed the Mer- 

dcn Drug Co., which thus enjoxs the 

istinction of being the oldest drug 

itore in Meriden. The place was 

cnown originally as I. I'>. Klock's 

\pothecaries' Hall and has been for- 

unately controlled by men who. from 

he start, liave maintained an excellent 

34 



vice-president of the Meriden Drug- 
gists" Association : member of the 
Meriden Board of Trade ; Meriden 
Business Men's Association; Colonial 
C\u]) of .Meriden: Meridian Loilge, 
jy. A. I'". l\; a. M.: Pilgrims" Harbor 
Council. 543, Roxal Arcanum, and the 
First Congregational church. Ui the 
last named he was, in 1905. chosen one 
of the deacons, which office he now 
liolds. He was married in 1887, to 



530 



A CEXTURY OF MERIDEX. 



Lillian Beecher. daughter of the late 
^^'m. M. Smith, of Meriden. to whom 
the following children have been 
born : \'era Lockrow, Stanle}- 
Beecher and Beula ^^'arren Pinks. 



HORACE C. WILCOX. 



Foremost among the men of ]\Ieri- 
den during the past century as re- 
gards the development of the business 
interests of the locality, was Horace 
C. Wilcox, a founder of the ^Nleriden 
Britannia Company, and who during 
the latter part of his life was not onlv 
interested in. but one of the founders 
of many other manufacturing concerns 
of the town. He was a man of great 
energy and abilit}- and from a small 
beginning, became a power in the 
business world. He was born in that 
portion of ^Middletown known as 
^^'estfield. January 24. 1824. and at- 
tended district school for a brief per- 
iod. He acquired, however, by ob- 
servation and study a remarkable 
knowledge of men and business, and 
was possessed of a keenness of per- 
ception and foresight that was inborn. 
He was a natural leader, a man of 
great enterprise and business acumen : 
and his life was perhaps more useful 
to Meriden in a business way. than 
that of any other man. His early life 
until the age of twenty, was spent up- 
on his father's farm and he began his 
business career as a peddler of tin- 
ware. 

In 1850 he was engaged as travel- 
ing salesman for James Frary, a man- 
ufacturer of britannia ware. He af- 



terwards traveled in the same capac- 
ity for William ^^^ Lyman, John ^lun- 
son and Isaac C. Lewis. In 1852, 
with his brother. Dennis C. Wilcox, 
Isaac C. Lewis, James A. Frary. Lem- 
uel J. Curtis, W. W. Lyman. John 
Munson, George R. Curtis, Samuel 
Simpson and \\'illiam H. Johnson, he 
organized the Meriden Britannia Com- 
pany, of which he was the first secre- 
tary and treasurer. In 1866 he suc- 
ceeded I. C. Lewis as president of the 
company, and held that office until his 
death. August 22. 1890. From the 
start he became a power in the con- 
cern and the remarkable growth of the 
company, to the largest of its kind in 
this country, was in great measure due 
to his wise counsel and able leadership. 
Mr. Wilcox was a great worker, not 
only for the success of the Meriden 
Britannia Compan}-. but for the io\\n 
of ^Meriden. of which he was a most 
enthusiastic, patriotic and loyal resi- 
dent. It was his delight to see Meri- 
den grow and prosper, and to that end 
he was instrumental in bringing sev- 
eral important industries ^\^thin its 
borders, as well as promoting the in- 
terests of the town in various other 
directions. Through his influence the 
\Miite family came to ^leriden from 
Brattleboro. \'t.. and with his able as- 
sistance the Wilcox & \Miite Organ 
Company was organized. Of this 
company, which bears his name, he 
was the first president. He was also 
a director of the ^leriden Silver Plate 
Company. Manning, Bowman & Co.. 
Meriden Saddlery & Leather Co.. The 
Aeolian Orsfan & Music Co.. the Mer- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



531 



iden Street Rail^^■ay Co., Rogers Bros. 
Company of Waterbun. -, R. Wallace 
& Sons of W'allingford. W'm. Rogers 
Mfg. Co. of Hartford. Meriden Fire 



and largest enterprise was tlie organ- 
ization and construction of the Meri- 
den. \\'aterbury & Connecticut River 
Railroad, and in this enterprise he in- 





Insurance Co.. Home Xational Bank. 

•\epublican Publishing Co.. Walnut 
.rove Cemetery Association, and 
he Citv SavinjTS Bank. His last 



vested more than one million dollars, 
with little expectation of any return 
except the benefits the community he 
loved so much wonld receive. 



532 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Such a man as Mr. Wilcox could 
not shirk his duty to his fellow citi- 
zens, when called upon to act in a pub- 
lic capacity. A Republican of the 
most loyal type, he was elected a mem- 
ber of the first board of aldermen of 
the infant city. He was also the fifth 
mayor, and served in that capacity for 
two terms, 1875-6. In 1877 he served 
a term in the state senate, and al- 
though repeatedly urged to accept oth- 
er public honors, this concluded his 
highly creditable career in public of- 
fice, wihich was ever distasteful to him. 
His connection with the First Congre- 
gational church of JMeriden added 
strength to that influential society. He 
was one of the most generous givers 
to its financial prosperity ; was a mem- 
ber of the building committee when 
the present handsome edifice was con- 
structed, and during his life served on 
nearly all the important committees 
of that society. 

He was married, first, to Charlotte, 
daughter of Jabez Smith of Middle- 
town, wdio died in 1864, and to whom 
the following children were born : 
Ella Augusta, who married the late 
William P. Morgan and removed to 
San Francisco ; Georgine, Walter and 
Allyn, who died in infancy, and 
George Horace, who after his father's 
death, became president of The Meri- 
den Britannia Co., and is now vice- 
president of The International Silver 
Co. In 1865 he married Ellen, daugh- 
ter of Edmund Parker, and to them 
were born Dwnght P. and Horace, both 
deceased, and Florence Cornwall, now 
JMrs. Louis Fisk. 



SYLVESTER J. CURTIS. 



Sylvester Johnson Curtis, a do- 
ceased financier and one of the most 
respected figures of W^all street, was 
a product of Meriden. He was born 
in this town September 30, 1826. His 
line of descent on the paternal side, 
back to 1639, when widow Elizabeth 
and her two sons, John and William, 
were among the first settlers of Stam- 
ford, is as follows: Elizabeth, John, 
Thomas (one of the original planters 
of Wallingford in 1670), Nathaniel, 
Benjamin, Benjamin and Amos. 

Amos, father of Sylvester, was a 
representative in 1824 and had held 
many positions of trust, having been a 
prominent man in Meriden, and who in 
1 81 8 married Louisa Johnson, daugh- 
ter of Lieut. Dan Johnson an officer in 
the Revolutionary War. Lieut. John- 
son married Rebecca Hitchcock April 
19, 1 78 1, and was a son of Daniel 
Johnson, a trial justice under King 
George II., of England, who married, 
December 24, 1734, Joanna Preston; 
she was the great-granddaughter of 
William Preston, said to have been 
an English baronet, one of the first 
settlers of New Haven. 

Among the early maternal ancestors 
of Sylvester Curtis, was Robert John- 
son of England, whose son Thomas 
emigrated from England in 1632, 
and from whom have descended many 
men of prominence in the history of 
the Colonies, and who became prom- 
inent in the afifairs of the nation. 
Among them are Dr. Samuel Johnson 
and William Samuel Johnson, the lat- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



533 




534 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ter one of the first men of Connecti- 
cut chosen to the United States Sen- 
ate. WilHam Johnson, son of Thom- 
as, married Sarah Hall in December, 
1664, and died at New Haven 1741. 
His son Jacob was a first settler in 
Wallingford, and was born at New- 
Haven, September 26, 1674, and mar- 
ried Abigail Hitchcock. He was the 
grandfather of Lieut. Dan Johnson. 

Sylvester Curtis was brought up on 
his father's farm in the eastern part 
of Meriden, and attended the district 
school here. 

He began his business career in 
New York City by entering the em- 
ploy of Carter, Harrison & Co., iron 
dealers. At the age of twenty-one 
years, he in company with his prospec- 
tive brother-in-law and several friends, 
bought a ship, fitted it out and sailed 
for California by way of Cape Horn. 
He returned by way of the Isthmus of 
Panama, after less than a year's ab- 
sence, having been cjuite successful. 
He then entered the dry goods busi- 
ness, and continued therein until 1861 
when he identified himself with Wall 
street, where he later became known as 
one of the best judges of railroad and 
other investment bonds. He joined 
the New York Stock Exchange in 
1867, and shortly after established the 
banking and stock brokerage house of 
S. J. Curtis & Co. He retired fri.m 
business in 1878 with a handsome 
competence honestly earned by his in- 
dustry and by his mastery of financial 
problems ; and upon his death he left 
a fortune of about two and one-half 
millions. 



Mr. Curtis was a man of strong 
character and a keen sense of honor 
and integrity, never Cjuestioned by the 
moneyed people of New York, with 
whom he came in business contact ; 
and he was one who treated all men, 
whether high or low, rich or poor, 
with the fullest regard for their rights. 

He married Harriet Augusta, 
daughter of Thomas E. Hulse, of New 
York City, April 23, 185 1, and to that 
union were born the following: 
Thomas E. H. Curtis, in New York 
City, February 13, 1852, and Harriet 
Louisa Curtis, in jMiddletown, N. Y., 
August 13, 1855. Sylvester Curtis 
died at his residence, 39 West Twen- 
tieth street, in New York City, on 
September 25, 1899. 



THOMAS E. H. CURTIS. 



Thomas E. H. Curtis, son of Syl- 
vester J. and Harriet Augusta Curtis, 
and a portion of whose youth was 
spent in Meriden, was born in New 
York City, February 13, 1852. His 
ancestors, as recorded in the sketch of 
Sylvester J. Curtis, include representa- 
tives of old and distinguished families 
of New Haven county, and of them he 
is a worthy descendant. 

He began his business career after 
being graduated from the College of 
the City of New York in 1871, when 
he became cashier at the New York 
City office of Brown Bros., of Water- 
bury, Conn. After remaining there 
about two and one-half years, early in 
1874. he became associated with his 
father who- was then one of the lead- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



535 




536 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ing bond and stock brokers of Wall 
street, and whose partner retiring two 
months later, he was given one-third 
interest in the business, which was 
continued as S. J. Curtis & Co. His 
father retiring from the firm in 1878, 
he continued to maintain the good 
reputation established. 

He made a study of railroads like 
the Union Pacific and the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul, and an inves- 
tigation of their securities on which he 
was considered an authority. In 1879 
Mr. Curtis examined the property and 
affairs of and purchased a consider- 
able interest in the St. Louis & San 
Francisco railroad. He later aided 
largely in securing the release of the 
Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad Co., 
from the hands of its receiver ; thus 
lie made his first pronounced start in 
the sea of finance. His extensive op- 
erations brought him in personal con- 
tact with many of the great financiers 
of the country with whom he was 
closely affiliated and whose confidence 
he enjoyed to the fullest extent. 

In 1884 he became one of the di- 
rectors of the Colorado Coal & Iron 
Co., now the Colorado Fuel & Iron 
Co., a concern of great magnitude, 
including among its officers and di- 
rectors many men of national finan- 
cial fame. Almost immediately after 
his election, he was appointed a com- 
mittee to make an examination of the 
properties of the company ; and upon 
his return, was made its first vice- 
president, which office he retained 
many years. Mr. Curtis became a 
member of the New York Stock Ex- 



change in 1900, but sold his seat in 
1905, having retired from active bus- 
iness. 

In 1891 he removed to his present 
residence in Plainfield, where he lives 
in retirement. Mr. Curtis is a great 
lover of art, of which he is an ac- 
knowledged connoisseur, and for the 
past twenty years has been collecting 
bronzes, rare books, paintings and oth- 
er articles. His collection of ancient 
glass, is admitted by all authorities 
who have seen it, to be the most rare 
and valuable in the world and impossi- 
ble to duplicate. It contains pieces said 
to date 2,500 to 3,000 years B. C, and 
includes twenty-eight unbroken pieces 
of the Murrhina or inlaid ruby glass, 
of which only about thirty-four are 
known to exist. This glass was very 
valuable in Rome in Nero's time. 
Many of his porcelains and other ar- 
ticles are of almost priceless value, 
and includes the famous Chinese, soft 
paste, Ming period. Ostrich Egg vase, 
known throughout the art world. 
His home is a marvel of interest and 
his collection is a most creditable one 
to the country, and has been made 
possible only through his infallible 
knowledge, correct eye and an inborn 
taste for things rare and beautiful, 
which only wealth could develop. Mr. 
Curtis is a member of several social 
and art clubs. 

]Mr. Curtis was married in New 
York City June 8, 1 881, to Ada Hulse 
of that city, a lady of rare accomplish- 
ments, but whose mission in life, to 
brighten the lives of others, was cut 
short February 18, 1896. when she 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



537 



was called to the great Jehovah, after 
presiding over her beautiful home in 
Plainfield, and becoming the mother 
of three daughters, as follows: Ada 
Florence, Harriet Louise and Sylvia 
Johnson. 



<HARLES LEE ROCKWELL. 

C harles Lee Rockwell, president of 
the First National Bank and the City 
Savings Bank, of Meriden, was born 
at Ridgefield, Conn. He is the son 
of Francis A. and ]\Iary (Lee) Rock- 
well arid is a worthy representative of 
one of the oldest family names in the 
state. He received his education at 
Rev. Dr. David H. Short's School in 
Ridgefield and, at the Fort Edward 
Institute in New York State ; and dur- 
ing his entire business career has been 
identified with the banking business. 
He became teller of the National Bank 
of Norwalk, Conn., in 1863, which 
position he held for seven }ears. com- 
ing to ^leriden in 1870, to become 
cashier of the First National Bank of 
this town, which office he filled most 
acceptably to the institution and its 
patrons until 1902, when, after the 
death of the late John D. Billard, who 
had for many years been its president, 
he was chosen as head of the institu- 
tion which office he has since filled. 

His long connection with the First 
National Bank has been one in which 
his ability as a financier and counsel- 
or has been of benefit to the institu- 
tion. When it became apparent that 
{another savings bank was desirable in 
Nleriden and the City Savings Bank 



was organized, Mr. Rockwell became 
its first secretary and treasurer. 
He later accepted the presidency 
and still continues at its head ; 
and has from the first given the Sav- 
ings Bank close attention resulting 
beneficially to its large number of de- 
l)Ositors. 

Mr. Rockwell was one of the or- 
ganizers of the Meriden Trust & 
Safe Deposit Company and since its 
organization, the treasurer and gen- 
eral manager of the company and 
one of its trustees. This company- 
was chartered by the legislature 
of Connecticut, to act as ex- 
ecutor, administrator, guardian and 
trustee, executing any business en- 
trusted to it by persons, corpora- 
tions, courts of probate or other le- 
gally constituted authority. ]\Ir. 
Rockwell's financial ability as treasu- 
rer and general manager of this insti- 
tution has enabled hiiu to assist the 
widow and or])lian and to win not 
only the confidence but the gratitude 
of a large numljcr of people, with 
whom he has come in business con- 
tact. He was also one of the organ- 
izers and is a director of the First Na- 
tional bank, Ridgefield, Conn. He is 
president of the ]\Iiller Brothers Cut- 
lery Company ; a director of the Mer- 
iden ('utler\ ('()m])any ; was one n\ the 
organizers and directors of the Meri- 
den Horse Railroad Company and for 
some years its treasurer; a director of 
the Meriden hospital ; one of the 
board of park commissioners and 
a trustee of Wesleyan I'niversitw 
Middlet(nvn. Conn. Mr. Rockwell 



538 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




r.IOGRAPniES. 



539 



was married in 1889 to ]^Iiss ]Mary L. 
Everest, daughter of Rev. Dr. Charles 
Hall Everest. Mr. and Mrs. Rock- 
well have two children, Mary Lee 
Rockwell and Charles Everest Rock- 
well. 



H. WALES LLXES. 



]\. Wales Lines was born at Xau- 
gatuck. Conn.. June 3, 1838. He is 
the son of Henry Willis and Harriet 
(Iiunni.ll) Lines, and is a brother of 
Rt. Rev. Edwin Stevens Lines, D. D.. 
Protestant Episcopal bishop of the dio- 
cese of Newark, X. J. He is de- 
scended from Rev. Thomas Hooker. 
founder of the Connecticut Colony ; 
from Elder Brewster, one of the lead- 
ers of the Mayflower party, which 
landed at Plymouth in 1620: from 
Ral[)li Lines, who was in Xew Haven 
in H143 and who was admitted a free 
burgess there in iC)44, and who took 
active part in the concealment and 
care of the Regicides. (Jther ances- 
tors were: Captain Nathaniel \\'hite, 
one of tin- fciunders of .Aliddletown ; 
lohn Coit. one of the founders of Xew 
I -ondon ; Xathaniel lUumell. one of the 
founders of Cheshire, and Rev. Tim- 
othy .Stevens, the first orthodox min- 
ister of ( ilastonbury. 

Mr. Lines is a great-great-grandson 
of Lieutenant Samuel X^ewton, a Rev- 
olutionary soldier, who served in the 
Tenth Company, Second Regiment. 

He is also a great-grandson of Enos 
r.unnell. who was a ])rivate in Com- 
pany Xinc of the Eirst Connecticut 
Regiment, commanded b\- Col. David 



Wooster ; was present and took jjart 
in the capture of St. Johns and the 
siege of Montreal, and after his sec- 
ond enlistment was an orderly sergeant 
in .Stephen R. Bradley's company, w^as 
called out for the defense of X'ew Ha- 
ven July 4, 1779, and other alarms. 

He is the great-grandson of Elisha 
Stevens, one of the minute men 
from Cilastonbur}'. who responded 
to the Lexington alarm and was a 
member of Colonel Wolcott's reg- 
iment during the siege of Boston 
and afterwards in Colonel Jeduthan 
Baldwin's regiment. His service as a 
Revolutionar}- soldier was more than 
seven years and among other engage- 
ments at which he was present, he 
served actively at the battles of Brook- 
l}n Heights, Brandywine. and Ger- 
mantown ; went through the terrible 
privations during the "Winter at \'al- 
leg Forge," and was also present at 
the battle of ^lonmouth and the Siege 
of \'orkt()\\n. 

He is a great-grandson of Weaker 
liooth, also a Revolutionary soldier, 
who. having enlisted at the age of fif- 
teen, served one year as a soldier in the 
Third Comi)any of the I'ifth Battalion, 
conuuandrd by Colonel \\ illiani Doug- 
las; he afterwards served hvc \ears 
in Colonel Webl)'s Regiment, and was 
present at the battles of r)rooklyn 
Heights, Kips l'.a\. White Plains, 
.Springfield, X'. |.. and oilur engage- 
ments. 

Mr. Lines attended the common 
school at X'augatuck and graduated at 
the Iligh school, being valedictorian 
of his class. 



540 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



He learned the mason's trade in 
Naugatnck and Xew Haven, and while 
an apprentice, taught school two win- 
ters in Prospect and later one winter 
in Naugatnck. 

He came to Aleriden in August, 
1862, to fill a two weeks' contract at 
his trade, and has resided here since 
that time. He was employed b}' 
George Bassett until May 23, 1864, 
when with his uncle, the late Charles 
Perkins, he formed a partnership under 
the firm name of Perkins & Lines, and 
conducted business as general con- 
tractors for all kinds of mason work, 
and dealt in building materials. Mr. 
Perkins retired in 1878 and the firm 
of H. Wales Lines & Co. was formed, 
Mr. Lines taking as a partner, H. E. 
Fairchild. The present large corpo- 
ration of which Mr. Lines has for 
many years been the head, was organ- 
ized as a joint stock company under 
the style of The H. Wales Lines Com- 
pany in 1888, and much concerning it 
is stated elsewhere in this volume. 
The growth of this business under his 
management has reflected much credit 
on Meriden, for many of the most im- 
posing buildings, not only in this state, 
but far outside of it, are evidences of 
its thorough and conscientious work. 
During forty-two years these compa- 
nies have not missed a weekly pay-roll 
and have never been involved in a law 
suit. 

Mr. Lines is the president and treas- 
urer of The H. Wales Lines Co. ; di- 
rector of the C. F. Monroe Co., of 
Meriden ; director of the Chapin- 
Stephens Co., Pine Meadow, Conn. ; 



treasurer and a director of the New 
Haven Investment Co. ; president Pa- 
cific Real Estate Co. ; president Meri- 
den Machine Tool Co. ; vice-president 
Meriden Savings Bank and has been 
extensively interested in various other 
large enterprises. 

He served two terms as a member 
of the Board of Education and two 
terms in the Common Council, 1868-9. 
In 1872 he was elected a member of 
the House of Representatives of the 
General Assembly of Connecticut and 
was a member of the committee on 
railroads. 

Mr. Lines was nominated for mayor 
in 1876, being the first mayor chosen 
under strict party alignments, and was 
elected by a majority of 161 ; second 
term majority, 318; third term ma- 
jority, 566. After serving three terms 
he declined a unanimous renomina- 
tion for a fourth term. During his 
first term the common council was a 
tie politically and during his third 
term it was unanimously Republican. 

At the commencement of his first 
term the city offices were in six dif- 
ferent localities and before the close 
of his third term all, with the excep- 
tion of the police department, were lo- 
cated in the town hall. 

Under his administration the fire 
alarm system was Introduced. Before 
his first term only surveys of im- 
provements on two streets had been 
recorded. During his administration 
nearly or quite all the old surveys were 
placed upon record. 

In his first term the revenues of 
the water department were not suf- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



541 




542 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ficient to pay its running expenses 
and the interest upon the water bonds. 
A new water main was laid from j\Ier- 
imere to the center of the city ; the 
meter system was introduced and the 
management of the department was 
placed in the hands of one responsible 
commissioner. The water consump- 
tion was diminished, the revenues in- 
creased and at the close of his third 
term from the surplus a sinking fund 
was established to provide for pay- 
ment of bonds when they should ma- 
ture. 

During his first term the legal ex- 
penses were large, as the city had more 
than twenty law suits pending. Be- 
fore the close of his last term these 
expenses were very light and at its 
termination every law suit had been 
settled. 

Two new fire houses were built 
while he was mayor, the equipment 
of the department improved and its 
efficiency greatly increased. 

Economy was introduced in the 
management of every city department, 
the efficiency of each was increased 
and the expense of each was reduced. 
The first year that the city had been 
managed within its income and the 
city debt reduced was the first year of 
his administration, and his first an- 
nual report gave to the citizens of 
Meriden the first debt statement and 
the first table of appropriations, ex- 
penditures and unexpended balances. 

The rate of the city tax during his 
•first term was eight and one-half mills 
and the city debt was reduced that 
year $6,519. The second year the city 



tax rate was eight mills and the city 
debt was reduced $17,537. The third 
year the city tax rate was seven and 
one-half mills and the city debt was 
reduced $24,954. 

Under Mr. Lines" administration a 
complete revision of the city charter 
was made, and also a thorough refor- 
mation in regard to the running of the 
cit}' by departments ; and the system 
of keeping accounts introduced by him 
has been continued ever since by the 
cit\- officials. 

During his three terms as mayor, 
comprising the years 1877-8-9, the city 
made a very creditable showing in 
public improvements. 

In 1879 Mr. Lines was by a major- 
ity of 491 elected from the Sixth dis- 
trict to the State Senate and served in 
that body two sessions. In the senate 
he was chairman of the Committee on 
Cities and Boroughs, and Capitol Fur- 
nishings, Buildings and Grounds and 
Contested Elections. During the 
three terms he served in either 
branch of the General Assembly each 
Meriden matter in his charge passed 
without change or amendment. He 
never lost a committee report nor was 
one amended except upon his motion. 

It was during his service in the Sen- 
ate that the late Honorable O. H. 
Piatt received his first election a> 
United States senator from Connecti- 
cut. 

In 1888 ^Ir. Lines was the Repub- : 
'ican candidate for Congress from the 
Second district, being defeated by be- 
tween 700 and 800 votes ; the Demo- 
cratic candidate f(^r president at the 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



543 



same election carried the district by 
2,500 majority and the Democratic 
candidate for governor by 3,203. 

In 1902 Mr. Lines was a delegate to 
the Constitntional Convention, elected 
by a majority of rKp, and was twice 
appointed a member of the two special 
■conimittees to secure an agreement on 
the representation question. 

"Sir. Lines is a member of the com- 
mission to remodel and improve the 
state capitol and to report to the Gen- 
eral Assembly a suitable separate 
"building- for the State Library and Su- 
preme Court together with estimates 
•of the cost of construction of the same : 
and a member of the Fort Griswold 
Tract Commission which has the care 
•of the old Fort Griswold battle 
grounds on Ciroton Heights. 

He is also chairman of the Senator 
O. H. Piatt memorial commission. 

As a private citizen, ^Ir.. Lines has 
always taken an active part in advanc- 
ing the interests of Meriden, and all 
plans for the development of the tow n 
have been favored by him. 

In March, 1879. at a meeting of the 
citizens of .Meriden, held in the old 
Town hall, he recommended a plan 
of action, which being followed, se- 
cured to the Inisiness of Meriden its 
first general and considerable reduc- 
tion of freight rates and im])roved 
•conditions as to the deli\-er\ of manu- 
factured goods at their destinatiniis. 

He was one of those who after sev- 
eral defeats in town meeting, tinall\- 
succeeded in securing the passage of 
the resolution establishing in 1881 a 
liigh school in Meriden and an appro- 



priation for the support of the same. 

He is chairman of Town Hall LUiild- 
ing Committee, appointed to build the 
new town hall, in accordance with the 
report of which he is the author and 
which was adopted in a town meeting 
held March 2^. 1904. The first 
appropriation for the construction of 
the building was $150,000, and the 
original contract was made within that 
limit. .\ second a])pro])riation of 
$62,000 to make the ])uil(ling more 
nearly fireproof and improve its exter- 
ior, was afterwards made and the 
building is now being comj^leted with- 
in the appropriation. 

Cpon the recommendation of .Mr. 
Lines, Congress has been asked to 
make a more adequate a])i)ropriation 
than $100,000 for the ])ro])osed new 
federal building and has furnished to 
the committee having the matter in 
charge revised ])lans, estimates and 
other data used in sujijiort of their 
claims. 

When in .\iigust, 1S7S. the tornado 
created such fearful death and destruc- 
tion at Walling ford, Ma_\or Lines 
called the first public meeting held in 
C'onnecticut. was a])i)oiuted chairman 
of the relief committee and had the 
satisfaction of transmitting something 
more than $2,000 to Warden Charles 
I). N'ale ii'V tile reli^-f of the sufferers 
in the mother town. 

During the famine in Irelaml .Mr. 
Lines was one of the s])eakers at the 
meeting lu'ld in the old Town hall, 
l'"ebruar\ <). iSSd. and in res]ionse to 
his appeal a large sum was then and 
there ])ledged for the relief of the 



544 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



needy and helpless people of Ireland. 
He was two years in succession chair- 
man of the committee that raised a 
goodly subscription for the relief of 
the citizens of Memphis, Tenn.. dur- 
ing the epidemic of yellow fever. 

He has been a staunch friend of the 
Union soldier and has always been 
ready to secure a just recognition of 
his claims. He keenly appreciates and 
preserves carefully many votes of 
thanks received from the local Grand 
Army Post. 

Mr. Lines, although he has an ex- 
tensive career as a public man and 
during the past forty years has been 
honored with many prominent posi- 
tions within the gift of the people of 
the town and city, has never sought 
any political office, and his public ser- 
vices have been given unselfishly and 
in all cases without pecuniary consid- 
eration. 

His opinion and judgment upon any 
matter is slowly formed and firmly 
held. Precise in speech, accurate in 
method and of a commanding person- 
ality, his mental strength and his large 
grasp upon afifairs have always made 
him a dominating force in any com- 
pany. He was never known to use 
illiberal language towards an enemy 
nor to abandon a friend. 

He is a forceful public speaker of 
the deliberative type, carefully weigh- 
ing every word, seeking always to be 
correct in what he states rather than 
to be eloquent, and to convince rather 
than to please. 

In politics he is a Republican, and 
although he never sought political hon- 



ors he has for more than a (juarter of 
a century been regarded all over Con- 
necticut as a wise and sound adviser 
in matters affecting party policies and 
candidates. He took an active part 
in making two notable contributions to 
the service of good government which 
have become political history in the 
state; the first was in 1879 when, as 
chairman of the organization which 
conducted the campaign, the late 
Hon. O. H. Piatt was elected to the 
United States Senate ; the second was 
in 1902 when he conceived the idea^ 
and directed the campaign which 
brought about the nomination of the 
Hon. Abiram Chamberlain for gov- 
ernor of Connecticut, he having had 
the honor of presenting the name of 
Air. Chamberlain to the Republican 
state convention. 

Mr. Lines is a member of the fol- 
lowing organizations: Young Men's 
Republican Club, New Haven ; Home 
and Colonial Clubs, IMeriden ; Con- 
necticut Historical Society ; New Ha- 
ven Colony Plistorical Society ; a life 
member of New London Comity His- 
torical Society ; one of the board 
of managers of the Conn. Society,. 
Sons of American Revolutii)n ; and 
])resident of Captain John Couch 
Branch, Meriden, Conn., Society Sons 
of American Revolution ; director Mer- 
iden Board of Trade ; life member Y. 
M. C. A. of Meriden ; member Mayors' 
Association of Connecticut. He is a 
member of the order of Ro\al Arca- 
num ; Knights of Honor and I. O. 0- 
F. ; Mecca Temple, Nobles of the 
Mvstic Shrine, New York Citv : M^er- 



CIOGRAPIIIES. 



545 



nhiua Lha])ter. (Jrder of the Eastern 
Star. Mcriden. 

He is a member of Meridian Lodge, 
77, A 1-". & A. AI., of wliich he served 
as worshipful master in 1872. Al- 
thoujjli knighted at Xew Haven he is 
one of the cliarter members of St. 
Ehiio Commandcry, Xo. 9, Knights 
Templar, of Aieriden. in which he 
served as eminent commander, in 
1869, J 870, 1873. 1874, 1875, and 
1888. and of which he has now l^een 
treasurer for twenty-seven }"ears. 

Mr. Lines received his thirty-third 
and last degree, becoming a mem- 
ber of the Supreme Council at 
Chicago, 111., the highest governing 
body of that rite in the northern juris- 
diction, at its annual session Septem- 
ber 19. 1893. He is also member of the 
Royal Order of Scotland ; honorary 
member Harmony Lodge, 42, F. & A. 
M., \\'aterl)ury. Conn. ; and is chair- 
man of the board of visitors of the 
Ci)nnecticut Masonic Home at W'al- 
lingford. .\[r. Lines in 1877 and 
1878 was the grand commander of the 
Grand Commander}- of Connecticut. 
He is now (jrand Treasurer of the 
(jrand Encampment, Knights Tem- 
plar, of r. S. A. Tlis first election 
was in 1886 and all his later elections 
have been 1)\ unanim(jus vote. 

His Masonic biogra])hy sa\s of him : 
"in all these organizations he has 
shown the (pialitits that ad(jrn his in- 
dividuality. Possessed of a well bal- 
anced mind and of a tjuaciors pur- 
pose, he has exercised an intluencc 
ipon his associates, and in many things 
f cntrrnriso and larger undertaking 

.^5 



he has made good proof of his capa- 
bilities as a prudent adviser, and a 
wise and courageous leader. He is a 
man possessed of strong convictions 
and of generous and gentle sentiments 
as \yd\ : large minded and tolerant, his 
heart responds to the truths and prin- 
cipals fundamental in Masonic teach- 
ing and whose life is held to loving 
service in the ways of righteousness 
and true benevolence." 

The above sentiments so warmly 
put are no less true as applied to his 
forty and more years as a citizen of 
the town of Meriden, where as a kind 
and considerate neighbor and staunch 
friend of the worthy he has endeared 
himself to his fellow townsmen by 
his loyalt}- to their best interests. 

Mr. Lines was married June 23, 
1861, to Sarah (Congdon), daughter 
of Rev. ^^'ashington and Louisa 
(Xichols) ]Munger, of W'aterford, 
Conn., and to them the following chil- 
dren have been born: Harriet L. (Mrs. 
Robert L. Peck) Kensington, Conn. ; 
Henry W., who died in infancy ; Sarah 
L. (.Mrs. JM-ank L. Hamilton), Meri- 
den, Conn.: Clara 1!. (Airs. Roger B. 
de lUissy), Winchester. Mass.; Ellie 
M. (Mrs. JM-ank .\1. Chapin), Pine 
.Meadow. Conn., grand worthy mat- 
ron of the order of the h^astern Star 
of C( mnecticut. 



CHARLIES THOMPSOX DODD. 



Charles Thomiison Dodd. manufac- 
turer of Meriden. and son of Samuel 
and Catherine Dodd, was born in Mer- 
iden October 2;^, 1859. He is descend- 



546 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




lUOC.KAI'lIIKS. 



547 



etl frt)in early colonial ancestry on 
both the paternal and maternal sides. 
He received his early education at pri- 
vate schools and took his preparatory 
course at the Collegiate and Commer- 
cial Institute, Xew Haven. He took 
the scientific or engineering course at 
Vale and graduated from that college 
in 1879. He beg'an his business life 
as an em[)loye of the Hartford En- 
gineering Company and previous to 
engaging in manufacturing on his 
own account acquired further practi- 
cal experience in the offices of the E. 
W. Bliss Co.. Brooklyn, the Wilcox 
.silver IMate and Meriden Gas Light 
companies. In 1886 he purchased 
the cooperage and packing case fac- 
tory of (ieorge Gay, which business 
he has carried on to the present time 
with increasing' success, having added 
largely to the operations of his pre- 
tlecessor. He employs about twenty- 
tive hands and the output of the fac- 
tory not being- confined to Merideu, is 
shipped to dififerent parts of the state. 
The packing cases, casks and l^arrels 
made at the busy plant are of the most 

^bstaTitial character and ])ut togcth- 
■ upon honor. 

Mr. Dodd enjoys a higli rei)ntatiou 
in the manufacturing world and is a 
t'aniiliar fig;ure in social life. He is 
I member of the Ouinui])iac and 

nion League Clubs, of .\'e\\ I laveu : 
ii member and one of tlu' founders of 
)micron chapter of Chi Phi of Vale 
ollepe ; a member of the Vale 
lul) of Xfw Vork City: Home Club 
t Meriden. and the .Meriden Hoard 
t Trade. He is also a leadinu' mem- 



ber of the Meriden (iolf Club and is 
know'n as one of "the syndicate." 

He was married in 1887 to Miss 
Etta Cheesborough Smith, daughter 
of (jershom I!. Smith, of Xew VcM-k. 



\. H. PRESTOX. 



John Henr}- Preston, for thirtv- 
eight years engaged in the hsh Inisi- 
ness in the immediate vicinity of his 
])resent store, is a native of Cheshire, 
Init for the most of his life has resid- 
ed in Meriden. He is a son of Lucius 
and Elizabeth Preston and his family 
name is one identified with Cheshire 
for several generations back. He was 
eflucated in the public schools of that 
town and concluded his edu.cation at 
the Cheshire Academy. 

When the war broke out he enlist- 
ed in Litchfield I)ut after arriving at 
X^ew PLiven. with inaii\ of his voung 
friends, he was sent back to Chesh- 
ire, the authorities refusing to assign 
him to active service on account of his 
youth. In .May. 1862. he again en- 
listed at Cheshire, this time with bet- 
ter success and was sent to the front 
in l''m]:iany A. 2^\h Conn. XOb-., witli 
which regiment he saw a year and a 
half active service, afterwards being 
assigned lo further service in the First 
t'onn. Ilea\\ Artillery, in which he 
continued tuuil the close of the war. 
lie su'ved as a ])ri\ate throughout his 
lhr(.(.' years" term of enlistment and he 
was one of the many who were tak- 
en prisoners at Chancellorsville. 

1 le began his successful mercantile 
life as a clerk in the fi>li market of 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



549 




^yU-f^^-^^ 



550 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



John Beach, located in the basement 
of what was then known as Rogers 
Hotel. Some time later near that lo- 
cation he opened a fish market with 
R. K. Pitkin, which partnership con- 
tinued for a period of two years, when 
Mr. Pitkin retired from the fish busi- 
ness and went to Kansas City, and 
since that time Mr. Preston has con- 
tinued business each year with grow- 
ing success. It was in 1901 that he 
removed to his present market, 39 
East Main street, which was fitted up 
by him with all modern conveniences 
and which comprises one of the most 
attractive in all New England. He 
employs a large number of clerks and 
supplies the first families of the city 
with all kinds of sea food, in which 
he deals exclusively. He stands high 
as a business man and resident of 
Meriden and has shown a disposition 
to lend his influence and give of his 
means to further all commendable and 
charitable objects. He is also pos- 
sessed of a large amount of local pride 
and public spirit. He is a member of 
the Meriden Business Men's Associa- 
tion and of the Meriden Conclave, In- 
dependent Order of Heptasophs. 

He was married April 20, 1867, to 
Elizabeth Clark, of Wallingford, and 
resides in his own comfortable home, 
32 Orange street. 



JA.AIES A. CURTISS. 



James Anson Curtiss, one of the ac- 
tive men of Meriden of 1906, was born 
at Cheshire, Conn., February 23. 1846. 
His parents were John L. and Ellen 



(Mathews) Curtiss. He received a 
good common school education and 
at the age of fifteen went to Iowa City, 
Iowa, where he obtained his first in- 
sight into business life in his father's 
store. He, later, at Kankakee City. 
111., became a clerk in a grocery store 
where he added to his experience, but 
at nineteen he was called upon to re- 
turn to Connecticut to attend to the 
business interests of his grandmother. 
At the age of twenty-one he married. 
November 6, 1867, Hester A. Morgan, 
of Plainville, securing a clerkship in 
a grocery store in that near-by town. 
His industry and courage, ever appar- 
ent, were especially shown two years 
later when he became the proprietor 
of a general store at South Meriden. 
His success was such that at the end 
of three years more he was enabled to 
start the "Old Original Cash Grocery" 
at 17 Colony street which in later 
years became owned by C. N. Button 
& Co., and afterwards by H. C. Bi- 
beau. This store Mr. Curtiss contin- 
ued for twelve years, during which he 
not only built up a large trade but an 
enviable reputation for honorable bus- 
iness dealings and low prices ; the lat- 
ter he was enabled to do with the 
aid of that most desirable quantity 
"cash sales," which was his watch- 
word and which ever proved a bene- 
fit, both to him and his customers. 
Through his success as a retail grocer, 
speculator in horses and operator of 
local real estate ; and by the aid of var- 
ious enterprises in which he graduall} 
became interested, he was enabled to 
engage in the wholesale grocery trade. 



i!I()(;kaimiiks. 



551 




'iH.tos by R. S. Godfrey. 



WARI-.TIOUSIi: OF TAMES A. CURTISS. 



552 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 



^j^^^^^u ^, ^Sma^ 



lilOGRAPHIES. 



555 



his first jobbing house being at I02 
West Main street. Growth of busi- 
ness compelled him in 1900 to re- 
move to the location, 136 State street, 
where excellent railroad facilities are 
enjoyed and which Air. Curtiss occu- 
pies for the purposes of his w'holesale 
grocery and cofifee roasting business, a 
large three-story brick building with a 
frontage of 100 or more feet. 

His wholesale trade has for some 
years, therefore, been well established ; 
and by buying his goods as advantag- 
eously as Xew York and Boston 
wholesalers, he is enabled to meet the 
closest competition. 

Mr. Curtiss has had an eye to im- 
proving local real estate and has grad- 
ually become one of the larger tax- 
payers of the tow'U. He has also be- 
come extensively interested in the 
printing business. He was president 
and almost sole owner of the Converse 
Publishing Co., capitalized at ♦$40,000 ; 
and, since its organization has been a 
large stockholder and president of the 
Curtiss-Way Co. 

He is a member of King Hiram 
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of New Haven, 
and is also a Royal Arch Mason. He 
is a member of the First ^M. E. church, 
and for many years has been one of 
the trustees. His residence on Linsley 
avenue is one of the comely and com- 
fortable Meriden domiciles. He has 
one daughter. Bertha Ellen Curtiss, 



FRANK TREAT SOUTHWTCK. 



Frank Treat Southwick, musician, 
composer, lecturer and bibliophile, was 



born in Cromwell, Conn., October 17, 
1858. His father, Daniel Franklin 
Southwick, came to Meriden with his 
family in 186 1 and established himself 
in the shoe business and for many 
years was one of the more prosperous 
merchants of Meriden. Frank was 
given a liberal education by fond and 
indulgent parents, and early in life 
showed a musical talent, which w^as 
duly encouraged. He became an en- 
thusiastic and promising student of 
music under such teachers as Theo- 
dore Thomas, Otto Singer and George 
E. Whiting, of New York. 

At the age of fifteen he became the 
organist of the First Baptist church 
of Meriden, afterwards accepting a 
similar position at Christ church, 
Hartford ; later at the Church of the 
Holy Trinity, Middletown, and finally 
was ofifered position of organist and 
musical director at the First Presby- 
terian church of Englewood, N. J., 
and ever since accepting that position, 
he has been connected with churches 
of New York and vicinity, having pre- 
sided over the organ at the Church of 
the Holy Trinity, at St. Andrew's, and 
at the West End Presb}terian churcli. 
all of New York City. 

For many years Mr. Southwick has 
been a teacher of music, and has 
trained advanced nnisicians, many of 
them holding professional positions, in 
both this city where he resides, and in 
Xew York where he has become a 
prominent figure in the musical world, 
and has had a studio for the past twen- 
ty years. He has won no little fame 
as a composer of songs and anthems, 



554 



A CENTURY OF MKRIDKX. 



and is also a fluent writer on musical 
subjects, being tboroug'bly conversant 
with the work of the different com- 
posers, and having traveled abroad in 
advancing himself in his profession. 
His semi-annual musicales are looked 
forward to with much pleasure by mu- 




DANIEL F. SOUTIIWICK. 

sic lovers. He was one of the found- 
ers of the American Guild of Organ- 
ists and one of the organizers of the 
Manuscript Society, both of New 
York. He possesses a rare and val- 
uable collection of antique books, 
which he prizes highly and which he 
thoroughly appreciates, being a great 
lover of good literature, but especially 
those works which the passing of time 
has made valuable from their raritv. 
He was married in New York City 
to Emma L. Thom])son, in 1895, 



and to them have been born a son, 
Laurence Francis Conway Camp 
Southwick. 

Daniel Franklin Southwick, father 
of our subject, was born in Middle- 
town, August 9, 1832, and was de- 
scended from Laurence and Cassan- 
dra Southwick, English Quakers, who 
came to this country in . 1658, and 
took refuge at Shelter Island, from 
which that locality derived its name. 
Daniel Southwick went to California 
in 1850 to search for gold, joining the 
forty-niners, but after his adventure 




FRANK 



.SOUTHWICK. 



returned to Hartford, and engaged in 
the shoe business, which he carried on 
successfully until he came to Meriden 
as above stated, and opened a store ir 
the Collins block, which he conducted 



Illor.KAI'llIKS. 



oo:> 



for several years with pronounced suc- 
cess. He was one of the founders of 
the Ucccher Manufacturing' Compan}-. 
who carried on the manufacture of 
drop fcrgings on Center street. Mr. 
South wick was enterprising, pubHc- 
spirited and generous. His wife was 
Sarah j. Cam]:), of Middletown, before 
her marriage, and both were for thirt\ 
vears members of the First Congrega- 
tional churcli, to which and to other 
worthy oljjects, Mr. Southwick con- 
tributed hberally. He died ]\larch ii, 
1898, much beloved and respected by 
his neighbors on Curtis street, where 
he resided with his family, and also b\' 
the citizens of the town. 



1-KXXER BUSH. 



]'"enner lUish, whose life furnishes 
an example of a remarkable business 
career, and who was one of the earl\- 
manufacturers of Meriden, was born 
at East Lyme, Conn., June 26, 1791. 
His father, John Bush, died when he 
was but six years old. and Fenner 
lUish. from that age, became self-su])- 
jxjrting. He learned the trade of a 
carpenter and joiner at sixteen, and at 
twenty-one, after returning from ser- 
vice in the War of 1812, engaged in 
business, afterwards buying out his 
f(jrmer employer, and later buying a 
liouse in Saybrook, having ])reviousl\-. 
in 1816. married Eunice Kirtland, of 
that town. 

C(jming to Akriden in 1S24. lie cn- 
aged in the comb manufactiu'ing bus- 
ness with Julius I'ratt. Twenty 
ears later their factorv was destroved 



by fire, and he lost every dollar he had 
in the world. With characteristic 
courage he started to rebuild his fac- 
tory, and with improved machinery, 
continued with well-earned ])rosperitv. 
He became one c^f the largest stock- 
holders in the concern, which not only 
made a name for him in the business 
world, but an honorable ])osition in so- 
ciety. The product of his industry in 
a few years destroyed foreign compe- 




ls i-:x.\i-.r i;r.sir. 

tition. and in a large measure he was 
hnalK" responsible in transforming the 
Cnited States from a countr\ import- 
ing combs, to one ex])orling them in 
largt' (|uantities, and the combs made 
at his factory linally l)ecame u>ed all 
over the civilized world. 

Mr. I'lush was a man of great inde- 
])endence of ihought and action. He 



556 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



was whole-souled and generous almost 
to a fault, giving liberally to worthy 
objects. At least three of the churches 
and five schools were partially built 
from his means, and he contributed 
generously to the cause of anti-slavery. 

Mr. Bush, although deprived of 
early schooling, and almost man- 
grown before he could read or write, 
finally became a well-read and self-ed- 
ucated man. He served in the State 
Senate from Meriden in 1848, and at 
the time of his death possessed a li- 
brary at his home of 1,500 volumes. 
From the time when he first moved to 
Meriden from Saybrook, until the end 
of his life, he was an earnest and con- 
sistent member of the First Congrega- 
tional church. 

.Mr. Bush was the fond father of 
two daughters : Temperance Jennette, 
who became the wife of Randolph 
Linsley, a sketch of whom appears 
following ; and Eunice Kirtland, who 
married Partrick T- Clark. 



RANDOLPH LINSLEY. 



Randolph Linsley, for whom Ran- 
dolph and Linsley avenues are named, 
was born in Meriden November 10, 
1809, and died in the brick residence 
on West Main street hill, which he 
had built some years previous, on his 
property, January 22, 1887. With the 
exception of short periods away his 
€ntire life was spent in Meriden. He 
was one of the sturdy, reliable, God- 
fearing men of the town, and was pos- 
sessed of a strong physique and active 
brain. 



Li 1835 he married Temperance J., 
daughter of Fenner Bush, one of the 
pioneer manufacturers of the town, 
and before the Civil war he engaged in 
the manufacture of combs with Wal- 
ter Webb & Co., whose factory was at 
South Meriden and at one time acted 
as their agent in England. After the 
close of that war he engaged in 
cotton raising in the south but returned 




RAXDOLPII LINSLEY. 

to [Meriden, and on a tract of land 
comprising about fifteen acres, where 
he also took up his residence, entered 
into the florist business. 

He did business on a large scale and 
his plant eventually comprised four- 
teen or fifteen greenhouses. His 
flowers were shipped to New York and 
sold at wholesale, and he also supplied 
to the ]^Ieriden markets, large quanti- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



557 



ties of asparagus, lettuce and celery. 
He owned, too, a number of acres of 
land farther west in Meriden and 
through which Hickor}- street now ex- 
tends, and was one of the first in Con- 
necticut to engage in peach growing 
on a large scale. While high spirited 
and exacting, Mr. Linsley was a man 
entitled to the respect of his fellow 
townsmen, and this he held in marked 
degree. He is remembered by some 
of the older residents as a man exceed- 
inglv fond of music. A constant and 
lo_\al member of the First Congrega- 
tional church, he always occupied a 
seat near the choir. 

That Mr. Linsley was thoughtful 
and prudent seems to be proven by the 
fact that when the city commenced to 
grow in his direction, he sold land at 
a good i)rice, until he had gradually 
disposed of it all. He erected the 
brick residence in which he died and 
which is now the parsonage of Trinity 
M. K. church. 

Mr. Linsley was the father of eight 
children, of whom are now living the 
following: William }*>. Linsley. of Es- 
canaba, ^Nlich., superintendent of the 
Chicago & Xorthwestern Railroad ; 
Thomas Linsle}', a lumber merchant of 
Michigan : Xellie and Jessie Linslew 
and Mrs. Sarah L. Allen, of St. Louis, 
Mo. 



I-:i)\\'ARD C. ALLi:\. 

Kflward Chauncey Alkn. Ixirn in 
Meriden May 26. 1823. was the third 
son of Levi and Electa ( Hall 1 Allen. 



grandson of Archelaus and Prudence 
(Merriam) Allen, and of Aaron and 
Elizabeth (Cook) Hall of Walling- 
ford. Conn. 

?^Ir. Allen was a lineal descendant in 
the sixth generation of Roger Allen, 
who in 1639 came from England 
(Kempston, Bedford county), was the 
first and only treasurer of the colony 
of New Haven from May 29, 1661, un- 
til its union with the colonv of Connec- 




l-.DWAKO c. .\!.i.i:x. 

ticut Ma_\' 14. i'»')5, and tleacnn in the 
first church in 1669. l-'mni Roger 
Allen the descent is traced through 
'"Sargcant" Samuel Allen, Daniel Al- 
len. Timdlliy Allen, Arclielaus Allen, 
Levi Allen to Edward Chauncey. 

Archelaus was a soldier of the Rev- 
olution, enlisting at the time of the 
Lexington alarm, and serving with the 



558 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Connecticut troops in the Boston expe- 
dition under Cieneral Putnam. 

Aaron Hall, the maternal grand- 
father, enlisted in 1777 at the age of 
sixteen, in Capt. Stephen Hall's com- 
pany of Col. Heman Swift's Seventh 
Regiment, "Connecticut Line,"" and 
was honorably discharged at the expir- 
ation of his term of service in 1780. 
He served under General Washington 
in the battles of Germantown, Bran- 
dywine, ^Monmouth, etc., wintered at 
Valley Forge, 1777-78, Redding, Conn 
1778-79, took part in the storming of 
Stony Point and wintered at Morris- 
town Heights 1779-80. 

On his return from the war he lived 
in Wallingford where he occupied an 
influential position, was a justice of the 
peace, an arbitrator in controversies 
and engaged in settling estates until 
his death in his sevent\-ninth year. 

Levi Allen was born IMarch 30. 
1777, in that part of Wallingford 
known as Xorth Farms. He removed 
to Meriden with his parents in 1793. 
and purchased a homestead ( still 
standing) of Giles Collins, where he 
died August 27, 1861. 

Edward Chauncey received a good 
public school or academic education 
and with his first earnings which were 
obtained by teaching he bought land 
adjoining his father"s farm and built 
a home. For man-}- years his farm 
was regarded as one of the model 
farms of the state, and as an officer of 
the State Agricultural Society, he took 
special pride in everything pertaining 
to progressive farming. Mr. Allen 
was also prominent in the advance- 



ment of the musical interests of the 
church and community with which he 
was connected, and was one of the 
directors of the Worcester Festival As- 
sociation, which gave the first of those 
now famous New England musical 
events. 

In July, 1840, he became a member 
of the First Congregational church in 
Meriden and in 1857 was chosen a life 
deacon in that church. He never 
sought political honors, but was an 
earnest Republican, doing all in hi^ 
power to advance the principles thai 
he believed his party representerl. 

Mr. Allen's first wife was Jeruslia 
Temperance, a daughter of Joseph 
Piatt, of Deep River, Conn, and grand- 
daughter of Captain Daniel Piatt, a 
soldier of the Revolution in the Fourth 
Regiment of the "Connecticut Line." 
by whom he had four children, three 
now surviving, viz. : Captain George 
W., Caroline J. (now Mrs. A. B. Jen- 
nings) and John Piatt Allen. 

His second wife was Sarah Hillanl 
Linsley, daughter of Randolph Lins- 
ley. of ]\Ieriden. By this marriage 
there were two children, Edward Lins- 
ley and Emma Jennette (now Mr?. 
Nelson Moody). Mr. Allen died Jul} 
13. 1887. 

Captain George W. Allen, his oldest 
son, enlisted in Captain Bassett's Com- 
pany, Fifteenth Connecticut Regiment, 
early in the Civil war and after ser- 
vice in Virginia and the Carolinas was 
appointed captain in the Twenty-ninth 
Regiment, Connecticut \'olunteers and 
served before Petersburg. Richmond 
and at Brownsville. Texas, 



I'.lOGKAl'HIES. 



559 



Cr..\RA LOl'TSE SAXDS. 



Clara Louise Sands, who during- her 
useful life, collected more g;enealogi- 
cal inf(>rmation concerning" American 
families probably than any other in- 
dividual in this country, was born in 
New York City, February 17. 1862. 
She was the daughter of Jesse and 
Mar\' Melvina (Turner) Sands and 




( LAkA LOUISE SANDS. 

was descended frdui Jnhn W'akenian. 
first treasurer of Xew Haven colon \ 
f<»r twenty years, and one of ibe orig- 
inal settlers of Xew 1 faven in 1639. 
and many other early and distinguished 
ancestors. Her mother died when she 
was but an infant, and she grew to 
womanhood mulcr ihe watchful care 
"of a fond and indul-'ent father, who 



gave her a liberal education. She 
possessed many admirable and lovable 
traits which, althoug-h a great physical 
sufferer, as she became of age, grew 
more pronounced. Patience, accu- 
racy and serenity were ever exempli- 
fied in her character, those admirable 
qualities necessary to the successful 
student. 

Her work in the research for fam- 
il}- genealogy brought her unstinted 
praise ; and having collected the lead- 
ing books on the subject to aid her, 
she was encouraged to make this her 
life work. ( iraduall}' she became 
more familiar with the records of 
towns, cities and their courts and li- 
braries until her name Ijecame famous 
as an expert and familiar to the libra- 
rians and to the public press, to all of 
which she was a justl}- celebrated cor- 
respondent. Her success as a search- 
er for genealogical information and 
compiler of family records was great- 
er than has ever l)een known. She 
took a vast pride in this eomnienda- 
])le work and her remarkable ])ersever- 
ance was a strong factor in her ulti- 
mate accom])lishment of everx task un- 
dertaken. Iler work ])rought her 
wide repute and she had correspond- 
ence not onl\- in ever\ state in the 
r.nion. ])Ul in every country in the 
world where the kngli>]i language is 
s])oken and jund rated by .\merican 
families; and wlicre otlirr genealo- 
gists failed her services, meibo(ls. ])a- 
tience and ]H'rseverance brought the 
desired results, .^he was for many 
years a coiUributor to the genealogical 
records of the lloston Transcript. Xew 



56o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



York Mail and Express, Hartford 
Times, Newark News, Connecticut 
Quarterly and many western publica- 
tions ; and her compilation of geneal- 
ogical records for individuals brought 
her the love and esteem of number- 
less families in this and other coun- 
tries. She loved this work and took 
infinite delight in making herself use- 
ful to others, and her death, which oc- 
curred June 15, 1902, removed from 
Meriden one of its most lovable Chris- 
tian characters. In the genealogical 
collection included in her estate she 
left an almost priceless heritage, wdiich 
in January, 1903, her executors pre- 
sented to the Curtis Public Library 
as a memorial to her name. After her 
death the members of her family re- 
ceived from all parts of the country 
glowing testimonials of the value of 
her collection, which was conceded by 
the best authorities the most accurate, 
clear and rarest compilations in exist- 
ence. The gift was much appreciat- 
ed b>- the trustees of the library, 
for without doubt the Curtis Public 
Library of ]\Ieriden now contains 
more material for the research of fam- 
ily records than any other in this coun- 
try. 

The collection comprises the follow- 
ing books and pamphlets : 

Vol I. — Signers of the Mayflower 
compact and their descendants and 
other earliest emigrants. 

\'ol. 2 — Boston Transcript geneal- 
ogical records. 

Vol. 3 — Mail and Express geneal- 
ogical records. 



Vol. 4 — Mail and Express written 
genealogical records (very rare). 

\ ol. 5 — Transcript and Alail and 
Express records. 

\'ol. 6 — Family names and where 
found in genealogies and on records. 

A'ol. 7. — Genealogies and family his- 
tories. 

\'ol. 8 — Connecticut emigrants to 
other states. 

V^ol. 9 — Hartford Times, Newark 
News and other publications' geneal- 
ogical records. 

Vol. 10 — Connecticut Quarterly 
^Magazine records. 

Vol. II — Connecticut Quarterly 
Magazine records. 

Vol. 12 — Connecticut Quarterly 
Magazine records. 

Vol. 13 — Old Nor western Quarter- 
ly genealogical records. 

Vol. 14 — The Owl genealogical rec- 
ords. 

Vol. 15 — Genealogical records of 
families, A. 

Vol. 16 — Genealogical records of 
families, B. 

Vol. 17 — Genealogical records of 
families, C. 

Vol. 18— Genealogical records of 
families, D. 

Vol. 19 — Genealogical records of 
families, E. 

Vol. 20 — Genealogical records ot 
families, F. 

Vol. 21 — Genealogical records of 
families, G. 

\'ol. 22 — Genealogical records of 
families, H. 

Vol. 23— Genealogical records of 
families, L J, K. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



s6l 



\'ol. 24 — Genealogical records of 
families, L. 

\"ol. 25 — Genealogical records of 
families, M. 

\'ol. 26 — Genealogical records of 
families, X. 

Vol. 2y — Genealogical records of 
families, O. 

\'ol. 2S — Genealogical records of 
families, r\ Q. 

Vol. 29 — Genealogical records of 
families, R. 
I Vol. 30 — Genealogical records of 
families, S. 

Vol. 31 — Genealogical records of 
families, T. 

\'ol. 32 — Genealogical records of 
families, I', \'. 

Vol. 33 — Genealogical records of 
families, W. 

\'ol. 34 — Genealogical records of 
families, X. Y, Z. 

\'ol. 35 — Conn. School Journal gen- 
ealogical records. 

\'ol. 36 — Meigs genealog}' and al- 
lied families. 

Vol. 37 — Kent genealogy and al- 
ied families. 

\'ol. 38 — Buckingham genealogy 
and allied families. 

\'nl. 39 — Prince genealogy and al- 
lied families. 

Vol. 40 — Eastman genealogy and 
allied families. 

\'ol. 41 — Sharon l)irths, deaths and 
marriages. 

Vol. 42 — Bodge's Indian wars. 

Vol. 43 — Palfrey's New England. 

Vol. 44 — Palfrey's X^ew England. 

\ ol. 45 — History of Fairfield coun- 
l\. 

36 



\'ol. 46 — History of Xevv Haven 
county. 

\'ol. 47 — History of Danbury. 

\'ol. 48 — History of Rhode Island. 

Vol. 49 — History of Block Island. 

Vol. 50 — History of Saratoga. 

Vol. 51 — History of New Jersey. 

Vol. 52 — History of Pennsylvania. 

Vol. 53 — X\'w Jersey Historical col- 
lections. 

Vol. 54 — X^ew York historical col- 
lections. 

Vol. 55 — Massachusetts historical 
collections. 

Vol. 56 — Pennsylvania historical 
collections. 

\'ol. 57 — Genealogical index. 

Vol. 58 — Middlesex county histor- 
ical sketches. 

A'ol. 59 — Portfolio of manuscripts 
of genealogies of families. 

The various pamphlets accompany- 
ing the collection includes : 

Births, deaths and marriages of 
Hartford, Windsor and Fairfield. 

Life of Josiah IMeigs. 

Lane-Griswold genealogy. 

Marvin-Beckwith genealogy. 

Xames and ages of Connecticut old 
folks. 

Governor EYihu Vale. 

h'amily of John Savage. 

Descendants of Stephen Pierson. 

Records of Pynchon family. 

Chatfield genealogy. 

Beckwith notes. 

Statistics of Middlesex county. 

Founders of Ohio. 

Earlv history of Brattleboro, Vt. 

I5ristol centennial records. 

Westchester historical records. 



562 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Glastonbury Centennial records. 

Baptisms, marriages and deaths. 
Congregational church. East Hamp- 
ton. 

Maiden, Alass., historical records. 

Incidents of Revolution in West- 
chester county. 

Johnson genealogy. 

Potter genealogy. 

Blakesley genealogy. 

Clinton's 200th anniversary records. 

Killingworth historical records. 

Stanwich Congregational church 
manual. 

History of Piqua, Ohio. 



GEORGE AUSTIN FAY. 



One of the leading lawyers of the 
New Haven county bar, and a strong- 
factor in contemporary Meriden life, 
is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Fay 
was born in the town of Marlboro, 
Mass., August 29, 1838, and passed 
the early years of his life upon the 
home farm. His education was ob- 
tained in the common school and at 
the high school of his native town 
where he graduated. 

Mr. Fay's parents, George W. and 
Amanda Ward Fay, were descended 
from New Englanders whose ances- 
tors were English people. The first 
i\merican immigrant on the paternal 
side was born in England about 1648. 

When he was twenty-one years of 
age Geo. Fay left Marlboro and came 
to Meriden where he has resided ever 
since. The future lawyer first en- 
tered a position where he combined the 
duties of clerk in the office of the 



Adams Express Company with that 
of operator in the Western Union Tel- 
egraph service. These positions were 
resigned two years later when the 
young man followed the bent of his 
inclination and entered the Law De- 
partment of Yale University, from 
which he graduated with the degree of 
LL. B. in 1862. He entered the office 
of the late Hon. O. H. Piatt, where he 
read law as an assistant, remaining a 
vear ; and in May, 1863, he was ad- 
mitted to the Connecticut bar as an 
attorney at law, which profession he 
has followed ever since. 

Mr. Fay was elected by the Repub- 
licans to the State Senate from the 
Sixth Senatorial District in 1871 and 
served as chairman of the Committee 
on Corporations and also as chairman 
of the Committee on Elections which 
determined whether Hon. James E. 
English, of New Haven, or Hon. Mar- 
shall Jewell should be state governor. 
The contest had been an exciting one 
and Mr. English was elected; but an 
investigation was set on foot which 
resulted in the award of the office t^' 
Mr. Jewell. 

The heights that intluential men 
reach were not attained by sudden 
flight, the poet tells us, and the prom- 
inence which attaches to Lawyer 
Fay's name is due to patient perse- 
verance in a work where will and feel- 
ing both pull together, thereby concen- 
trating the attention and strengthen- 
ing mental efifort. Mr. Fay's emi- 
nence as a lawyer received gratifyniir 
acknowdedgement when the appoint- 
n'ent as counsel for the N. \ ., N- ^ 



IK c;;:.\i'iii) 



5^^3 




564 



A CENTURY OF AIERIDEN. 



& H. railroad was made, which posi- 
tion he holds up to present writing. 
He is also counsel for many large cor- 
porations including the International 
Silver Co., First National Bank, Mer- 
iden Trust & Safe Deposit Co. and 
several other corporations, and having 
amassed a comfortable competency 
now gives but a portion of his time to 
the practice of his profession. 

About 1896 Mr. Fay formed a part- 
nership with Judge W. L. Bennett, a 
resident of New Haven, and ever since 
the firm has maintained offices in Mer- 
iden and New Haven. In 1905 Mr. 
Bennett was appointed judge of the 
Court of Common Pleas by Governor 
Roberts. Mr. Fay, who is the oldest 
member of the bar in Meriden, is a 
capable advocate of the public weal ; 
he is careful of his constituents' inter- 
ests and it may be truthfully said that 
his fearlessness has guided him safely 
through legal storms where a less in- 
trepid lawyer would have compro- 
mised for policy's or expediency's 
sake. 

Although Mr. Fay is a member of 
Meridian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of 
Aleriden, he is connected with no oth- 
er organizations. 

In 1865 Mr. Fay was married to 
Miss Jennie M. Curtis, daughter .of 
Alfred P. Curtis, a lady of gentle 
manners and lovable character 



JOHN QUINCY THAYER. 



A man of high standing in the le- 
gal profession is John Quincy Thayer, 
chosen judge of the Probate court of 



Meriden in 1893, and who has held 
that judiciary office to the present 
writing. He is a son of Augustine 
and Electa (Fairchild) Thayer, and 
although he has resided in Meriden 
for a third of a century, he was born 
in New Mil ford. Conn., March 24, 
1843. His father was a man of 
prominence there and a well-to-do 
carpenter and builder possessed of a 
judicial mind which was inherited to 
the fullest extent by his son. 

On the maternal side Judge Thayer 
is descended through one of the old- 
est families in Fairfield county, and 
Thomas Fairchild, the first of his an- 
cestors to come to America from 
England, settled in Stratford where he 
became one of the leading men at the 
time of the first settlement of that 
town, and who died December 14, 
1670. His son, Thomas, was the first 
white man born in Stratford, and Jo- 
siah. son of Thomas, born in Strat- 
ford in 1644, was a landowner. Ed- 
ward Fairchild, son of Josiah, 
was born in Stratford, but in 
1720 removed to Newtown, where the 
Fairchild family have ever since been 
prominent in the affairs of that town. 
James Fairchild, son of Edward, was 
a landowner and farmer in Newtown, 
and his eldest son, Silas Fairchild, was 
born in Newtown in 1748, and died 
in that town in 1821. Before his 
death he became a captain and was 
commissioned by Governor Trumbull. 
His son, Joseph Fairchild, born .-Au- 
gust 12, 1770, died June 2^, 1855, and 
by his second wife, Amarillas Dibble 
of Danbury, their daughter. Electa, 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



56: 




566 



A CENTURY OF M ]-:KII)KN. 



the mother of Judge Thayer, was 
born. 

John Ouincy Thayer received his 
preparatory education in the old 
Housatonic Institute, but his proposed 
cohege course was postponed on the 
breaking out of the Civil war ; for 
he enlisted in Company I, 8th Conn. 
A^ols. Infantry, September 21, 1861, 
remaining with his regiment until af- 
ter the close of the war, and receiving 
an honorable discharge after four 
years and three months' service, dur- 
ing wdiich he earned an enviable rec- 
ord and participated in a large num- 
ber of important engagements. 

After the close of the war he re- 
sumed the study of his chosen pro- 
fession and became a student in the 
law office of William Knapp, at New 
Milford, under whose tutelage he was 
admitted to the Litchfield county bar 
in 1869. He first began practice of 
law in Meriden in the office of the late 
Hon. O. H. Piatt, but three years 
later became the law partner of Hon. 
Ratcliffe Hicks, of wdiom much is said 
elsewhere in this volume, under the 
firm name of Hicks & Thayer, a part- 
nership which continued several }"ears. 
For many years Judge Thayer has 
held public office. After serving sev- 
eral terms as city attorney, he became 
associate justice and clerk of the ^lu- 
nicipal court of Meriden, wdiich of- 
fices he held for thirteen years, until 
he was chosen to preside over the Pro- 
bate court, in 1893, where he has 
since performed the complicated 
duties of the office, with a fairness of 
decision to all, that has won him the 



gratitude of the community, during 
his long and efficient encumbency of 
that office. 

Judge Thayer is a member of the 
Home Club, Colonial Club, Royal Ar- 
canum and of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, and has served as judge ad- 
vocate of the Department of Connec- 
ticut in the last named organization. 
He was married January 19, 1873, to 
Annie S., daughter of S. K. Dever- 
eux, collector of customs at Castine, 
Maine, and has had one child, Zerline 
Devereux, who was born in Meriden 
May 29, 1880, and died December 
9, 1884. 



WILBUR FISK DA\TS. 



Judge Wilbur Fisk Davis, who was 
born July 25, 1848, in Plymouth, Con- 
necticut, comes of an illustrious an- 
cestry, the Davis famil\- having been 
very well known not only in Meri- 
den, but all over New England. His 
first American ancestor. Dolor Davis, 
was one of the original settlers of 
Ijarnstable, Alass., in 1634. 

His father was Dr. Timoth_\- Fisher 
Davis. His mother was Miss Moriva 
Hatch, of Springfield, Mass., and she 
still survives her husband, making hrr 
home with her children in Meriden. 
Judge Davis is a brother of Dr. 
Charles H. S. Davis, a leading physi- 
cian and ex-mayor of the city. 

Judge Davis received his education 
in the public schools and the acadeni\ 
at Meriden, and then, having chosen 
the law as his profession, began h< 



i!ior.R.\riiii-:s. 



567 




Photo bv Akers & PiRPon. 




7 ^ 



<iJ<^<^^''^/ 



568 



A CENTURY OF MEKIDEN. 



study in the office of Judge Smith. 
In 1869 he entered the Yale Law 
School, where he remained for one 
year. At this time occurred the death 
of. Judge Button, head of the Yale 
Law School, and Mr. Davis, not wish- 
ing to remain in New Haven without 
his tutelage, entered the Harvard Law 
School, where he graduated in 1870. 
In September of that same year he 
was admitted to the New Haven Coun- 
ty Bar, and at once entered upon the 
practice of his profession in Meriden. 
His success was assured from the first ; 
and he has long been conceded to be 
one of Meriden's most successful law- 
yers. His ability soon brought him 
an official position, that of clerk of 
the Meriden City Court, which posi- 
tion he held for several years. In 
1887 he was appointed corporation 
counsel and very successfully upheld 
the civil rights of the city until 1890. 
He was then elected judge of probate 
for the district of Meriden and ably 
filled that office until 1895. He was 
again appointed corporation counsel 
in 1897, which office he held for a fur- 
ther term of two years. 

Judge Davis has acted as adviser 
to many prominent business men and 
corporations, and his excellent judg- 
ment, sound practical sense, and wide 
experience have enabled him to be of 
great service in that capacity. He 
also has been counsel in many impor- 
tant cases, his connection with which 
has gained for him throughout the 
state a high reputation as a lawyer. 
He has ever had the best interest of 
town and city at heart, and his pres- 



ence in town meeting is usually made 
manifest by earnest approval or equal- 
ly hearty condemnation of the mat- 
ters brought before that body. Judge 
Davis is fearless in advocating what 
he believes to be right, and he does 
not allow the mere fact that a meas- 
ure is popular to weigh against his 
own judgment. 

Besides being a successful lawyer 
Judge Davis has an enviable position 
in the life of the city. In December, 
1905, he was tendered the Republican 
nomination for corporation counsel by 
a vote of 19 to i, it being the first time 
in the history of the city^ a nomination 
of this character had been given to a 
political opponent. While the matter 
was still pending in the common coun- 
cil Judge Davis declined the nomina- 
tion, giving his reasons in a letter 
which occasioned much favorable com- 
ment at the time. He is promi- 
nent socially, having been president 
of the Home Club, the leading social 
organization of the city, and is active 
in Masonic circles, being a past com- 
mander of St. Elmo Commandery, No. 
9, K. T., of Meriden. In politics Jud,2;e 
Davis is a Democrat, and his party 
has on many occasions sought his 
counsel, which, like his advice in bus- 
iness matters, has been characterized 
by a certain hard-headed common 
sense that has made it valuable. 

Judge Davis was married May 29, 
1874, to Miss Adelaide Louise Ste- 
vens, daughter of Joshua and Jane 
(Morris) Stevens, of Chicopee Falls, 
Mass. Of five children born to them 
onlv two are now living, Wilbur F. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



569 



Jr., a graduate of the Meriden High 
school where he won a "Hicks' Prize" 
writing upon a "Century of Life in 
Meriden." now a student at PhilHps 
\cadeniv in Andover, Mass., and Rob- 
ert S., a youth in the public schools. 

Judge Davis has a beautiful home 
on East Main street, and he and Mrs. 
Davis have proved themselves pos- 
sessed of genuine hospitality. 



FRANK S. FAY. 



Frank S. Fay, judge of the 
Meriden Police and City courts, one 
of the best known members of the 
legal fraternity in Meriden, was born 
at Marlboro, Mass., on September 26. 
1848, His services on the bench have 
ever been in the direction of justice 
and impartiality and at the same time 
he has been ready to help the unfor- 
tunates whose cases have come before 
him. 

He received his education in the 
high school of his native town. After 
being graduated from that institu- 
tion he came to Meriden to study law 
in the office of his brother, Hon. 
George A. Fay. 

He was admitted to the bar in Sep- 
tember, 1871. In his profession Mr. 
Fay has met with deserved success. 
As a citizen he is held in respect by 
all. The interests of the city and 
town have always been very dear to 
him and by his word and example 
he has done much for both. 

He has held positions of honor and 
responsibilitv and has in everv in- 



stance proved himself worthy of the 
trust imposed upon him. From 1882 
to 1893 he served as prosecuting 
agent for Xew Haven county. Later 
as city attorney he made a record as a 
vigilant and conscientious public ser- 
vant. In 1 89 1 he was town site com- 
missioner in the Territory of Okla- 
homa, deciding land titles for the city 
of Oklahoma. 

When Judge James P. Piatt be- 
came United States district judge, 
Mr. Fay succeeded him as judge of 
the City and Police courts of Meri- 
den, receiving his appointment from 
Governor McLean in March, 1902. 
Judge Fay has taken an interest in 
his duties that has made his services 
of great value to the community. He 
has never forgotten that the prison- 
ers who face him are men and women 
and oftentimes has felt it incumbent 
upon him to give them a few words 
of advice and admonition. 

Judge Fay was chosen one of the 
members of the committee having in 
charge the erection of a new building 
to take the place of the Meriden 
Town Hall, which was burned in Feb- 
ruary, 1903. He has devoted much 
time and thought to the arduous 
work of the committee and has in 
this matter worked for what he con- 
ceived to be the best interests of 
his fellow townsmen. 

Judge Fay is an enthusiastic fisher- 
man and yearly pays a visit to the 
trout streams of Vermont or other 
states. 

Judge Fay was married on Septem- 
ber 28. 1 88 1, at Stuyvesant, N. Y., to 



570 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




IMOCKAIMI IKS. 



Klizabcth I'.., (lau,yhter of Allen J. 
and Martha (Cutter) Ham. His 
home is a most pleasant one and the 
friends who have been privile^s^ed to 
rnter it have ever met with a eordial- 
it\ that was both earnest and sincere. 



WILLIAM CARL MCLrLP:R. 



W'lliam Carl Mueller, a well known 
member of the X^ew Haven Countv 




t'lintn by Aktrs & Pigeon. 

WILLIAM C. MUllLLKR. 

r.ar. who has l:;een favored 1)\' both 
election aiul appointment to several 
jtositions of liinKir an<.l trust, was born 
in (iermanv. .April 27. i8C)4. When 
quite younj^ his family remowd to this 
country, and settled iii .Meridcii in 
1X74. .\fter receiving a i^innl educa- 
tion, he pursued lethal studies at the 



^'ale I aw .Sch.ool, Irom which he 
.graduated in the class of 1886, and 
was admitted to the bar at New Ha- 
ven, June 30 the same year and ever 
since has been enj^a^'ed in the prac- 
tice of his profession in Meriden. He 
was admitted to ]:)ractice in the dis- 
trict and circuit court of the I'nited 
States in March, 1903. 

He held the office of city tax col- 
lector for four years, from 1888- 1893 
inclr.sive and was collector of town 
taxes for six years, during' which time 
he collected over $1,000,000. Jfe has 
also served as city attorney for the 
city and police court of Meriden. 
which duties he hrst assumed July i, 
1893. He served as superintendent 
of the water works for four years from 
Februar}-. 1898. As well as beinj.;" one 
of the professional men of the town 
of high standing', he is ])rominently 
identified with several ( ierman so- 
cieties : is a member of the n(Mue 
Club and the \-arious branches of the 
Masonic fraternity. He is now de- 
\-otiug his entire time to the ])ractice 
of law, in which he has been suc- 
cessful. 

He was married in June, 1895. to 
Agnes, daughter of .\ugust ^'ost. a 
])rominent citizen ol .Meriden. and 
the\ have one child, Carl Howard 
Mueller. 



I1I-:XRV T. KIXG. 



( )iie of the Hoard of Lark Commis- 
sioners of Meriden. a well known 
member of the Xew Haven county 
l)ar, and a citizen of the more progres- 



572 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



sive type, is Henry T. King. He was 
born in Meriden, being the son of P. 
J. and E. M. King, and received his 
early education in the pubhc schools 
of Meriden, and by spending six years 
afterwards at the electrotyping trade, 
accumulated sufficient money to pay 
his own way through Yale Law 
school. 




HENRY T. KING. 

He began the study of law, how- 
ever, under the late Judge George W. 
Smith, but after the death of that well 
known attorney, entered the office of 
Judge Wilbur F. Davis, where he con- 
tinued to receive valuable coaching 
during his attendance at the law 
school. He was graduated with the 
class of 1892, and among his high hon- 
ors received there was the O. S. Sey- 



mour prize of $60.00, for the greatest 
improvement in scholarship. 

Admitted to the bar in 1892, he be- 
gan the practice of his profession in 
his native city. Mr. King has become 
successful in his chosen profession, 
due to his own commendable effort in 
fitting himself for his life work. 

Some years ago he served as one of 
the reportorial staff of the Meriden 
Republican ; was clerk of the Probate 
court for the district of Meriden for 
six years, and prepared the index of 
the probate records ; was for two years 
clerk of the City and Police court ; has 
served the first ward as alderman, 
when he became chairman of the Com- 
mittees on By-laws, Printing and Po- 
lice, and was a member and secretary 
of the first board of public works. 
During his service in the city govern- 
ment, he took a firm stand against the 
establishment of the various commis- 
sions, and was chairman of the coun- 
cil committee that appeared before the 
legislature in opposition to that meas- 
ure. He later drafted the amendment 
to the city charter, whereby the legis- 
lature empowered the city of Meriden 
to add Hubbard Park to its territory, 
and presented the act passed by the 
city government which gave Hubbard 
Park its name. He was honored by 
appointment to the Board of Park 
Commissioners in February, 1906, for 
a term of four years, the choice of 
Mayor Thomas L. Reilly meeting with 
the hearty approval of the public in 
general. 

Attorney King served five years in 
the state militia as a member of Com- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



573 



panv I, C. X. G., and later was 
elected second lieutenant, but on ac- 
count of pressure of business, declined 
the honor. 

He was one of the founders and the 
secretary of the Connecticut Federa- 
tion of Cyclists ; one of the incorpo- 
rators of the Meriden Wheel club ; the 
author of a most comprehensive book- 
let containing the bicycle laws of Con- 
necticut, with full explanatory notes ; 
all of which have made him one of the 
best known wheelmen of the state. 
Mr. King is a member of the Home 
Clul), and well known in social circles. 
He is a thirty-second degree Mason, 
being affiliated with Meridian Lodge, 
TJ, A. F. & A. M., and all the higher 
branches of the order in Meriden, New 
Haven and Bridgeport. He is also a 
member of Pyramid Temple, Mystic 
Shrine. 

For many years he was actively 
connected with the State Agricultural 
Society. He is a member of St. Paul's 
L'niversalist church, of which society 
he has been clerk, assistant superinten- 
dent of the Sunday school, and was the 
first secretary of the Connecticut Y, 
P. C. U. During the elaborate prepa- 
rations made by the committee of cit- 
izens for the centennial celebration of 
the town, Mr. King rendered invalua- 
ble service as secretary of the Commit- 
tee on Publicity and the success of the 
historic celebration is due in no small 
measure to his zealous work for that 
committee. 

He was married November 28, 1894. 
to Josephine, daughter of the late Jo- 
seph Morse. 



GEORGE L. KING. 



George L. King, i)rosecuting agent 
for New Haven county at Meriden, 
and a well known attorney and coun- 
selor-at-law, is a native of this town, 
being the son of P. J. and E. ]M. King. 
After receiving an early education in 
the public schools of Meriden, he spent 
a number of vears in the business of 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

GEORG1-: L. KI.NG. 

wood engraving, of which lir became a 
thorough master, antl during that time 
he made numerous illustrations for 
leading magazines published in Xew 
^'ork and P>oston. He afterwards en- 
gaged in business in Meriden as a 
member of the firm of Foster & King. 
By his skill as an engraver, the jirac- 
tice of strict economy and persever- 



574 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX, 



ance, he accumulated sufficient money 
to study for his profession and pay 
his own way through Yale Law 
School. 

While at that institution he won the 
unstinted praise of his instructors by 
his success in his studies, which he 
carried on after having vanquished 
more obstacles than would have dis- 
couraged the young man of ordinary 
ambition. He was graduated at the 
law school with the class of 1895, ^^^^ 
being admitted to the bar the same 
\ ear, began the practice of his profes- 
sion in liis native city, where he has 
since continued. 

In 1898 he was appointed to his 
present office, prosecuting agent for 
New Haven county at Meriden, and 
his fearless conduct of that office has 
met with success and general approval 
by the people of the county. 

]\Ir. King is a Mason, being a mem- 
ber of JMeridian Lodge, yy. A. F. & A. 
M., and is also a member of Meriden 
Lodge, 35, Benevolent and Protective 
Order of Elks. He is a well known 
figure in social circles, being a mem- 
ber of both the Home and Colonial 
Clubs, and an ex-president of the Mer- 
iden C}cle Club. He is a member of 
St. Paul's I'niversalist church. L^n- 
like his l)rother. Attorney H. T. King, 
a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, 
and who is a Democrat, he is activelv 
connected with Republican politics and 
a prominent worker in the ranks of 
that party. He is clerk of the Probate 
court for the District of Meriden, and 
has also served as assistant clerk of the 
Ci1\' a-id F^olice corrt of ATeriden, and 



enjoys the reputation of having dis- 
patched the duties of the offices to 
which he has been honored with ef- 
ficiency and without the display of 
either fear or favor. 

He w^as married in May, 1896, to 
Ada F., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
Charles H. Wright, of Norwood. 
Mass. 



P. T. OT.RTEN. 



Patrick T. O'Brien, attorney at law. 
of Meriden, was born at New Britain, 
N^ovember 16, 1868. He is of Irish 
descent and one of nine sons of John 
M. and Mary (Corbett) O'Brien, who 
came to this country from Ireland and 
settled in New Britain in 1855 where 
the family has ever since resided. 
Their son received a good education. 
He first attended the public schools of 
his native town. In 1885 he entered 
St. Charles College, Ellicott City. Md., 
where he took three years of his acad- 
emic course. He completed his class- 
ical studies at Holy Cross college, 
Worcester, Mass., from which he wa.*- 
graduated in the class of 1891. Af- 
ter teaching school one year at Taney- 
town, Md., he accepted a professor- 
ship in Greek, Latin and English at 
Epiphany college, Baltimore, where he 
was one of the faculty for two years. 
At the end of that time he began to 
study for the legal profession and af- 
ter taking a two years' course at the 
New York Law school. New York 
City, received the degree of LL. !'■ 
That he might be still better prepare-! 



nioC.KA I'll IKS. 



.1/.1 



\><v practice he entered the law ofiice 
K>{ J inline Wilhani F. Henney. who in 
ii>ti5 was mayor of Hartford, where 
ho read law for one year. Air. 
( )'l5rien was admitted to the bar in 
June. 1898, at which time he came to 
.\Ieriden. opened an office and has 
practiced here since. He is faithful 
to his clients, fair to his opponents. 
honest to the court. 




I'hijto by ..\kei\s i Pigeon. 

I'ATKKK T. ()'i;kii;.\. 

* UUsidc the court room he has a 
cheerful disposition which niakis him 
a favorite with his hroiluT i)racliti(>n- 
ers. He is a member of the Klks. 
Catholic Benevolent Legion, T. .\. !!. 
-ocicty. .Xmaraiitli Club and Division 
-'. .\ncient ( Jrder of Hibernians, lie 
lias taken part in the Centennial cel- 



ebration of the Town of Meriden, hav- 
ing served as a member of the Com- 
mittee on Licenses and Privileges. 
He is unmarried. 



A. 



ACI".R1-:V. 



Alfred liailey Aubre_\-, alldrncy at 
law. is one of the younger men of the 
town who has won a measure of suc- 
cess and owes the same to his own ef- 
forts. He was born in Meriden .\])ril 
20, 1878. and has always lived here. 
He attended the local public schools, 
took a four years' course at the Iligh 
school in three years and graduated 
with honors with the class of 1897. 
During his attendance at the public 
schools he won a gold watch at the 
grammar and a Hicks prize at the 
High school, all of which reilected 
much credit upon him ; as he lost much 
time from his studies on account of ill- 
ness. During his attendance at the 
I ligh school he was editor of the High 
School Pennant and. during his last 
\ear, of the class Annual. 

He began the study of law in the 
office of Henry Dryhurst. but shortlv 
after entered the Law school of Wale 
L'niversity. from which he was grad- 
uated in June. i()')i. The same month 
he passed the bar examinations and. 
being admitted to practice, opened a 
law office in the Hall & Lewis build- 
ing. As a practitioner, he has been 
successful almost from the start and 
now has a large and ra])idly increas- 
ing business. 

He has been much honored by elec- 
tion to public office. In ii;tM he was 



576 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



chosen a member of the Common 
Council from the fourth ward, serv- 
ing two years ; was, in 1902, elected 
registrar of voters and now serves his 
fourth term in that capacity ; has been 
chairman of the Republican City com- 
mittee since 1902 ; is assistant clerk of 
the Meriden City and Police Courts, 
and is one of the trial justices of the 
town. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

ALFRED B. AUBREY. 

He is a prominent member of Al- 
fred H. Hall Council, Royal Arcanum, 
having filled all the offices within the 
gift of that council and is now past 
regent and representative to the Grand 
Council of Connecticut. He is also a 
member of Meridian Lodge, yy, A. F. 
& A. M., and Keystone Chapter, 2y, 



R. A. M., and is a charter member of 
the Arcanum Club, now the Colonial 
Club. 

He is also prominent in local mili- 
tary circles, being commissioned a sec- 
ond lieutenant of Company L, Second 
Infantry, C. N. G., of which company 
he was one of the organizers. He is 
a member of and the attorney for tlie 
Meriden Business Men's Association, 
and stands well as a member of the 
Xew Haven county bar. He is pop- 
ular among the citizens of the town, 
the best interests of which he never 
tires in promoting. 



JAMES T. KAY. 



James Thomas Kay was born in 
Princeton, N. J., June 21, 1848, and 
is of Scotch descent. His father was 
a prominent sea captain, the owner of 
several coasting vessels and also ex- 
tensively engaged in the lumber bus- 
iness and a builder who removed with 
his family to Charles City county, near 
Richmond, Va., in the early '50s. His 
son accompanied him frequently on 
his coasting vessels and inherited a 
love for the water which has clung to 
him to the present time. 

James T. Kay learned the trade of 
a plumber in 1866, in New York City 
where he worked as a journeyman un- 
til 1 87 1. Coming to Meriden at the 
latter date, he went to work for Alex- 
ander Duncan, Meriden's pioneer 
plumber, but the following year he 
engaged in business for himself, in a 
small way, with gradually increasing 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



577 



success. At the present day he is 
possessed of one of the larger plumb- 
ing establishments of the state and 
emplovs a large number of men, and, 
having been established for thirty- 
four vears, now does business on a 
large scale. His store on State street 
is TOO feet deep and in the rear is a 
well equipped workshop containing 
every labor-saving device. 




i'lKiio by Akers & Pigeon. 

JAMES T. KAY. 

.Mr. Kay is well and favorabl\' 
known in business circles and is 
active in fraternal life. He is also a 
valued member and treasurer of the 
Main .Street Baptist church : one of 
the two remaining charter members 
r»f Pilgrims' Harbor Council, Royal 
Arcanum ; was the first named in the 

37 



charter of the original Columbia 
Council, O. U. A. M., in which he 
passed through the various chairs ; a 
member of .Meridian Lodge, ']'], A. F. 
& A. AL, and the other Masonic 
bodies of Meriden, including St. Elmo 
Commandery. K. T. ; he is also a mem- 
ber of Pacific Lodge, L O. O. F. ; 
Home Club : the Meriden Busi- 
ness Men's Association ; served five 
years in Company I, C. N. G., from 
which he retired a corporal in 1878 ; 
a member of the New England Order 
of Protection and one of the directors 
of the Meriden Permanent \\. & L. 
Association. He is also a member of 
the Middletown Yacht Club, has a 
summer cottage at P)ranford and sails 
a comfortable and speedy na])htha 
launch. 

He was married in 1876 to Mary 
A. Goodrich, of Southport, Conn., 
widow of the late (ieorgc \\'. Good- 
ricli, who served in the Civil war. to 
which union have been born Eva, who 
married Phineas T. Ives, of Meriden. 
and I'rank E., associated with his 
father in business. ( )ther members of 
his household have been, George A. 
(ioodrich, ste])son, wlm died in Eeb- 
ruar\-. 1^03, and his widow and chil- 
dren. I\ali)h S. and Helen E. Good- 
ricli, who continue to reside in the 
home of Mr. Kav. 



1. P.. HYATT 



\ 



Isaac P.each Hyatt, chief of tlie 
Meriden l-"ire De|)arlnKnt. wlio has 
served almost c< int inuousK' in that 



578 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



capacity since 1879, is a native of 
Norwalk. He is a son of Roswell 
and Elizabeth (Curtis) Hyatt. He 
comes of good old New England 
stock through both lines of descent 
and was born February 2, 1848. He 
was educated in the public schools 
of his native town, and enlisted for 
service in the Civil War, in Co. A, 
17th Conn. Vols. Infantry, in Jan- 




PUoto by Akers & Pigeon. 

I. B. HV.\TT. 

uary, 1864, and after seeing active 
service, was honorably discharged 
when peace was declared, July, 1865. 
He came to Meriden in 1867 and 
began business life by learning the 
trade of a britannia worker at the 
factory of Parker & Casper, now oc- 
cupied by Manning, Bowman & Co. 
He became a member of the firm of 



Little, Somers & Hyatt in 1883, 
which concern became incorporated 
in January, 1904, and of which he 
has since been secretary and treas- 
urer. 

Air. Hyatt's record at the head of 
the local fire department is niost 
creditable and his service has been 
conducive to the best interests of 
the town. His long experience as 
a fire fighter has made him well 
known throughout the state. He 
also holds an honorable position in 
the Connecticut State Firemen's 
Association of which he has served 
as president two terms. He is also 
a member of the Connecticut Fire 
Chiefs' club. His knowledge of the 
buildings of Meriden, especially 
those where the greatest danger of 
fire exists, is most comprehensive. 
The precautions against fire as urged 
by him to citizens and the mem- 
bers of the department, which he 
has so well organized, have done 
much to lower Meriden's loss from 
fire. During the many years that 
he has been chief, much new ap- 
paratus has been purchased and the 
department has been brought to a 
high standard of efficiency, the pro- 
tection against fire being as secure 
in Meriden as in anv other city in 
the state. 

Socially 'Mr. Hyatt is widely pop- 
uhcr, especially in the Grand Army 
where he has been frequently hon- 
ored with high offices, from com- 
mander of Merriam Post of Meriden 
to department commander of the 




IT- J 


2f 


'JI4. 




^Tl 


r :.:|A' 



J -«*► «»^ 



eV. <i W, PERKINS. 



f 



^m 




KUSSEtL GLAOW7N. 



JAMES S. BROOKS. 




ciRoup OF i-(>k.mi:k ki;sii)i:\t.s uv- .mi:rii)i:.\. 



58o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



state. As ?. business man and pub- 
lic-spirited resident he stands high 
'n the community, a position he has 
achieved by an honorable business 
career, interest in local affairs, and 
good fellowship. He has for many 
years been a member and has also 
served as president of the Meriden 
Business Men's Association. He is 
affiliated with Meridian Lodge, 'j'j, 
A. F. & A. M., the Home Club and 
the Colonial Club. He has bee twice 
married, first to Annie E. Chalmer, 
died Nov. 15, 1874, and to that 
union two children were born, 
who died in infancy ; second to 
Jennie AI. Bishop, of Meriden, 
daughter of Charles E., and Emily 
Bishop, July 5, 1877, and to that 
union six children have been born 
as follows : Blanche May, Roswell 
Bishop, AA illard Curtis, Helen 
Elizabeth, Isaac Robert and Allen 
Rufus. 



WILLIAM H. :\IILLER. 



William H. Miller, postmaster of 
Meriden from 1886 to 1890, was born 
at Rumapoy Works, Rockland Co., N. 
Y., April 29, 1822 and died at Aleri- 
den, October 16, 1904. He attended 
private school until he was sixteen 
years old when he entered the works 
of the Colt's Patent Firearms Co., 
Paterson, N. J., to learn the trade of 
a gunmaker and continued until 1841 
when he became employed by the 
Ames Mfg. Co., in the manufacture 
of the Jencks breech loading car- 
bine. Two vears later he went to 



Mill Creek, Pa., in Nipps Armory and 
made muskets for the government, lat- 
er going to Cincinnati to make tools 
and start up the rifle tactory of John 
Griffith who had a contract with the 
government to make 5,000 rifles ; and 
in 1845 he went to Chicopee, Mass., to 
work on pin machinery. The follow- 
ing fall he entered the Springfield Ar- 
mory to work on tools for a new car- 
bine, in the summer of 1846 being en- 
gaged by Col. Samuel Colt, at 
Whitneyville, this county, later going 
with him to Hartford, Conn., as a con- 
tractor of lock works for pistols. 
With Joshua Stevens he made an im- 
provement in revolving pistols which 
they had patented; and in 1849 they 
formed the Massachusetts Arms Co.. 
at Chicopee Falls, Alass., and engaged 
in the manufacture of these pistols in 
which Air. Aliller continued until 1862 
when he was engaged to become su- 
perintendent of the gun factory in 
Meriden of Parker, Snow, Brooks & 
Co. In 1864 and 1865 he made sev- 
eral inventions and improvements in 
firearms, including that of the cele- 
brated Parker shotgun and aftervvads 
with his brother, George W. Miller, 
present first selectman of Meriden, in- 
vented a cartridge extractor after- 
wards used in the Springfield musket. 

In 1868, in company with his broth- 
er, he engaged in the manufacture of 
pocket cutlery which in 1870 became 
the :\Iiller Bros. Cutlery Co., in which 
he continued until 1885. 

He w^as married in February. 1850. 
to Jane A. Havens, of Hartford. 
Conn., and to that marriage the fol- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



581 



lowing children were born : Ida Louise 
and Arthur Howard. 

He is survived by both widow and 
children, all residents of Meriden. 



1'. D. RAPELYE. 



l-rederick Dewey Rapelye. Aleriden 
agent of the Adams Express Co., was 
born in Xew Rritain. May 6. 1858. 




hoto by Akers & Pigeon 

F. D. RAPELYE. 

le is the son of Andrew and /Vntoi- 
ette Rapelye and his parents are still 
jving in Xew Britain. He is of 
rench descent on his father's side, but 
s mother is of the old Hart family 
Connecticut. He was educated in 
e public schools of Xew Rritain and 
included his .schooling at Prof. 
Ump's private seminary. 



He entered the employ of the com- 
pan\-, in which he now holds a most 
important position, in 1879, after hav- 
ing worked a short time in a well- 
known factory of New Britain. By 
careful attention to his duties as a 
driver at the company's office in New- 
Britain, in 1892 he received the ap- 
pointment as messenger with head- 
quarters at the company's office at 
Hartford, afterwards filling various 
important positions until 1 891, when 
he was transferred to the Aleriden of- 
fice to succeed I. E. Beach as way bill 
clerk. His conscientious work in this 
capacity won him promotion to the po- 
sition of cashier in which he succeeded 
William H. Morgan, who retired from 
the office on account of ill health. 
Cpon the death of Charles N. Wins- 
low, whose decease is recorded else- 
where in this book, Mr. Rapelye was 
appointed agent, January 2, 1905. 

Mr. Rapelye is a thorough business 
man whose long experience in the ex- 
l)ress service has been of benefit to the 
numerous patrons of the large corpo- 
ration whose local interests he super- 
intends. He is a member of Center 
Lodge, 97, A. E. &• A. M. : Key- 
stone Chapter. 27. R. A. M.. and was 
married November 5. 1891. to Lucy 
Eellows. of Rhinebeck. N. Y. He at- 
tends the Main Street Baptist church 
and is a valued adopted citizen of Mer- 
iden. 



H. C. BIBEAU. 



Henry C. Bibeau. commissioner of 
)ul)lic works and one of the more en- 



582 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



terprising merchants of Mericlen, has 
resided in this town nearly all his life. 
His parents moved here when he was 
but three }ears of age ; and he was 
educated in the local public schools, 
graduating from the Center school 
in 1881. Mr. Bibeau, like most young 
men. first tried other callings than 
that which he was most fitted to carry 
on before he struck his sphere in life. 

After leaving school he began bus- 
iness as an apprentice at Parker Bros, 
gun shop, but his inclination for the 
activity of mercantile life prompted 
him, in 1882, to enter the exceedingly 
well patronized grocery store at 17 
Colony street, known as the Boston 
Grocery and then conducted under the 
name of C. N. Button & Co., but which 
was first established in 1832. Some 
years later he accepted the position 
offered him as traveling salesman by 
the Chapman Mfg. Co., who conducted 
a busy factory in the manufacture of 
saddlery hardware. Mr. Bibeau was 
a decided success as a traveling man 
and his services were highly appre- 
ciated by that concern. 

At the end of three years he bought 
a half interest in the store where he 
had formerly worked as a clerk, and 
in 1902 bought out the remaining in- 
terests and became the sole proprietor. 
During the past few years and under 
his guidance the business of the estab- 
lishment has largely increased. At 
first but one-half of the store was 
opened to customers, the balance be- 
ing used for storage purposes, but 
since Mr. Bibeau secured his present 
storehouse in the rear of the branch 



.store at the corner of Cook avenue , 
and Hanover street, the entire floor of 1 
the Colony street store has been util- 
ized for attending to the wants of cus- 
tomers. 

(Jther important additions to the 
business have been that of a baking 
department and a kitchen for which 
purposes two stores on Railroad ave- 
nue were added to the quarters occu- 
pied. At the present day Mr. Bibeau 
has a large trade among the leading 
families of Meriden in groceries. On 
his attractive counters are also found 
delectable bakings, cooked meats, pud- 
dings, etc., while a well ordered lunch 
counter is also supplied from cooking 
done on the premises. He also does 
a large catering business in which he 
enjoys an enviable reputation. 

In 1902 he established a branch store 
at the corner of Cook avenue and Han- 
over street, which he still carries on 
successfully. Mr. Bibeau has shown a 
special ability as a business man and 
stands well in the community, when 
he is known as an enterprising and 
public spirited resident. 

He is a member of Pilgrims' Harbor 
Council, Royal Arcanum ; one of the 
directors of the Meriden Board of 
Trade, and a member of the Meriden 
Business Men's Association, Meriden 
Butchers & Grocers' Association ami 
also the Colonial Club. In February, 
1906. he was appointed by Mayor 
Thos. L. Reilly, a member of tlu- 
Board of Public Works for four years, 
and is one of the commissioners of the 
city. He has shown not only compe- 
tencv. but a heartfelt interest in city 



r 
I — 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



583 




Photo hy AkPrs & Pigeon 



584 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



affairs of which he now assists in the 
management. 



JULIUS AUGUR. 



JuHns Augur, a reputable mer- 
chant and one of the fire commis- 
sioners of Aleriden, was born in 
Southington. February 26, 1846. He 




Photo by Akers i- Pigeon 

JULIUS AUGUR. 

is a son of Juhus Smith Augur, born 
in New Haven, February 7, 1813, 
and Lavinia D., daughter of Xoah 
and Fannie (Bishop) Merriam, who 
was born in Meriden November 8, 
181 5, where she died in 1894. His 
maternal grandfather was Noah 
Merriam, a descendant of one of the 
earliest settlers in this localitv. and 



who lived in what in later yearsj 
became known as the Goodwill] 
homestead, which stood on the site] 
of the present edifice of St. Joseph'sj 
Church. 

When cjuite young Julius Augur 
was brought to ^leriden by his par- 
ents, but his family afterwards re- 
moved to Durham where he resided 
for seventeen years. At the age of 
sixteen, and on August 8, 1862, he 
enlisted for the Civil War in Com- 
pany A. 15th Conn. Vols. While 
guarding commissary stores at Long 
Bridge, Arlington Heights, he was 
taken sick and sent to the hospital 
and after his recovery discharged 
from service, February, 1863. He re- 
enlisted in Company C, 7th Regi- 
ment, Conn. A^ols., then at St. Hel- 
ena, serving until the close of the 
war, July 20, 1865, and after his re- 
turn from that service he served five 
years in the state militia, as a mem- 
ber of the Wadsworth Guards of 
Durham in which he held the ofiice 
of sergeant. 

He came to IMeriden in 1867 and 
became a clerk in the meat market 
of S. C. Paddock, seven years later 
engaging in the provision business 
on his own account as a member of 
the firm of Augur & Gardner, and 
for many years conducted a success- 
ful business on ]\Iain street. This 
partnership was dissolved in 1896 
when Air. Augur received an ap- 
pointment as street commissioner, 
the duties of which he dispatched 
for two vears thereafter. Tn 180? 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



58: 



lie again engaged in the grocery 
and provision business at 2}, and z-, 
Lewis avenue, which well patronized 
store he has ever since conducted with 
increasing success. 

Mr. Augur has a somewhat exten- 
sive public career. He was elected 
a member of the board of aldermen 
in 1893. and as such served four 
vears. In 1896 he was appointed 
street commissioner for two years. 
as stated previously, and during the 
administration of Mayor Seeley. was 
appointed a member of the board of 
fire commissioners for four years. 
as a member of which board he now 
serves. Mr. Augur has been a 
member of Merriam Post. 8. G. A. 
R., since 1871. and in this he has 
served as junior vice and senior vice 
commander and also commander. He 
has also served the post as quarter- 
master for fifteen years. 

He was married Jan. 22. 1873 ^^ 
Nettie Eliza Smith, born at Xorth- 
field. March 31. 1850. and daughter 
of David Smith and Fidelia A. Par- 
ker. To that marriage three chil- 
dren were born as follows : Julius 
Smith. February 2. 1881. now pre- 
paring at seminary for Y. M. C. A. 
work : Agnes Fidelia, born May 2. 
1882: and Frank Miller Augur, born 
December 2. 1883. and who is asso- 
ciated in business with his father. 



F. M. KTP.P.E. 



and responsible citizens of the town 
was born in Hampden. Mass.. then 
South Wilbraham. April 28. 1866. 
He is a direct lineal descendant of 
John or Edward Kibbe. one of the 
first English settlers in Connecti- 
cut, and one or the other was the 
first white child born in the town 
of Enfield, and which town after- 




Photc 



by Ak- r- i; F--;. . 

FR.\XK M. KIBBE. 



Frank Marvin Kibbe. druggist of 
iMeriden. and one of the energetic 



wards became largely i)opulated by 
the different branches of the Kibbe 
family. When the subject of this 
sketch was six years old his father 
moved to Enfield, where he ob- 
tained his early education at the 
Kibbe School, also at Suffield and 
East Windsor. 

After acquiring a good education 



586 



A CENT-URY OF MERIDEN. 



Mr. Kibbe entered the drug busi- 
ness, in May, 1884, at first as an 
apprentice in the drug store of 
Wessells & Gates at Litchfield. 
He later, having finished his appren- 
ticeship at Shannon's drug store, 
passed his examination at the 
capitol, Hartford. December 6, 
1887, as a registered pharmacist. He 
began his creditable career as a li- 
censed druggist as a clerk in the 
store of A. W. Sawtelle & Co., at 
Hartford, afterwards becoming as- 
sociated with the drug store of 
George A. McCorkle, leaving the 
latter firm to engage in business 
for himself in Meriden, which he 
accomplished by purchasing the 
drug store of F. VV. Smith Drug Co., 
at 40 West Main street, and of 
which business he became the pro- 
prietor November 7, 1891. There he 
remained and conducted a steadily 
increasing business, gaining the 
justly merited confidence of the 
public and medical profession, until 
Ma}' 28, 1898, when he was enabled 
to remove to the present drug store 
which he conducts under the name 
of F. M. Kibbe & Co., at 85 West 
Main street. The store is one of 
the finest of its line in Meriden or 
vicinity, and a large business is 
there transacted, not only in drugs 
and medicines but in photographic 
supplies and souvenir postal cards. 
Owing to the increase in business, 
Mr. Kibbe found it necessary in 
1906 to enlarge the floor space of 
the store, which had just been 



completed. Mr. Kibbe is known 
as one of the most trustworthy busi- 
ness men of the town, and stands 
high in the business life of Meriden. 
AMiile he confines himself closely 
to business he is a member of sev- 
eral fraternal organizations. In the 
Masonic fraternity, he is connected 
with Center Lodge, 97, A. F. & A. 
M. He is a member of Connecticut 
Lodge 93, L O. O. F., of Hartford; 
Columbia Council 5, O. U. A. M.; 
Meriden Camp jy, Modern Wood- 
men of America ; and Alpha Lodge, 
4341, Knights of Honor. 

He married, Oct. 2, 1895, Annie 
E. Webb of Meriden. 



WILBUR H. SOUIRE. 



The analysis of American character 
is, of course, more difficult than that 
of English, although Matthew Arnold 
finds it hard enough to distinguish be- 
tween the Saxon and Norman ele- 
ments in the blood of his countrymen. 
Once in a while, however, it is possi- 
ble to discover even in America, dis- 
tinct traces of Teutonic or Roman or 
Celtic ancestry. The subject of this 
sketch, for instance, shows a remarka- 
ble inheritance from the Norman; 
which should include, according to Ar- 
nold, a broadness of intellect and 
power of organization, mingled with a 
certain love of the unusual. Such a 
type serves as a leaven for the great 
mass of our more slow-blooded, plod- 
ding, Saxon component. 

Wilbur Henry Squire is the oldest 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



5^7 



son ct the late William L. Squire, for 
many \ears treasurer of the X. Y., N. 
H. & H. Railroad Company: he spent 
his earliest years in Hartft^rd, and 
graduated from the high school there 
in the class of 1876. Immediately af- 
terward he came to ^leriden and en- 
tered the insurance agency of H. C. 
Butler & Co. After ^Ir. Butler's 
death he assumed charge of the busi- 




w. II. -souiRr:. 

ness, which has since been conducted 
under the names of W. H. Squire & 
Co. and The \V. H. Scjuire Company. 
\t present it embraces a money-order, 
bntkerage and steamshij) agency, in 
addition to the original fire under- 
writing. 

Mr. Squire's wide interests and en- 
ter[)ri.sc will j)erhaps best be shown bv 



a brief enumeration of the organiza- 
tions of which he is an active, and in 
many cases a charter, member. He 
has been treasurer, and is now chair- 
man of the pew rental committee of 
the First Congregational church. He 
is a director of the JNIeriden Business 
Men's Association, vice-president of 
the Colonial Club, a charter member of 
the Home Club, a trustee of the Y. 'Si. 
C. A., a director of the First Meriden 
Lluilding and Loan Association, audi- 
tor of the City Mission, a member of 
the Meriden Golf club, a charter mem- 
ber of A. H. Hall Council and the 
Grand Council, Royal Arcanum, a 
member of the Maccabees, the Wood- 
men, and other fraternal orders, and 
has been water tax collector, and city 
tax collector for periods of two years. 
He also has many business and social 
connections outside the city limits. 
Among other things he is vice-presi- 
dent of the Fire Insurance Agents' As- 
sociation of Connecticut, a veteran 
member of the L. A. W'., a member 
of the X'eteran Corps, Co. K, First 
Regiment, C. N. G. He was among 
the original backers of the Meriden 
pu])lic library movement, and of the 
Xew 1 Ia\en cycle path extension. 
And hnally. he is one of the three lead- 
ing citizens of the West Beak "colony"' 
— a j)osition of im])ortance which none 
can apjireciate who have not spent a 
niuht with him there. 



lollX. F. BUTLER. 



A man whose .service to the town 
was ever exerted in the interest of 



588 



A CEXTURV OF MERIDEX. 



good government and citizenship 
was John F. Butler. He resided in 
Meriden from early boyhood and at 
the time of his death, Dec. 29, 1905, 
was one of the valued residents and 
best known merchants and property 
owners. He was born in Kilkenny, 
Ireland in 1841 and, coming to this 
country when he was quite young, 
went to live in the family of the 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon 

JOHN F. BUTLER. 

late W. W. Lyman, his education 
being secured in the local public 
schools. On the breaking out of 
the Civil War he enlisted in the navy 
and during his long and creditable 
service, kept a diary which contains 
an interesting story, well told, of 
his experience on board battleships 



in action. After the close of the 
war he engaged with Bela Carter in 
the painting and decorating busi- 
Ficss and with him he remained 
for several years, gaining a thorough 
knowledge of the business. Later 
he formed the partnership of Butler 
& Larkin, their place of business 
being in the Hicks building on Col- 
ony street. After Mr. Larkin's death 
he moved into the Wilcox block 
where he continued his business and 
in 1892 organized a joint stock com- 
pany taking a number of his em- 
ployes into the corporation, which 
through his able management has 
become one of the largest in its line 
in this section of the state. With 
a progressive spirit always char- 
acteristic of him, Mr. Butler in con- 
nection with the Meriden Furniture 
Co., in 1894, built the handsome 
block on Colony street which the 
John F. Butler Company now oc- 
cupy. A man of high aims, his suc- 
cess in business was the result of 
untiring efforts and honorable busi- 
ness methods. Besides the large 
decorating business of which he was 
the head he became possessed of 
much real estate. 

When St. Joseph's parish was set 
apart from St. Rose's Parish he was 
a prominent member. He took ac- 
tive interest in the new parish and 
served upon the building commit- 
tee. While he never sought public 
office, his good citizenship prompted 
him in early life to join the volun- 
teer fire department and in later 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



589 



years he was honored by being made 
chief of the Meriden fire depart- 
ment. 

He was one of the organizers of 
the Amaranth and CathoHc chibs 
and also instrumental in forming 
Washington Council, K. of C, hav- 
ing been the first G. K. He was pos- 
sessed of a kind heart, charitable 
disposition and the faculty of mak- 
ing and holding a large circle of 
friends. He was married to Cath- 
erine M. Xeary of Xaugatuck in 
1885, who died in 1891. His second 
wife was ]\Iary F. Conlon of 
Berlin and their two children, W\\- 
liam Ormonde, and Faith Marion. 
survive him. His funeral, held at 
St. Joseph's Church, Jan. i, 1906, 
was largely attended by men promi- 
nent in public and business life and 
also by many whose lives Mr. Butler 
had made brighter by acts of kind- 
ness and wisely distributed charity. 



H. E. BUSHNELL. 



Henry E. Bushnell. a leading nuT- 
chant engaged in the grocery, bottled 
goods and baking business in Mcri- 
den fi)r the past twenty-two years, and 
who conducts a large double store of 
two stories at 75 and 79 West Main 
street, is a native of Westbrook, 
Conn., where he was born March 28. 
1855. He is a son of E. L. lUisli- 
lell and Lydia ( ). I'-usliiU'l! and lie 
ronies from a well known Connccti- 
rut family. From boyhood he has 
leen associated with the grocery Inis- 
less and his marked success in Mcr- 



iden has come from a small beginning, 
])ut wholly deserved. 

It was in 1884 tliat he began busi- 
ness on his own account, after having 
served for some years as a clerk, and 
had established a reputation for in- 
dustry, economy and personal popu- 
larity. It was in a small portion of his 
present large establishment and with 




Fhr.to by Akers & Pigeon 

II. E. BUSHNELL. 

one clerk and one team, his career as 
a merchant began ; his honest meth- 
ods and his dis])Osition to give his cus- 
tomers the best goods at the lowest 
prices have assured his success from 
the start. With his increased trade, 
his (piarters have l)CCome gradually 
enlarged and greatl\' improved. 

He afterwards hmiglu the block 
whicli lie UMW occupies largely anrl 



590 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



later erected a large storehouse adjoin- 
ing the N. Y., X. H. & H. R. R. tracks, 
in which he has conducted a whole- 
sale business. Mr. Bushnell has nev- 
er spared money or expense in mak- 
ing his business establishment attrac- 
tive, and in 1900 doubled the size of 



deep, by 50 feet in width, and con- 
tains a large stock of fancy and sta- 
ple groceries, bottled wines, and liq- 
uors ; and a large baking business has 
been done by him for the past decade, 
the baking being done on the prem- 
ises. The bottled goods department 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

BUSHNELL BUILDING. 



his Store, by cutting through to the 
adjoining store. No. 75 West Main 
Street, and fitting it up as befitted a 
first-class grocery store, the goods of 
which are suitable for the highest class 
of trade. The store is now 100 feet 



has been carried on by Mr. Bushnell 
for the past three years, since which 
time he has supplied his trade with 
the best of goods of the kind. Hi.s 
store is the largest and most commod- 
ious in its line within a radius of niaiiv 



BIOCIKAPHIES. 



591 



miles, a large order business is done, 
and numerous delivery teams are kept 
constantly busy, calling for and de- 
livering orders among the first fami- 
lies of the town and adjacent terri- 
tory. 

Mr. lUishnell has learned the wants 

of a discriminating patronage and his 

goods may always be relied upon as 

the best the market affords. He has 

a natural aptitude and is a careful 

buyer and one who keeps well posted 

[in the interests of a large trade which 

I he controls. He is a man of strong 

Ipersonality and his courteous attention 

to patrons is reflected in marked de- 

[gree by the large niuiiber of clerks he 

employs. Mr. Bushnell is one of the 

[merchants of the town who can al- 

[vvays be counted upon to show a bona 

ide interest in the locality where he 

resides and does business. He is a 

nember of the Meriden Board of 

Vade and Business Men's Associa- 

lion and is enrolled in the membership 

\i the various Masonic bodies of the 

>wn, including St. Elmo Command- 

|ry. K. T. He is also a member of the 

^oyal Arcanum, Elks, and the Home 

hd Colonial Clubs of Meriden. 

•ie was 2 married in 1880 to 

./zie Ray. daughter of B. P. and 

larv A. Rav, and thev have one child. 



C. F. FOX. 



1 Christian Frederick Fox. a resi- 
|nt of good repute and well quali- 
fd for the conduct of successful 
|siness, enjoys the distinction of 
I ijig the first imlividual in the his- 



tory of the town to achieve success 
in the manufacture of bologna, frank- 
furt and (icrman sausages. He was 
born in Koenigsbrunn, German v. 
December 14. 1861 where his father, 
Frederick was a manufacturer of 
luml)er. When he was fourteen 
years old his parents removed with 
him to New York Citv where he be- 




I'h;tj by .-^kors A; Pigeon 

C. F. FOX. 

gan to learn the business of sausage 
making. Eight years later he re- 
moved to \\ (ircester where he re- 
mained until 1SS5 an<l then having 
niarrieil. he reuioxed lo Xorwich. 
Conn., where he engaged in business 
in lii> present line as a meniber of 
the tirni of I'ox & W'eigert. 

In iSSS the firm established a 



592 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Store in Meriden, Mr. Fox becoming 
the resident partner but he afterwards 
bought out Mr. Weigert's interest 
here and has since conducted the 
business alone. In the conduct of 
this large and prosperous business 
he has been ably assisted by his 
wife and son, and he has made a 
somewhat remarkable business rec- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon 

ANDREW F. FOX. 

ord. By fair dealing and the manu- 
facture of pure goods in the deli- 
catessen line to which he has always 
devoted his efiforts he has built up 
a trade covering a large territory. 
In 1905 he erected at the corner of 
West Main and Butler streets where 
he now resides, an imposing business 
block which buildinsf bears his name. 



He is a member of Meridian Lodgt 
'/J, A. F. & A. M., Keystone Chap 
ter 2-j, R. A. M., St. Elmo Com 
mandery, 9, K. T., and Pyramid Teni 
pie. Mystic Shrine ; also of Cour 
Schiller, 117, A. O. F. and severa 
other social and fraternal societies 
He was married December 24 
1883 to Emma R. Dason of Worces 
ter and they have one living son 
Andrew F. Fox, associated with hi 
father in business, and who marrie(' 
Maude Graham of Meriden. 



EDWARD TREDENNICK. 



Edward Tredennick, merchant tail' 
or and one of the more favorabl; 
known young business men of Meri 
den, was born in Cheshire, January 19 
1870. He is one of a family of twelvf 
children, nine of wdiom at this writing 
are living, and a son of Nicholas anc 
Elizabeth Ann (Hall) Tredennick; 
His parents, sturdy, industrious, Eng- 
lish people, came to Connecticut abou 
1869, from Halifax, Canada, whcr( 
they had emigrated some years prr 
vious. 

During his early days, Edward Tre, 
dennick lived in Cheshire ; but wliei 
he was fourteen, the family came t( 
Meriden and have ever since beei 
identified with this town. He, there 
fore, concluded his education in Mer 
iden. After leaving school he learnec 
the trade of a garment cutter, aiK 
when he was twenty-one years old, ir, 
1 89 1, he engaged in business for him 
self, and has continued successful!} 
from the start, achieving a biiTi 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



593 



reputation in his business. Durinc;' 
the past seven years he has occupied 
quarters in the Byxbee block, Colony 
street, and his customers include many 
of the leading citizens of Meriden and 
vicinitv. 



ilelvitia, daughter of the late Peter 
and Edith (Coe) Lucchini, and resides 
at the Coe Castle. 




Photo by Akers 4: Pigeon 

EDWARD TREDEX NIC K. 

Mr. Tredennick is well known in 
social circles, being a menil)er of ilic 
Home Club, Meriden Golf Club and 
.Meriden Wheel Club ; and in fraternal 
circles is a popular member of the Al- 
fred H. Hall Council. Royal Arcanum. 
I hiring the preparations for the Cen- 
tennial celebration, he has served as a 
member of the connnittee of citizens as 
chairman of the sub-C(nnniittec of gulf. 
i>i which game he is an autliurit\. 

He was married Max ^. 1896, to 
38 



WILLIAM WALLACE LEE. 



W illiam Wallace Lee was born in 
llarkhamsted. Connecticut, July 20, 
1828. He came to Meriden in 1862 
and was employed as a machinist by 
l-"(lward Miller & Co. continuously un- 
til his death on September 14. 1903. 

Mr. Lee was actively identified with 




I'lioto by Akers & Pigeon 

wii.i.i AM w \i.i.\ri: 1.1:1;. 

the ]nil)]ic and fraternal affairs of the 
city during the tudscore of years that 
lie wa> a re^'dent of .Meriden. lie 
JK'ld \ari(Uis ])ul)lic dt'tices : was alder- 
man frtiin the i'ifth ward for four 
years and a repre>entative to the t ien- 



594 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



eral Assembly in 1885 and il 

Mr. Lee became a member of the 
Sons of Temperance at the age of 
eighteen, held nearly every office m 
the order and was a member of the 
national organization for ' thirty-five 
years. He held the office of grand 
master of Odd Fellows in 1877 ^^^^ 
1878. Mr. Lee was made a Mason in 
1852 and was knighted in St. Elmo 
Commandery in Meriden in 1874 ; was 
grand master of Connecticut in 1874 
and 1875 ; was one of the organizers 
of the Masonic Veteran association of 
the state and its president for twenty- 
five years. 

Mr. Lee devoted a vast amount of 
time to genealogical matters, was one 
of the principal compilers and editors 
of the John Lee genealogy published 
in 1897, and its supplement a few years 
later ; also organizer and treasurer of 
the Lee Association. 

Mr. Lee is survived by a widow, 
]\lary J. (Carrington) Lee, and a 
daughter, Mrs. Edwin E. Smith, of 
this cit\'. 



SIG. BERNSTEIN. 



Sigmund Bernstein, one of the 
best known citizens of Meriden, and 
proprietor of a large clothing estab- 
lishment, was born in the town 
of Lissa, Prussia, July 31, 1849. ^ 
son of Jacob and Jennette. 

Having long possessed a desire to 
see the New \\ orld, he left his fam- 
ily and friends in 1864, finally locat- 
ing at Haverstraw, N. Y., where he 



accepted a position in the clothing 
store of Jacob Baum, and in 1871 
was taken into partnership. Mr. 
Baum being engaged in the manu- 
facture of brick, Mr. Bernstein was 
left in charge of the store. In Sep- 
tember, 1877, Mr. Bernstein came to 
Meriden and purchased the estab- 
lishment of Morris Levy. Enlarg- 
ing the business, he now operates 
one of the largest clothing and 
custom tailoring houses in New 
England. ]\Ir. Bernstein is one of 
the most liberal men in every 
respect, and believes in conducting 
his business on broad methods. He 
has given away thousands of dollars 
as prizes in guessing contests, and ' 
other ingenious ways of advertising. 
One scheme was a "button guess- 
ing" contest with a valuable prize 
awarded to the one who guessed the 
correct number. To give the 
scheme proper eclat he gave a ban- 
c|uet at one of the leading hotels to 
which 125 leading citizens were 
invited, including Mayor E. J. Doo- 
little, the common council, all the 
town and cit}' officials and a nimiber 
of state dignitaries. Practically all 
invited responded. The buttons were 
counted at the banquet by the mayor 
and the council members. 

Mr. Bernstein was one of the first 
clothiers to organize mackintosh 
clubs. The unique method he took 
to conduct the scheme gave him 
wide newspaper publication without 
great expenditure. The first pav- 
ing stone laid in Meriden was pre- 



BIOGKAPlIIliS. 



595 



5ented by him to .Mayor Ives and 
put down (jn Main Street opposite 
the Journal office, eng-raved with liis 
name and date. \\ hen tlie electric 
road was opened Mr. Uernstein 
g"ave the first trolley ride between 
Meriden and Wallinoford to the 
newsboys and another to the clerks 
of the stores. 

In iSgj .Mr. r.ernstein purchased 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

sic.Mr.vi) i;i:i<Nsi i.ix. 

a tract of tliirty-fi\e acres, then 
knovNu as tlie Holconib place. 
He laid oui the streets and turned 
the waste tract into a beautiful resi- 
[dence district. juflye Levi Coe, 
dio was then mayor, sus^i^ested for 
it the name of lUrn-^tcin Heii^hts 
v\ln li wax accepted. Mr. P.ern- 



stein has.o^iven away twentv lots of 
that property and has constructed 
sexeral handsome residences these 
fitted with all modern conxeiiiences. 
.\ reservoir w^ith a capacity of 1,500- 
000 "gallons has been built. He with 
Auo-ust Schmelzer. also purcha.sed a 
tract of land at Kensington Heights, 
and they have built several hand- 
some residences in that locality. 

Mr. IJernstein has traveled widely 
both in this country and abroad. 
In 1891 he and Mrs. r.ernstein spent 
the summer in bjigiand, l-"rance and 
Germany. He again made a Euro- 
])ean trip in iSi^j, bringing his aged 
motlier to this comUry with him. 
This incident illustrates one of his 
characteristics. I Ir was the oldest 
of six children and when he left 
home in the fatherland at the age 
ot sixteen years he i)romised his 
mother he would make i)laces across 
the .\tlautir iny jiis brothers and sis- 
ters and till" liis parents as well. 
'rhi> ])](-'ilge, like e\er\- mu' he has 
since made, he ke])t. I-'rom time to 
time he has found an o])ening for 
one brother after another and 
brought them ti) this country with 
his earnings. In iSijj he was ]irc- 
])aring in bring hi> aged ])arents 
across the sea when he was inform- 
ed of tlu' (U-ath of his father. In 
tweKe da\s he was in the ancestral 
home in (ierman\'. arranging to 
bring his mother to this country and 
thus fulfil the pledge of his youth. 

( )n ( )ctol)er 2y, 187S. in Xew 
\'ork be was married to Jen- 



596 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



nie Baum, who was born in Sey- 
mour, Conn., a daughter of Jacob 
Baum, senior member of the firm of 
Baum & Bernstein, and to that mar- 
riage these children have been born : 
Algernon J-, Louisa, Daisy, Mel- 
ville, Frances and Jacqueline. 



MICHAEL KEATLNG. 



Alichael Keating, grocer, real 
estate owner and a former alderman 
of Meriden, and who has been a 
good citizen of the town since 1875, 
was born April i, 1849, ^^ New End, 
Tipperary, Ireland. His parents, 
Richard and Alice Keating, conduct- 
ed a farm and their son did chores 
about the home and obtained his ed- 
ucation in the district school. 

At seventeen, after immigrating 
to this country, he went to South 
AMndham to learn his trade, that of 
a machinist. He afterwards was 
employed at the works of the Colt's 
Repeating Arms Co., and later in 
Pratt & Whitney's at Hartford, but 
finally came to Meriden and entered 
Parker Bros. Gun Shop, where he 
remained for a period of three years. 
At the end of that time he began 
an honorable business career, bv en- 
gaging in the retail shoe business 
in a store located in the Meriden 
House block, and where as a mem- 
ber of the firm of Keating & Hurley, 
he conducted a prosperous business 
in that line.. 

In 1889 he erected a brick busi- 
ness block at the corner of West 



Main street and Windsor avenue, 
and upon its completion removed 
thereto, occupying the upper floor, 
one-half of the first floor and base- 
ment for a store and engaging in the 
grocery business. The building of hi^ 
present block in what was then a 
sparsely settled district was consid- 
ered by many a hazardous under- 
taking, but in later vears the town 




MICHAEL KEATING. 

grew largely west and it has been 
proven that ]\Ir. Keating's foresifjlit 
was keen. 

During his twenty-seven years m 
the grocery business in his present 
location, he has built up a profitable 
business and has ahvays had a hue 
hold on the confidence of the publie 



P.inCRAPIIIKS. 



597 



as a result of honora])k' business 
dealings. Graduall}- lie has invest- 
ed in real estate, and lias erected 
many dwellings in the vicinity of 
his store, especially on Windsor 
qvf'nue. all of which ha\e bee" 
houses possessing' modern conven- 
iences and add to the appearance of the 
localit\'. Some of these have been 
rented by him and others sold. 

He was elected in 1881 a member 
of the board of aldermen and served 
for two years in the city govern- 
in.ent Mr. Keating is a member of 
Meriden Lodge, 35, Benevolent & 
I'rtjtective ( )rder of Elks, and ( ienoa 
(, Kuncil. Knights of Cokmibus. 

He is married to Annie, daughter 
of Patrick Mallo}' and they have had 
two daughters, Alice and x\nnie, aged 
seventeen and thirteen respectively. 



.\nK()X S. WHITE. 



rile oldest family in Xew England 
i> that of \\'hite. William \\diite was 
oiif of the Mayflower party and his 
son the first white child born in Xew 
England. He was called Peregrine, a 
name signifying. "A pilgrim in a 
krange land." William White died 
in the first winter. His sons. Pere- 
brine and Resolved, lived to be im])or- 
lant members of the colony. The cra- 
e of Peregrine is now in Pilgrim 

Hall. Plymouth. 
.M>ron S. White, son of Xathanicl 

A'hite and I'^li/.a Peck, both of Xor- 

olk. Conn., was born Aug. \J. iS_'4. 

f lineal descent from Peregrine. 



lie de])ane(] this life at the Porough 
of Prook]\n. .Xew \'ork City, August 
3, 1905. .\l the lime of his death he 
was a memlier of St. John's Methodist 
Church in Prooklyn. He learned his 
trade with the Russell & Erwin Eoun- 
dry CO.. and became foreman for 
Emory Parker at Meriden. Called to 
X'ew York, he took charge of the large 
business of Mackrill & Richardson, 
with whom he was connected for 
seven years. He constructed the iron 
work and ])laced it in position for the 
lirst subway under Proadway, extend- 
ing from Astor House to Chambers 
street, which was an inde.x finger 
l)ointing to the present .system. As 
junior member of the iron foundry of 
Demorest & White, he laid the foun- 
dations for a successful business ca- 
reer. L'])on retiring from business 
connected with iron foundries, he ne.xt 
became associated as Xew York agent 
with the cutlery house of Landers. 
l-"rar_\- (^- Clark, with whom he re- 
mained Continuously twenty-seven 
years. Prior to iSoo .Mr. White was 
favorabK' known ni business circles in 
.Meriden and yearl}- visits to his old 
home ke])t him interested in .Meriden 
affairs. In i85<) he married Caroline 
Peckley, of Peckley Uuarter, Perlin, 
the youngest daughter of Solomon 
Peckley and 1 .ucretia lAans. whi) 
niiw sur\i\es him. 

.Mr. White possessed a rare execu- 
tive al)ilit\. which conti'ibuted to his 
business success. He had a charming 
|)ersonality. Meriden was ever dear to 
liim. his early home and where he be- 
gan his business career. His last re- 



598 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 




MYRON S. WHITE. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



599 



<|uest was to sleep in Walnut Grove 
cemetery amid the hills he loved so 
well. 



WITJJAM WOODLEY. 



William Woodley, a leading florist 
of this city, was born December 31, 
1852, in Ecchingswell, Hampshire, 
England. 




flinio by Akers & Pigeon. 

WII.I,I.\M \V()()I)1.I:N'. 

Hi.s boyhood after he was nine years 
lot age, furnishes a story where hard 
work was a factor. His father died 
Iwhen he was four and his education 
In the i)ublic schools of Hampshire 
pas limited to a very brief period. At 

time when most children are being 
lenderly guarded an<l care is nn- 
Icnown. the little fellow was struggling 



with his small, to him. big. prol)lem 
of existence. At the age of eleven he 
was employed in the garden of Squire 
\\ illiam Kingsmill, whose wife was a 
daughter of the Archbishoj) of Can- 
terbury. Four years later he was en- 
gaged as assistant gardener l)y .^(juire 
Arbuthnot, a position he retainecl un- 
til he was seventeen. 

Meantime wonderful accounts of 
the rise and ])rogress of poor boys in 
the United States reached his ears. 
In that far away country where all 
men are created free and eijual the 
youth reared a castle in the air for 
himself, but he had no money for the 
passage. He did have a friend, how- 
ever, who was willing to provide the 
necessary ftmds. 

Landing in Xew' York in 187 1 he 
soon made his way to ^^leriden. His 
own struggles had strengthened that 
moral regard for a financial obliga- 
tion and within a year he managed to 
save enough to repay his loan. In 
iSjj he became Isaac C Lewis" gar- 
dener and held that ])osilion twenty- 
one years. In 1^93 he purchased his 
present property, corner Lroad and 
.Silver streets, where he has engaged in 
floriculture ever since. 

.Mr. Woodley married Eliza .\. Da- 
\ey. a native of Devnushire. ICngland, 
but at llie time of marriage residing 
in. Torrington. I'onn. Their two 
daughters are Emma Louise, assistant 
lil)rarian in the Curtis Memorial Li- 
brary, and Harriet L.. who married 
l-'rwin M. I'.eebe. in the fall of 1905. 
lie is a member of L'enter Lodge, 
<)J. A. V. S: A. .M.. a leading member 



6oo 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



of Pilgrims' Harl^or Council, 543, 
Ro}al Arcannni. He is one of the 
three who organized Court Silver 
City, 7060. A. C). F., and is a 
charter member of Court Meriden, 
42. Air. W'oodley's success in 
floriculture convinces one of the verity 
that where a man's inclinations and 
heart are there will be his best work. 
The part that he has long played in 
the life of Meriden has made him a 
leader in his particular line. 



THE COE FARM. 



With its famous history, hospitality 
and excellence of garden, orchard and 
dairy products, the Coe Farm is pre- 
eminently one of the most celebrated 
and valuable agricultural properties 
in Connecticut. The farm is situated 
just beyond the city limits in the Han- 
over district and reached by a ten 
minute ride in the street cars. The 
farm comprises 300 acres, formerly 
owned by the late Andrew J. Coe, 
and 125 acres leased of the Wm. L. 
Bradley estate adjoining, and the soil 
has ever been kept in a high state of 
cultivation. The beauties of land- 
scape make it a delightful spot to be 
visited, and its close proximity to the 
business center provides a most con- 
venient source of supply to the local 
markets. 

The farm once owned by the late 
Ebenezer Peck, a retired sea captain, 
and later by Captain Cowles, was pur- 
chased by Calvin Coe in 1821. He 
married and took up his residence 
there in the old homestead now occu- 



pied by \'ictor Lucchini, the present 
manager and part owner of the prop- 
erty. 

The late Calvin Coe carried on the 
farm for over forty years and im- 
proved the land which now shows 
the good results of his toil. He 
erected a factory on the land and op- 
erated for many years an extensive 
bone grinding business and opened 
extensive quarries there, in all of ! 
which he was assisted in later years 
by his sons. In 1861 he retired from ; 
agricultural work and continued in | 
the bone business. That year the 
farm was taken by his sons, 
Henry and Winfield R. Coe, and in 
1863 their brother, Andrew J. Cik. 
the first judge of the municipal court 
of Meriden, joined them in its man-, 
agement. Judge Coe, seeing the: 
great possibility of the land for fruit 
growing, planted extensive orchards 
and vineyards which in their product -^ 
earned for him an enviable reputatinii. 
He finally became the sole owner uf 
the farm, he and his brother Henry 
buying out the interests of Winfield R-; 
in 1870, and Andrew J. the remaining 
interest of Henry in 1873. 

In 1867 the building, of "Coe Cas- 
tle" was begun by the Coe brothers 
and after seven years was completfi. 
The building is constructed wholly i»t 
stone and wood from the farm land 
and comprises one of the largest and: 
most remarkably well built and com- 
fortable dwellings in this vicinity. 
During the construction of the "Cas- 
tle" among the artisans employed by 
ludge Coe, in the interior decoration 



6o2 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



of the structure, was the late Peter 
Lucchini, who married Edith, sister 
of Judge Andrew Coe, and to whom 
were born the following children : 
John R., Victor E., Marie, Arthur C, 
now deceased, and Paul. For some 
years previous to the death of Judge 
Andrew J. Coe, Mr. Lucchini con- 
ducted the farm and until a sad acci- 
dent deprived his family of a husband 
and father. Upon the decease of 
Judge Coe his wife. Kate Foote Coe, 



Under his regime the farm ha^ 
been kept up to the high standard 
of excellence it has ever held and 
many improvements have been made 
in and about the farm. The large and 
varied product, always received fresh 
every day, is much appreciated b\ 
residents of Aleriden and brings a higli 
price in market owing to the rep- 
utation the farm has always main- 
tained for supplying only the best of 
fruit and vegetables. 




COE CASTLE. 



the well known writer, who by his 
will was to enjoy the income of the 
property during her life, assumed the 
management of the farm but at the 
expiration of two years she turned 
the afifairs of the farm over to the 
Meriden Trust & Safe Deposit Co., 
until March i, 1901, when she sold 
her interests in the entire property to 
the present owners and since then the 
farm has been under the management 
of Victor Lucchini. 



JULIUS KUNTZE. 



Julius Kuntze, cigar manufacturer, 
wholesale and retail tobacconist of 
Meriden, was born in Wansen, Prus- 
sian Silesia, February 14, 1858. He is 
the son of Carl and Theresa (Weiss) 
Kuntze, both natives of the town 
where Julius was born. His father was 
engaged all his life in the manufacture 
of cigars at Wansen and his children 
are now all deceased excepting Jnluis 



BIOGRAPHIKS. 



603; 




604 A CKN'IDKY f>/' .Vli;i<ll)l';,V. 

of Mcri'lf-i) ;iii'l ll<riii;iii wlio carrifs iikiiI ot the lowii aii'l where iie lias 

on business ;ii iIm- oI<I stand of lii-i l)e(<)ni<- l:iiown as a liij^lily esteemed, 

fallier. ;mI</|>I('I ( iti/.eii. lie stands hij^h jp 

After receiving a ^ood edn< ;it ion in the estimation ot his neij^lihors ami 

his native town, jnhns Knnt/.e leained liieiMJ-,, and thi- patrons of his sUjre, 

his trade in his fatli<r's f;iri<,r\ ;nid lo(;iled on |„i-,t .\|;iiii street, have 

aflef his father's de;ith, with his leaiind to l:nou and appreciate his 

hrolher Merman, (ondnete(| ilie hnsi ^ood (piahties. 

iiess for his mother, lie ( anie to this lie i -. ;i memher ol the .\|eri<leii 

<onntry ni iSXi, saihn;.; from ll.nn Saen^erhnnd and the Aleriden 'rum 

hnf^ and lirsl located in Xcvv \'orl< \ erein. lie is also a memher uf the 

where he i-eni;Mned for six vears ;ind A. O. I '. \V. and of Silver ( ilv ( ourt, 

did ;i piolit;dile hn siness as ;i cii^ai' /Xncirnt ' )ide|- of I'oreslers. 

maker. lie afterwards located in 

,\'ew Haven where he n'lnained lor R. S. (JODI-'R I^Y. 

(ive y-'if^, after vvhieh he retmned to 

his liom<- in ',erm;m\ and spent sev ' 'ne of the active yonnj^' Inisiness 

<-ial months, men of .Meiiden is Raymond S.'infonl 

It vva, in iX<^^th;n he > ;mie to Mer- <iodfrey, portrait and landscape pho- 

iden and < .l.ihiished Ins present hnsi lo^^rapher, who carries on business 

ness which has since ^^Movvn to a I;m'^c in an old established studio in the 

<-nlerprise, his facp.iw hein;^ the lar;^ Mall iK Lewis bnildinj^', where he has 

<'st lo|- the m.Mnilactnre of ci^ai"s in nni with a tj;oodly measiu'e of sue- 

this cit\ or vicmity. .V] r. Kmit/e has cess. Me was born in .Mechauics- 

also bnilt np ;i lar^'e vvboh'side hn i \ille. Iowa, .Xn^iist |, iH7''», (he son 

ness in his line ;ind nppli<s the lo( ;d of Walter anil K'nth I,. (Sims) (io<l- 

<lealers within ;i ladnr, of several fre\. Mis f;itli<i, now deceased, an 

miles of iVIeriden. Mis honorable indi'st lions ( abiiiet maker, residcl 

dealing's ;Mid pr<)j,;ressi ve id<'as .'md m < onn<-<ti(nl dnriiii; his \oiiiit: 

kindb and ac( < minioilat inv, disposition m;mliood, bnt afterw;n'ds reniovcl 

have bmll np his tiad<- to its present West wlieic he died. Mis niotlici 

propoitions. horn at Sonlh Mancbestei', (onii. 

Me was marric'l in iX<)i at X'ew retnrned to t his st at e a ft er I he (leatli 

llaven t<i l'di/;d)etli Schwab, a n;itive of her Inisb.ind ami has for snin<' 

ol I )ai ni ,l.i(|t , lie, sen I );M"mstadt , Ncars icsideil in Merideii. 

<ieini;m\. I lie\ have li;id the follov\ K'a\inond (lodfrev, who h;is he'" 

in;- I hildicn : ( ieoriM' ; l.ndwi'.; ;Mid in Abiideii since iXi^j, bewail lii'~ 

Melcn, both (d whom died vonnj;; An careei^ as .1 pliotov,raplier by seciir- 

^nst, I'.liza, (arl .-nid llarold. Since in-, employ nient in one of the ccl'' 

<'oniin^ to IVleriden, Mr. I\nnt/e b.is brated K ellnier st ndios in lla/cltnn 

identilied himself with the develop I'a., where be learned the niyslcrii- 



ItlOC.KAI'lIIKS. 



635 



of the Imsituss ;iii(l i|c\cl( ipi (| .m in ti;iit work .iinl ilu m.ikin^ of iiiii- 
Imrn talent {i<y tli<- calliiij;^. lie side and inlet km \ kws in wliirh he 
afterward^ aceepled a position as excels. W'lien iIk sludio Insi In 
stall iilioioj^'raplKT oil the X'cw N'ork eanie oe( u|ii< d li\ linn ilu (iih.inre 
lonrnal whet e lie remained for ;i per- was .il >< l';i t Mam ^Itcel. hiil m 

\'}(\', ihr hmldiiiL; \va^ ictiiodened 
atid al that time the eiitianee was 
chan.^id I' I I ' ( oloii\ stfeel , iiiMk 

in^ a ititieh iiioic (dn\cnieiil eii- 
tfane<\ aiifl hiinj^^itit; the J,^a^et•\ with- 
in lasier access of the street. Mr. 
'lorlficy ha*- a< hie\ I'd a w<'II eanicfl 
te|intalioii ;i^ a |)hotoj^ra|iIief and 
ahoul j(in of hi'^ pieliu'cs are repro- 
dii< fil in the paj^es <>f this liool<. 

I le is also deserved I \ po|inl,ii as a 
resident and hii^iness m,in ;iiid is 
a nu'inher of the New l'JiL;land I'lio 
toj^rraphers' Association. Mt. < .od 
fre\- is an < iii hiisiastic anlomohilist 
;iiid enjoys the distinction of heiiij^r 
the first photo;^Mapher of the town to 
own a car. 




I III-. WLVTIIRf)!' IK 'I II 



H. >. f.OOl KKY, 



I Ins tatnons hostelry named for 

d of twf> years and {^aitie*) fnrtlnr (,o\(rnor \\'inlln<ip is a sonr( <• of 

Itialile (xjierience. .Mr. '<odfrey ju.st pi id<' to Mendeii. fot it ( om- 

I'pened his present studio October I. pris( om of the linesl in i\e\v \'.n^- 

\^>**l^f, after jiavinj.^ worked in sescral land, I In Imildin^ was erected liy 

luljd^ in .New York and also in Walter llnhhaid to inert tin de- 

'•rideii ;ind thereby makinj^ his mands of the ^rowiii^' <ily for a 

^ ■ >\ *»tart in Intsiness for himself hotel wlii( li shonhl not only he 

laiul in thin he has been rntirelv sue- elej.,'ant in appearam e bnt also in 

d 'I he studio haviiif,,' been appoinliiMiits and eonvenien« c^. and 

lously closer] bv it^ former (»c it ha'^ «'\(r been a In.xnrions bonic 

ipantH, WHH fitted np anew by Mr, for the traveling' public : wbilr it» cx- 

xlfrcy whose paraphernalia con- c<-IU-nl cniMiie has also been nincb ap- 

iv of -M.rv fa'ililv for both por- pre( iated by the people of M. rideii 



6o8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



The building situated on Colony St. 
faces Winthrop Square, within one 
minute of Meriden's principal rail- 
road station, and is a brick and 
brownstone structure, eighty-five feet 
by 225 in dimensions, and in 
front five stories high. There are 



it to the present proprietors, Geo e 
H. and James H. Bowker. Th^ 
well known bonifaces also condi;t 
the Hotel Hamilton in Holyoke ;d 
the Draper at Northampton, M.s. 
The management of the Winthrop, ce 
that of other hotels controlled b\- i- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

WINTHROP HOTEL 



TAMES H. BOWKER. 



104 rooms, eighty of which are 
sleeping chambers. The furnishings 
are of a luxurious character and 
were furnished by the Winthrop 
Hotel Company, composed of a few 
leading citizens, who secured a long 
lease of the property, and released 



firm, has been of the highest order ; 
highly pleasing to the public. Janie i 
Bowker has been the resident pan- 
ever since the hotel was opened i* 
he is counted as one of the valued ■^■' 
of Meriden. He serves on the d 
tennial Committee. ; 



PART HI 



MAXUFACTOKIKS. 



MANUFACTORIES OF MERIDEN 



j:i)\\ARl) MILLER & CO. 



( )iic (jl Meriden's most im])(irtain 
industries is that oarrifd on 1)\ VA- 
ward Miller & Co., famous the world 
over tor the ".Miller" lamp, and which 
concern also manufactures lam]) trim- 
mings of every variety, tinners' hard- 
ware, brass and bronze j^oods. gas and 
electric fixtures. I^dward Miller, 
who founded the business in 1844. 
interested a luunber of capitalists in 
ihe concern in 186C). and in July ot 
that year a joint stock comi)any was 
formed imder the name of Edward 
Miller & Company, with a ca])ital of 
Sjoo.iX")"). Mr. Miller, however, long" 
before had established the business, 
which was bei^'un by him before he 
liad attained his majority. Mr. .Mil- 
ler's father was at first associated w ilh 
him rnder the name of Joel Miller »!v 
Son. The partnership lasted but tun 
\ears. when the son ])urchased his 
father's interest. The business from 
tlie Iieginnintx grew rapidly and larg- 
er (juarters were found to be neces- 
sary. A wooden building was erect- 
<d on the site of the ])resent huge 
I'lant but the structure, together with 
its contents, was destroyed by fire in 
i^^C*. This misfortune was followed 
|i^ the panic in 1857 but the business 

;rvived Ijoth calamities. In 1858 



Mr. Miller began tin- manufacture of 
kerosene burners, being the first in 
America to make and i)ut upon the 
market liurners using kerosene oil 
made from distilled coal ; bronzes, 
sheet brass and brass utensils of va- 
rious kimls being later manufactured. 
The comi)any has found it necessary 
to enlarge the ])lant several times ow- 
ing to the growth of ihr ])usiness. 

The Miller Company does an im- 
mi-nsc export l)usiness and it is prob- 
able that there is hardly a reginn of 
the world where its product has not 
gone. The factory occui)ies several 
acres and 800 workmen are employed. 
Xot onl\- have the Miller ])roducts 
been designed to be substantial, use- 
ful and honest goods, but nmch time 
and ihonght have been ex])ended in 
order that they should be artistic as 
Will. The result is the uninterrupt- 
ed success of the com])an\. 

The Miller Company made famons 
thr ""k" K'liester" lamp, which it be- 
gan to manufacture in 1884. but 
when ])ressed by imitators, it was de- 
termined to produce a still better, 
more scientifically constructed and ar- 
tistic light giver. The result was the 
".Miller" lamp, which, absolutely sim- 
ple, is known to the trade as the "per- 
fect lam])." The latest line i< that of 
gas and electric fixtures. 



.MANUFACTORIES. 



The present officers and directors 
of the company are as follows : 

President, Edward IMiller; secre- 
tary and treasurer, Edward Miller 
Jr. ; assistant treasurer, Benjamin C. 
Kennard ; superintendent, Arthur E. 
Miller; directors, Edward Miller, Ar- 
thur E. ^liller, Hon. A. Chamberlain, 
Benjamin C. Kennard, Edward Mil- 
ler. Jr., John L. Billard and Andrew 
J. Sloper. 

The capital stock of the company is 
now $500,000. 

Edward ^Miller, founder and pres- 
' ident of this most important manufac- 
turing concern, the history of which 
is criven above, is an example 
of the successful American busi- 
ness man. who by his own efforts has 
risen to prominence in the commun- 
ity. Mr. Miller's genealogy is traced 
to John Miller, who emigrated from 
Maidstone, County of Kent, Eng- 
land, to Lynn, Massachusetts, moving 
to South Hampton, Long Island, 
about 1649. Mr. Miller's grand- 
father was Rev. Samuel Miller, who 
preached in Meriden for twenty-six 
years, dying in Wallingford, in 1829. 
Edward Miller was born August 
10, 1827. in Wallingford, son of 
Joel and Clarissa (Plum) Miller, and 
spent the early years of his life on the 
farm of his father, who gave the boy 
the usual schooling then provided for 
farmers* sons, which, in this case, in- 
cluded a short time at Post Academy. 
in Meriden. At fifteen he was em- 
ployed in a factory, making lamj) 
screws, hoops and candlestick springs. 
He was thus enij)loyed for several 



years until, while yet a }Outh, he de- 
termined to become his own master. 
He set a1x)ut this with characteristic 
energy, purchased a set of tools, and 
associated himself with his father un- 
der the name of Joel Miller & Son. 
The business at first was a small one, 
but the young man knew his trade 
thoroughly, and prosperity attended 
him. 

When only twenty he purchased his 
father's interest in the business, and 
his own legal time up to his majority, 
giving his notes for $800.00. It is in- 
teresting to know that these notes 
were paid before the close of the 
next year out of the profits of the 
business. With success crowning his 
efforts thus early, it is not difficult to 
understand the growth of the Miller 
company, which has since become so 
important a factor in ilic life of the 
city. 

Mr. Miller in political views is a 
Republican. His active business life 
has left no time, however, for him to 
h(jld public office. He is a liberal 
suj)porter of the Eirst Baptist church. 
to whicli in i^Cx) he gave a splendid 
organ. He also contributed gener- 
ously toward the erection of the Ger- 
man Baptist church edifice. The 
Ldnnecticut Literary fnstittUe, at 
Suffield. and the MericKn N'. M. C. 
-A. are among the many other worthy 
causes which have fnund in him a 
benefactor. 

Mr. Miller was married nn .\ugust 
30. 184S, to Caroline M. Xeal. 
flaughter of Joseph and Matilda 
^Uarnes) Xeal. of .'^onthington, Con- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



FOUNDRY, EDWARD MILLER & CO. 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



MACHINE ROOM, EDWARD MILLER & CO. 




AUTOMATIC LATIILI RuoM. EDWAKI) .MII.I.KR .v C< i 



8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



necticut. Of the five children born 
to them the following three survive: 
Edward Miller, Jr., a graduate of 
Brown University, secretary and 
treasurer of Edward Miller & Com- 
pany ; Arthur E. Miller, superinten- 
dent of Edward Miller & Company, 
and Mrs. Layette A. Kendrick, resid- 
ing in Meriden. 

Edward Miller, Jr., secretary and 
treasurer of the Edward Miller & 
Company corporation, is the elder 
son of Edward Miller, president of 
the company which bears his name. 
He was born February i, 1851, and 
attended the Meriden public schools 
until 1868 when he went to the Suf- 
field Preparatory Academy, later en- 
tering Brown University and grad- 
uating with honors with the class of 
'74. In the fall of that year he en- 
tered his father's factory where he ap- 
plied himself to learning the business 
in a practical way in the different de- 
partments, becoming each year a 
more important factor in the business. 
Since 1882 he has held the offices of 
both secretary and treasurer and dur- 
ing recent years has assumed a great- 
er portion of the responsibilities 
of the active management. He 
is known as one of Meriden's 
ablest manufacturers and the good 
name the company enjoys has been 
due in a measure to the important part 
he has taken in the aft'airs of the 
company. 

Mr. Miller has served two terms in 
the Meriden common council and has 
also been a valued member of the 
school committee of the town. He is 



one of the trustees of the City Sav- 
ings Bank and is a member of the 
Home Club. Mr. Miller is an ardent 
lover of music and books. Being a 
great reader he possesses one of the 
finest private libraries in Meriden. 
Since 1874 he has had charge of the 
music at the First Baptist church in 
which position both his father and 
grandfather preceded him, the latter 
in the old edifice. 

He resides at the Edward Miller 
residence on Broad street and is un- 
married. 

Benjamin C. Kennard, assistant 
treasurer and one of the directors of 
Edward Miller & Company corpora- 
tion, was born in Cambridge, Mass., 
in 1849, where he obtained his edu- 
cation, which included an attendance 
at the Cambridge High school. At 
ten years of age Mr. Kennard began 
to be self-supporting and from that 
age worked at some business or oth- 
er during his school life. Previous 
to coming to Meriden he was chief 
accountant of a large importing and 
exporting house in Boston. He be 
came head bookkeeper of Edward 
Miller & Company in 1872, since 
which time he has been connected 
with the large business, having for 
some years been a stockholder, as- 
sistant treasurer and a director in the 
company. 

Mr. Kennard is a man of sound 
business judgment and reliability and 
his long connecHon with the concertt 
makes him of great value to the large 
factor?'. He has been prominent in 
city and town-.^affairs,- being at this 




BLXJ. C. KKXNAKI) 



ARTHUR E. Mil. I. IK. 



lO 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



writing a member of the board of 
apportionment and taxation. He 
also served in the Common Council 
in 1892-3 and again in 1896-7. He 
was alderman in 1894-5 and was the 
last clerk of the Prattsville school 
district before the consolidation. He 
is a member of the Home Club and 
assistant treasurer of the First Bap- 
tist church of Meriden. In 1875 he 
was married to Justina C, daughter 
of Ransom Baldwin, and his chil- 
dren consist of one son, B. Leighton 
Kennard, employed as bookkeeper 
for Russell Hall, and one daughter, 
Helen M. Kennard, who was married 
October 5, 1905, to William Atkins 
McKenzie, and whose pleasing con- 
tralto voice has been much appre- 
ciated at St. Paul's Universalist 
church, Meriden ; Calvary Baptist 
church. New Haven, and Prospect M. 
E. church, Bristol. 

Arthur Eugene jMiller, who since 
1 90 1 has been the permanent super- 
intendent of the Edward Miller & 
Company factory, is the second son 
of Edward Miller and was born in 
Meriden September 12, 1863. He 
attended private school in ^Meriden, 
afterwards graduating from the Hart- 
ford High school in 1883. Direct 
from that institution he entered 
Brown University where he remained 
but one year, owing to the urgent 
need of his services at the factory, 
with the work of which he had be- 
come in his spare time somewhat fa- 
miliar. He began his manufacturing 
career at the bench and familiarized 
himself with the intricate workings of 



the big factory by practical applica 
tion. 

He was made assistant superinten 
dent on his own merits and only afte 
he had proven his worth. Before h 
was finally made the permanent su 
perintendent in 1901 he acted in tha 
capacity on several occasions duriii 
the change of superintendents. Mi 
Miller is known as one of the mos 
practical young men in the factone 
of Meriden. 

In social life he is a prominent fig 
ure. He is a member of the Hoin 
Club and a thirty-second degree men 
ber of the Masonic fraternity. He is 
past master of Meridian Lodge, ']'], \ 
& A. M., and was eminent commaiu' 
er of St. Elmo Commandery, Knight 
Templar, of Meriden, in 1902. He i 
unmarried and resides at the Edwaii 
iMiller homestead. 



THE WILCOX & \\'HITE CO. 



This concern which is recognizoi 
as leading the world in its line, am 
from whose factory emanated the fir.'^s 
mechanical piano-player, and sevcra 
years before that the first mechanica; 
self-playing organ device, was organ 
ized in 1877 as the Wilcox & Whiti 
Organ Company, the capital stock 
which was $30,000. 

The founders of the business weri 
the late Horace C. Wilcox, then ;: 
well known silver plate manufacture 
of Meriden, who furnished a portioi 
of the capital, and H. K., James H. an( 
the late E. H. and Howard White- 
father and three sons, who came hen 



12 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



from Brattleboro, \'t., at Mr. Wilcox's 
suggestion, to establish the business of 
making parlor organs. 

From the outset the company manu- 
factured a high grade instrument and 
before many years had elapsed the 
name of the Wilcox & White organ 
became a synonym for the best reed 
instrument made in this country and 
the output of the factory found a ready 
sale, a large number of the organs 
made being shipped to all parts of 
the civilized world. 

In 1888 the Symphony or pneumatic 
self-playing organ, was invented and 
put upon the market which added to 
the already great triumphs the com- 
pany had previously scored in the 
musical world. 

It was in 1897 when the Angelus, 
the first device invented to attach to 
a piano for its mechanical playing, 
was conceived, that the company took 
an advance stride in the lead of mus- 
ical instrument manufacturers, never 
to be overtaken by their followers. 
The Angelus was invented after 
many years of patient experiment by 
Edward H. White, the superintendent 
of the factory, and on account of the 
original and fundamental patents be- 
ing in the control of the company they 
are in no possible danger of being 
copied to any damaging extent by imi- 
tators. 

To the original patents, the keen in- 
ventive genius of the Whites of three 
generations have made additions to the 
marvelous mechanism of the self-play- 
ing piano player, until the music of 
the Anofelus and the Angelus Pianos 



cannot be detected from perfect pla 
ing upon the keys by human hands. 

Shortly after the Angelus made i 
startling debut upon the market whe 
it was most graciously received, tl 
company increased its capital stot 
from $75,000 to $150,000 and tl 
name was changed from the Wile 
& White Organ Company to the W 
cox & White Company, Mr. James i 
White continuing as the head of tl 
concern. The factory which had bei 
previously enlarged from time to tin 
was again added to and a four-sto 
structure 250 feet in length and J 
feet wide was erected for the manufa 
ture of the Angelus. The compa;j 
have, therefore, more than doubled ti- 
capacity of their factory within tl; 
past few years and are turning out 
the present writing a large number h 
Angelus pianos and Angelus i 
tachments a week. The output 
the large factory which gives regul 
and excellent employment to from 3( 
to 400 men, finds not only a ready sa 
in this country, but foreign countri 
now make demands upon it for a ft 
quarter of its production. 

The Angelus attachment, which c 
be applied to any piano without inte 
fering in any way with human pla 
ing, is made to match any piano ca: 
and the family possessing one of the 
marvelous mechanical players is inclec 
fortunate ; for no more lasting ante 
tainment can be conceived of for 1 
cost which brings it within the reac 
of any ordinary mortal. 

The Angelus pianos, which are aiJ 
made bv the Wilcox & White Con 




ACTIOX DKPARTMEXT. THE WILCOX ^ WilllK CO. 




^ tiDdirfv 



I'OM.SHIXC, I)[:i'.\I<TMi:XT, Till-: \\||.(.,\ ,., ,. 



14 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



pany, can be played with or without 
or in conjunction with the AngeKis 
which it contains. This twentieth 
century instrument not onl\' leads the 
W'orld in beauty of finish, tone, and 
careful construction, but promises to 
continue to do so for an indefinite 
period. It has dozens of imitators but 
has such an advanced lead and is so 
securely protected by iron clad patents 
that it cannot be approached by other 
manufacturers. 

Every department of the great fac- 
tory is conducted upon the most mod- 
ern lines and every instrument ema- 
nating therefrom is rigidly inspected 
during the various stages of its con- 
struction. 

A well known writer in Harper's 
magazine says of the White family 
and the Angelus, as follows: 

"Beneficent Nature has placed with- 
in the soul of every human being the 
love of music. In every thousand she 
has picked a few for the richer dower 
of the ability to produce it. Among 
primitive people those mortals thus 
favored have been set apart for spe- 
cial honor, and even worshipped be- 
cause of their godlike power of pro- 
ducing melody that would stir even 
the soul of a savage. 

"If the power to produce music in 
person be a great mark of genius, 
what may be said of those who have 
conceived and perfected the means by 
which any one can produce it ! This 
magnificent faculty. Avhich means so 
mvich to every man or woman lacking 
musical genius and. education, has 
been conferred upon universal man- 



kind by ]\Ir. H. K. White, his sons an 
grandson, in the conception and pe 
fection of the Angelus, by which evei 
one, from the child of three years i 
the musical artist, can play the piar 
with perfect technique, and expressic 
limited only by the power of the pla- 
er to feel the music being played. 

"The origin of all good inventioi 
can be traced to the instinct and ten 
perament of their inventors ; and tl 
student of history finds in the Whi 
family ample indications of music 
genius. Mr. H. K. White, the fathe 
was born in 1822 ; he taught singii 
school at eighteen, led the choir, play 
the violin and flute in church for mai 
years. In 1849 ^^^ began manufactu 
ing melodeons at New London, Con 
His oldest son, ]\Ir. J. H. White, w; 
from boyhood about his father's fa 
tory, and at an early age began tl 
study of constructing instruments ai 
the tuning of organs and pianos. ¥ 
sang in the church choir at twelv 
played the organ in church at sevei 
teen, and continued to do so for si 
teen years thereafter. 

"To ^Ir. E. H. Wliite, the secoi 
son, since deceased, is given the cred 
for the conception of the idea of pla; 
ing the piano mechanically by nieai 
of the music-roll, and the first succes 
lul device for the work was construe 
ed under his direction on the inside ( 
a piano in 1895 ; from which time m 
til the present the Angelus has bct| 
])laced on the inside of pianos. I' 
1897 he had made under his siipe 
vision, and patented by him, the uu 
side or cabinet of a separate piaiH 




I'Ih I., l.y K. S. Godfrey. 



CASI-; l<i M ] M , III I , \\ II. (IN .V \V 1 1 ITK C< ». 



i6 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



player, which is the present Angekis. 

"A third son, Howard White, also 
deceased, began tuning and construct- 
ing organs at the age of sixteen, fol- 
lowing the profession for about 
eighteen years, assisting his father 
and brothers in the development of 
their instruments, the Symphony and 
the Angelus. 

"Mr. F. C. White represents the 
third generation of this musical family. 
He developed an unusual talent both in 
music and mechanics at a very early 
age, entering the employ of the com- 
pany of which his father was and is 
the president. The United States Pat- 
ent office amply testifies to the various 
inventions of his, which have added 
the recent remarkable improvements 
that have developed the Angelus to an 
instrument of almost human qualities. 
The piano-player conception was Mr. 
White's. The first piano-player ever 
built — the Angelus — was Mr. White's. 
To-day, the only piano-player, with 
powers of expression that a commit- 
tee of musical critics failed to distin- 
guish from hand playing, is the Ange- 
lus invented and improved by three 
generations of musical genius. To- 
day the Angelus principle, for the fa- 
cilitation of technique — taking the 
place of fullest knowledge of notes 
and keys — promises to become univer- 
sally combined with the piano. 

"Of course many of these instru- 
ments are imitations of the Angelus, 
and, like all imitations, have vital 
shortcomings. 

"The Angelus holds its position of 
pre-eminence because it is an original 



invention, whose inventors still live 
father, son, grandson — all of unques 
tioned musical genius, still addinj: 
constantly to its powers, making i 
more human in its possibilities, mor 
artistic in its wonderful effects. Th 
imitator wdio must ferret his wa ! 
around patent laws, is naturally handi 
capped, and his machine is merely mci 
chanical. The Angelus alone give! 
soul to the music. Dominant, livej 
energetic, ambitious, capable geniui 
makes the .Vngelus, to-day as ever, th 
pre-eminent and incomparable piano 
player." 

Henry Kirk White, father an 
grandfather of the family which no\{ 
leads the world in the genius of in 
venting and perfecting self-playinj 
pianos, was born in Bolton, Conn., ii 
1822. His antecedents came froii, 
England and were among the occu 
pants of the "William and ?^Iar\. 
which ship landed off Nantasket 
Mass., in 1630, and enabled its pas 
sengers to escape from the then re 
ligious persecutions of their nativ 
country. 

H. K. White spent his boyhood dav 
on the home farm and obtained siicl 
education as he could secure at th 
district school in winter and readinj 
instructive books at home. H 
showed a love for music when a ho, 
of tender years ; this developed as h 
grew older into an unusual talent; 
Long before the age of twenty h 
-became a teacher in the singing schdo 
and leader of choruses and was a ta 
miliar figure in musical circle 
throughout the state. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



17 



In 1841, having learned scientific 
tuning of pianos and organs he went 
west and engaged in that calHng, 
travehng somewhat extensively for 
some four years. In 1845 ^^ located 
in Colchester and in the employ of 



factory being at New London, Conn. 
In 1853 he moved the then modest 
industry to Washington, N. J., where 
he continued until the l)reaking out 
of the Civil War, when like many oth- 
ers he suspended business to await de- 




MUSIC KUOM, 1III-: WIlAOX 



W HITl-: CO. 



)enis<:)n .Smith first began his career velopnunts. remaining in Philadelphia 

1 the manufacture of musical instru- and vicinity until 1865. when he was 

lents. Two years later through in- called to Brattleboro, \ i.. by the Estey 

[Ustry, perseverance and strict econ- Organ Company to take charge of 

uy he was enabled to engage in the their tuning and action department, 

anufacture of melodeons, his first taking with him his family, and where 

42 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



his sons also obtained positions where 
they also rose rapidly. 

It was in 1876 that Mr. White and 
his sons succeeded in interesting Mer- 
iden capital to such an extent that 
with the co-operation of the late Hor- 
ace C. Wilcox in 1877, the Wilcox & 
Wliite Organ Company was organized. 
The industry was welcomed by Meri- 
den people, and has been a success 
from the start and until recent years, 
when he has earned a rest from the 
cares of business, he was actively en- 
gaged at the factory. 

Not a little of the great success that 
has been achieved by the company is 
due to his genius and the encourage- 
ment of his sons and his grandsons, 
whose ambition to leave the world a 
class of musical instruments that has 
made the name famous, has been fully 
realized. 

Mr. White has served both the 
town and city of Meriden in public 
office. He has been a member of the 
Board of Aldermen, being chosen to 
represent the Fifth ward and in the 
discharge of his duties as a member 
of the city government he won th.e 
gratitude of his constituents and the 
city at large. For many years he was 
re-elected a member of the school 
committee and was the first chairman 
of his district. The interest that Mr. 
White has taken in the education of 
the young in Meriden never failed to 
be shown in his every act as a member 
of the school board. 

Mr. White has been twice married, 
first to Lucy Cornwell, daughter of 
WilHam and Julia (Roberts) Corn- 



well, of Middletown, Conn., and af- 
ter her death, which occurred Febru- 
ary 18, 1867, to Mrs. Betsy Herrick, 
daughter of Benjamin Stickney, of 
Dummerston, Vt. By his first mar- 
riage he had four children as follows: 
James H., president and treasurer of 
the Wilcox & White Company; Ed- 
ward H. and Howard (both deceased), 
and Julia Cornwell, now Mrs. Silas 
Donovan, of Meriden. 

Mr. White is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity' being a Knight Tem- 
plar. 

Not long since an octogenarian, and 
although he has suffered a paralytic 
shock, he is still clear of eye and keen 
of infepllect, and distinguished from the 
fact that he is probably the oldest liv- 
ing manufacturer of musical instru- 
ments in New England. 

James Henry White, president and 
treasurer of the Wilcox & White 
Company and eldest son of H. K. 
White, was born in Westfield, Conn., 
September 26, 1847. He obtained his 
education in Somerville, Washington 
and Phillipsburg, N. J. When the 
family moved to Philadelphia during 
the Civil War he entered the famous 
mercantile establishment of John 
Wanamaker, where he embraced the 
opportunity and obtained a thoroughly 
practical business training. 

When his father removed to Krat- 
tleboro, Vt., however, and assumed 
charge of the tuning and action de- 
partment of the Estey Organ Com- 
pany, young White rapidly adapted 
himself to the work of assisting his 
father in the tuning of the instruments. 



20 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



By close application to his work and 
a studious performance of his duties 
and with his father's guidance, he 
advanced rapidly and in a few years 
obtained a position fully as responsi- 
ble and important as that held by his 
father. 

After remaining in Brattleboro for 
a period of thirteen yeears, his ability 
together with that of his father and 
brothers, was recognized by the late 
H. C. Wilcox to such an extent that 
he was induced to come to Meriden 
and in the formation of the present 
company of which for so many years 
he has been the practical head, he 
took the leading part. 

The history of the company is but 
a creditable reflection upon his able 
management for in past adversity and 
later successes he has been the same 
able financier, kind employer and val- 
ued citizen. Although a man upon 
whom his business has made urgent 
calls, he has never shirked his duty to 
his fellow citizens in matters where 
public interest and local pride were 
concerned. He has represented the 
Fifth ward in the cit}' council but 
has never sought nor accepted any 
other public office. He is on the 
board of directors of the Home Na- 
tional Bank, one of the trustees of the 
First Congregational Church and a 
prominent member of the Home Club 
of Meriden. 

He was married December i, 1868, 
to Kate, daughter of Samuel T. R. and 
Alartha (Brown) Cheney, of Brattle- 
boro, Vt., and they have three chil- 
dren : Frank Cornwell, one of the of- 



ficers of the Wilcox & White Com- 
pan)', and who has invented many val- 
uable improvements to the Angelus ; 
Grace Louise and Florence May (Mrs. 
Harry Smith). During the prepara- 
tion for the Centennial celebration by 
the citizens of Meriden Mr. White 
has taken a most important part, be- 
ing a member of the general commit- 
tee and chairman of the committee on 
finance. 

The late Edward H. White, from 
the first inception of the industry 
to the time of his death, with his fath- 
er and broth.ers in the Wilcox & White 
Company, was born in Washington, X. 
J., on April 5, 1855. His early busi- 
ness training and his experience in 
the manufacture of musical instru- 
ments were at the works of the Estey 
Organ Company, at Brattleboro, Yt. 
When the Wilcox & White Company 
began the manufacture of organs he 
supervised from the beginning the tun- 
ing and voicing of the instruments. 
His name will ever be famous in his- 
tory from the fact that he conceived 
the idea of a practical device for play- 
ing the piano mechanically by means 
of music rolls \yhich invention was 
first produced by -the Wilcox & White 
Company in 1895 and which was the 
original Angelus but since largely im- 
proved upon by the compan\' and 
which leads the world in its class. 

Mr. White's original invention cre- 
ated a marvelous sensation in the mu- 
sical world immediately ; and it is now 
used in every country on the globe 
and although some time after other 
inventions for the same purpose were 



MANUFACTORIES. 



21 



reated by imitators, the patent taken 
uut by Air. White and the company 
in which he was interested have pro- 
tected the Angelus from the damaging 
infringement of others. 

During the Hfetime of Mr. White 
he served as secretary and superinten- 
dent of the Wilcox & White Company 
from its re-organization. He w'as a 
man possessed of a very lovable dis- 
position and was kind and considerate 
to his fellow men and exceedingly de- 
voted to his family. 

When very young he was married 
to Alary Carter, a daughter of the 
late I'ela Carter, and upon his 
death left besides his widow. 
one son. Allan White, a prom- 
ising young man of somewhat deli- 
cate health. His widow' resides at the 
corner of Britannia and Griswoid 
streets. Meriden. and is much beloved 
in the community. Her simple life is 
spent in a great measure carrying oiit 
the same charitable benevolence that 
characterized their daily life before 
the death of her husband. 

Howard White, who until his death 
on December 9, 1897, was superinten- 
dent of the Wilcox & White Com- 
pany, was born in Somerville, X. J.. 
Sei^teniber 9, 1856. He was the 
youngest son" of H. K. White and was 
posses.sed of much mechanical genius 
and musical talent, both of which he 
inherited from his father. Like his 
brotlier. J. H. White, he obtained his 
first insight in the manufacturing of 
nnisical instruments at the works of 
the Estey Organ Company, in lirat- 
tleboro, \'t.. previously from sixteen 



to eighteen years of age, having as- 
sisted his father in tuning pianos in 
Philadelphia. 

From the organization of the Wil- 
cox & White Company up to the time 
of his regretted decease, he took a 
most important part in the growth and 
development of the concern. During 
his life his fertile brain did its full ])art 
toward making inventions and im- 
provements to the Symphony and An- 
gelus and his watchful eye was ever 
on the alert in keeping the different 
departments of the large industry up 
to the highest standard. He was not 
only one of the best know^n manufac- 
turers in Aleriden but a valued citizen 
whose death caused a great loss to the 
commimity. He was a social favor- 
ite and a member of the Home Club 
of Aleriden and w'as generous to a 
fault in alleviating the deserving cases 
of necessity among his fellow' men. 
He was married in 1880 to Flora A., 
daughter of Russell J. Ives, of Meri- 
den. Upon Mr. White's decease he 
left a widow and two boys, Russell 
Ives and Stanley \\'hite. who reside in 
Alcriden. 

Frank C. White, son of J. H. White 
and grandson of H. K. WHiite. was 
born on October 28, 1870. obtained 
a good school education, entered the 
employ of the Wilcox & White Com- 
])an\- in 18S7. and has from early 
l)c)\hoo(l been of a very inventive and 
mechanical turn of mind ; his whole 
time is now devoted to the ex])eri- 
mental department ; has produced and 
]iatented numerous ingenious devices 
for the still furtluT ini])rovenient of 



22 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



the instruments manufactured by The 
Wilcox & White Company, which 
stand foremost in the musical world. 
He is also a director of the company. 
Robert W. Carter, secretary of the 
Wilcox & White Company, and one 




ROBERT W. CARTER. 

of the Board of Police Commissioners 
of Meriden, is a son of the late Bela 
Carter. He was born in Meriden Au- 
gust 29, 1 87 1, and graduated from 
the Meriden High school in 1888. Af- 
ter associating himself with his fath- 
er's business for a few years, he en- 
tered the office of the Meriden Bri- 
tannia Company where he remained 
for five years in the invoicing depart- 
ment. He afterwards efficiently filled 
the position of cashier in the office of 
W. J. Kingsland in New York City, 
an extensive manufacturers' export 
agent. 

In 1900 he succeeded his brother- 
in-law, the late Edward H. Whits, 
as secretary of the Wilcox & White 



Company, in which large concern he 
is also one of the directors. He is a 
Republican in politics and at the age 
of twenty-four was elected a member 
of the Common Council from the Sec- 
ond ward. In 1905 he was appointed 
a member of the Board of Police Com- 
missioners by Mayor Seeley. He is 
prominent in social life, being a mem- 
ber of the Home Club, the Meriden 
Golf Club and the Colonial Club of 
Meriden. He is also a member of Al- 
fred H. Hall Council, Royal Arcanum. 
Fred E. Bemis, who since 1899, ^'^^^ 
been superintendent of the Wilcox & 




FRED E. BEMIS. 

White Company, was born in Coston 
February 6, 1863, a son of Orlando 
and Frances (Cheney) Bemis. His 
father is engaged in the meat business 
in Oakland. California. He traces his 



MAXUFACTOKIES. 



23 



ancestry on the maternal side back to 
the Revokitionary War period when 
his g^reat-grandfather was a soldier in 
the Continental army. 

Mr. Bemis was educated in Brattle- 
boro. \'t., and Oakland, Cal., and has 
been connected with the Wilcox & 
White Company ever since its organ- 
ization. He attained the ofifice.of su- 
perintendent entirely on his own mer- 
its and his almost vmlimited capacity 
for work coupled with his great ex- 
ecutive ability make him a most valua- 
ble officer of the company. 

He is a member of Meridian Lodge, 
F. and A, M., Keystone Chapter, and 
Hamilton Council, R. & S. M., Alfred 
H. Hall Council, Royal Arcanum. He 
married Miss Bertha S. Carter, daugh- 
ter of the late Bela Carter, and they 
have two sons, Leslie Carter Bemis 
and Robert Chenev Bemis. 



MERIDEX CUTLERY CO. 



Among the many business enter- 
prises that unite to give to Meriden a 
world-wide reputation as a manufac- 
turing center, one of the oldest and 
most prosperous is the Meriden Cut- 
lery Company. Although not one of 
the largest concerns in the city, this 
company, through the able and con- 
servative management of its officers, 
has been enabled to sustain, during the 
seventy-three years of its existence, a 
reputation for offering to the public 
the very best that can possibly be pro- 
duced in its line of goods. 

In 1832 David Ropes commenced 
he manufacture of table cutlcrv at 



Saccarappa, Maine, and was the first 
to attempt the production of this class 
of goods in America. As he pur- 
chased his ivory handles of Julius 
Pratt & Co., who made ivory combs in 
Meriden, in 1846, he came to South 
Meriden to manufacture cutlery, there 
being an excellent water privilege 
there which is still the only motive 
power, and a company was formed 
called Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Com- 
pany. In 1855 the company was in- 
corporated under the name of Meriden 
Cutlery Company, which name it has 
ever since borne. Julius Pratt was 
the first president, and J. B. Beadle, 
secretary and treasurer ; Mr. Beadle 
was later made general manager which 
office he held at the time of his death 
in 1877; while Randolph Linslcy was 
traveling salesman. The capital was 
at first $75,000, which has been in- 
creased to $400,000. 

In 1878 the offices of the company, 
which had been situated in New York, 
were moved to Meriden. In 1879 
came a change in the list of officers, 
Aaron L. Collins being chosen presi- 
dent. Homer A. Curtiss secretary, and 
George M. Howell, treasurer. 

The early sixties were especially 
prosperous for the company, a patent 
on a hard rubber handle giving them 
a very large trade in that particular 
liiie of goods. Through wise and 
conservative management. Mr. Collins 
kept the concern on a firm basis as 
long as he lived. At his death, which 
occurred in 1903 Homer A. Curtiss 
was chosen president. The present 
officers are as follows : President and 



.MAXL'I-ACIOKIKS. 



25 



Treasurer. Homer A. Curtiss ; Secre- 
tary, Thomas A. Benham ; Assistant 
Treasurer, J. P. Grosvenor ; Superin- 
tendent, R. \V. Hallam ; Directors, 
Walter Hubbard, John L. Ilillard, C. 
L. Rockwell. A. Chamberlain, F. 11. 
Wilcox, j. M. Gildersleeve, R. W. 
Hallam, B. W. Collins and II. A. 
( Airtiss. 

When the company was first start- 
ed, the production was limited to 




IIDMKK A. CURTISS. 

ivory-handled knives and forks, but 
the line has gradually increased until 
It has embraced everythini,'- that would 
naturally come imder the head of ta- 
l)Ie cutlery. These include table 
knives and forks, carvino^ sets, butcher. 
bread, cook's, kitchen an<l shoe knivis. 
pntty knives, spatulas, cork .screws. 
pie knives, orange knives, berrv 



sjioons, orange spoons, cream ladles, 
sugar shells, oyster forks, pickle forks, 
cheese scoops, etc.. their specialt\ be- 
ing the fanicnis Anvil brand carvers. 
For the handles of these various ar- 
ticles the ends of the earth have been 
recjuired to yield their bounty. The 
dei>ths of the mines give forth their 
ore for steel and silver; the moun- 
tain heights their stag horn ; the bot- 
tom of the Indian Ocean its pearl ; 
Madagascar its ebony ; the African 
jungle its ivory ; the South Ameican 
forest its rubber and cocobola wood. 
All this material, collected as it is, 
from every corner of the globe, the 
Aleriden Cutlery Company gives back 
to the world a finished product, the 
ijuality and workmanship of which 
cannot be surpassed either in this or 
foreign countries. 



THE C. F. MONROE COM PAX Y. 



A concern which for some years 
has added much fame to Meriden as 
a manufacturing center and which 
within recent years has experienced 
a most remarkable growth is the C. 
F. Monroe Company. The business 
was established by Charles F. 

Monroe in 1886. and has been carried 
on by him with remarkable success. 
The history of the business, therefore, 
for the past twenty years, is a history 
of its president and treasurer: for by 
his own indefatigable energy and ex- 
ercise of talent C()U|)led with an ex- 
hibition of rare executive ability lias 
the success ot the now large factorv 
been attained. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



27 



Mr. Monroe is a native of Provi- 
ikncf. R. 1.. where he obtained his 
early education. When the old Flint 
Glass Company was started in Meriden 
l)v the late Horace C. Wilcox, 
Mr. Monroe was engaged as a design- 
er by that company. After giving the 
glass company the benefit of his much 
appreciated services for some years, 
he went to Europe. Upon his return 



the manufacture of decorated glass 
ware, his first location being on the 
second floor of the Carter building 
which adjoined the works of the Mer- 
iden Britannia Company, on State 
street, and where he soon made his 
name famous in the manufacturing 
world by putting upon the market a 
line of decorated goods, most origi- 
nal and attractive, known as "Wave 




()FI-"UK, C. F. MOXROF CO.Ml'ANA 



from abroad Mr. Monroe opened an 
art store, the location of which was 
in the Guy building. In addition to 
conducting that commendable business 
ie was called upon to do designing by 
nitside parties. The demands made 
ipon him finally became so great that 
t the end of three or four years he 
'Pened a factory of his own and began 



Crest" ware. These goods have ever 
since been eagerly sought for by buy- 
ers in all parts of the United States. 
Upon the advice of H. C. Wilcox, 
in whom he had a most valued friend, 
Mr. Monroe erected a building on the 
present site which comprised a two 
and a half story wooden structure 30 
bv 62 feet in dimensions. 



28 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



In 1 89 1 a building three stories in 
height, 62 by 32 feet, was added to the 
factory ; and the same year the roof 
of the original building was raised 
another story, making more than 
double the original capacity for the 
busy industry. 



moved to a position nearer Mail 
street, making a building 125 feel 
long, the whole of which was raisec 
to five stories in height on the olc 
foundations. At this time anothei 
but entirely new building 125 by 3c 
feet, of three stories, was erected or 




CHARLES 



MONROE. 



In 1900 Mr. Monroe purchased the 
land next the factory extending as 
far as Main street, which he caused 
to be filled in by his concern at a great 
expense. Again the factory was still 
further and more noticeably enlarged. 
The old buildings were separated and 



an angle with the main building. The^ 
factory has recently become possessed, 
of an entirely new power plant, with 
its imposing and stately chimney, 
which was completed in July, ip^S-: 
After the old power house was torn 
out the plant was equipped with a 



MANUFACTORIES. 



29 



large enough engine and boiler and 
also a generator of sufficient voltage 
capacity to supply the entire factory 
not only with electric lights but with 
motor power for all the different de- 
partments. 

It was but a few years after Mr, 
Monroe removed to the present loca- 
tion that glass cutting was added to 
his output of decorated goods. 

A short time after the addition of 
the cut glass department came that 
of metal goods. The latest de- 
parture of the Monroe Company is the 
sterling silver department which turns 
out ware unsurpassed either in design 
or make in this country or Europe. 

The factory of the C. F. Monroe 
Company gives, employment to 200 
hands, many of whom are accomp- 
lished artists, engravers and design- 
ers — necessarily a class of workmen 
who call for a large w^eekly pay-roll 
on the part of the company. The fac- 
tory adds more than a little to the 
prosperity of ]\Ieriden and is not only 
healthfully located, but has been im- 
proved to such an extent, both in its 
artistic interior and attractive grounds, 
that it is known to the trade as one 

' the best and neatest kept manu- 

■rturing plants in all New England. 

> office and show rooms are fitted 
u|) artistically and the goods dis- 
played arc of such excellence of 
[mechanism and beauty of pattern that 
the place furnishes a most interesting 
ight for visitors to frequent. Tn fact, 
ven the people of Meriden and vicin- 
ty are attracted there frequently and 
enii t<i take a pardonable pride in 



showing their friends the dainty arti- 
cles made there which are so suitable 
for wedding and other gifts. 

Both the show rooms and offices are 
more than ordinarily attractive and 
they have been fitted up and arranged 
by Mr. Monroe's artistic eye. 

Mr. Monroe conducted the business 
alone until 1892 when, on account of 
the large increase of business, he found 
it necessary to form a corporation re- 
taining a large portion of the stock 
himself and continuing as the active 
head and holding the offices of both 
president and treasurer to the present 
w'riting. The company is capitalized 
at $40,000 and the value of the plant 
represents to-day an investment of 
over $200,000. 

Mr. Monroe is a member of 
the Board of Trade and of the 
general committee of the Meriden 
Centennial celebration. He is si- 
lently interested in several other en- 
terprises besides the concern which 
bears his name. His eft'orts in the for- 
mation of the ?Iome Club resulted in 
securing the present club house ; and 
in raising the funds for which he as- 
sumed the burden of a great responsi- 
bility. Mr. Monroe has been presi- 
dent of the Home Club, of which he 
is a most valued member ; and he is 
prominent in both social and yachting 
circles. 

He is a member of the Sons of the 
American Revolution and was one of 
the founders of the New T.edford 
Yacht Club, of which he now holds 
the distinction of being one of the 
three honorary members. He is also 



30 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



a member of the New York Yacht 
Ck:b and an ex-commodore of the 
Peqnot Yacht Ckib of New Haven. 
Until recently Mr. Monroe owned and 
sailed the "Sylph," one of the finest 
schooner vachts on the Atlantic coast. 



THE E. A. BLISS COMPANY. 



Meriden. at the close of its first 
century, is possessed of many manu- 
factories in which it takes pardonable 
pride ; and among its many thriving 
concerns is the E. A. Bliss Company. 
This company has experienced re- 
markable growth and its output, com- 
prising novelties for personal adorn- 
ment made in nickel, silver, gold and 
silver plate, combined with enamel, 
leather and comb-making material, is 
of a character particularly creditable 
to Meriden and the progress of hu- 
man handiwork of the present ad- 
vanced age. 

The company, known as the "Tif- 
fany" of the plated novelty trade, has 
justly and fairly earned that sobri- 
quet ; for it leads the whole United 
States in its line — a position which 
the E. A. Bliss Company has long 
since been most happily accorded. 

The company began business in 
North Attleboro in 1875 ^"d after 
fifteen years of unabated success were 
obliged to seek larger quarters for 
the manufacture of their goods ; and, 
fortunately for Meriden, found a fac- 
tory here well suited to their needs 
and which they occupied in July, 1890. 
To this several enlargements have 
been made from time to time, the 



most important of which was in 1903 
when sixty-five feet were added to the 
three-story brick structure, making the 
main factory building 200 feet in 
length. In 1905 the basement was 
excavated the whole length of the fac- 
tory, giving still more space. The en- 
tire building is now being utilized to 
its fullest extent and the plant is ad- 
mirably lighted and equipped with 
every modern improvement ; and the 
machinery, the latest and most practi- 
cal, comprises several labor-saving de- 
vices gotten up and adopted by the 
concern for their sole use. 

By continuously keeping up the 
quality of their goods to the highest 
possible standard, for the company 
cater only to the highest class of 
trade, the business has grown rapidly 
and with such strides that at this 
writing it has reached large propor- 
tions, being the largest of its kind in 
the Union, its fame extending to every 
state from Maine to California. Em- 
ployment is furnished to 300 hands, 
many of whom are required to be not 
merely skilled, but talented artisans. 

The interior of the large and brsy 
factory is a model of neatness and the 
working hours of the employees are 
occupied amid healthy, clean and 
cheerful surroundings ; so with fair 
and even liberal treatment from the 
concern it is that the best results arc 
obtained. 

There is no part of the large fac- 
tory but is blessed with an abundance 
of daylight; and the plant is lighted 
when necessary with its own incandes- 
cent electric lighting plant, the equip- 



z^ 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ment having in 1904 been increased 
by the addition of a generator of no 
volts capacity. The engine room fur- 
nishes 80 horse-power steam for the 
machinerv. 




E. A. BLISS. 

The product of the E. A. Bhss 
Company is of such variety and ele- 
gance that it almost beggars descrip- 
tion. The almost bewildering array 
of small articles, to which some new 
creation is being added almost daily, 
is such as to commend the goods of 
this concern to the wide awake depart- 
ment store and jewelry buyer. 

In 1 90 1 the company began the 
manufacture of shell combs for mod- 
ish hair dressing, and in this at 
once sprung into the lead in the trade. 



In the decoration of these shell combs, 
plated-ware adorned with imitations 
of all the precious stones of the world, 
are brought into use, and with most 
pleasing effects. 

Perhaps the most notable of their 
latest departures and that which has 
brought them more fame than any 
other line of their vast product, is the 
success they have achieved in the pro- 
duction of leather novelties. There 
are the crush leather belts and girdles 
of mocha and kid, kept in shape, fas- 
tened and adorned with marvellously 




BLISS. 



elaborate buckles. Among the other 
specimens of leather novelties made 
by this concern are chatelaines of dif- 
ferent kinds of leather and great va- 



MANUFACTORIES. 



33 



rietv of design, each style comprising 
all in one cluster, money purse, mir- 
ror, writing tablet with pencil at- 
tached, bon bon holder, vinaigrette, 
h\) salve and powder box. These 
are also made in nickel silver. 

Then there are vanity cases and oth- 
er novelties too numerous to mention 
that are ornamented and beautified in 
the extreme by hand engravers who 




c. !•:. puLSiiv. 

ire necessarily em])loyed in large nrni- 

'crs and who bring art into their 

'i'k. l-'rom the fact that new 

■velticsare constantly being added 

' the product of the factory it may 

said that the catalogues of this 

'inpany show more change every 

ar than those of any other factory 

4.^ 



in Meriilen; and in thus keepin^' in 
the lead in the trade the E. A. Bliss 
Company has earned the laurels it 
gracefully wears. Everything made 
at the factory calls for the highest 
skill of experienced hands ; and the en- 
tire product is from the raw material. 
The different departments of the fac- 
tory are perfect in their arrangements ; 
and the plant is fitted for producing 
readily any article in the novelty line 
which the trade demands. Several 
traveling salesmen represent the E. 
A. Bliss Co. and call regularl\- upon 
the trade throughout the country. 
The show rooms are in the Lincoln 
Building, Union Square, New York 
City. The company is capitalized at 
$50,000, but its factory is valued far 
in excess of that amount. Its officers 
are men well known to the trade. E. 
A. Bliss, originally of New York state 
and formerly a resident of Meriden, 
but now of Jersey City, is the presi- 
dent. He is a typical New England 
manufacturer and makes trips abroad 
every year in interest of the busi- 
ress. He has ever possessed the 
faculty of foreseeing the advance. 
wants of the market ; and his taste in 
the choice of designs and ideas for 
the trade have been most important 
factors in the success of the concern 
of which he is the able head. 

The New York headquarters, from 
which the output is handled, is in 
charge of W. E. Bliss, vice-president 
of the company. 

The secretary and treasurer, C. E. 
Polsey, is a native of Pawtucket, R. 
T., and has been associated with the 




SECTION OF THE E. A. BLISS FACTORY. 




SECTION OF THE E. A. BLISS FACTORY. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



35 



concern from the Ixt^innini^-. He is a 
valued resident of ^[criden and. lil.o 
till' other members of the concern, has 
shown an active interest in the growth 
and prosperity of the community. 

'Idle superintendent of the factor}- 
is M. H. Brown, wdio for seventeen 
vears has been a resident of Meriden. 



IXTERXATI(3NAL SILVER CO. 



The International Silver Company 
was organized under the laws of the 
state of Xew Jersey on November ly, 
1898. with an authorized capital of 
Si 1,000.000 common, and $9,000,000 
])referred stock, only a part of which 
was issued. The company imme- 
diately bought the total capital stock 
of the following companies from the 
various stockholders : 

The Barbour Silver Co., Hartford ; 
Holmes & Edwards Silver Co., Bridge- 
port ; ^Manhattan Silver Plate Co., 
Lyons, N. Y. ; ]\Ieriden Britannia Co., 
Meriden ; Meriden Silver Plate Co., 
Meriden ; Xorwich Cutlery Co., Nor- 
wich ; Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co., Hart- 
ford ; Rogers Cutlery Co., Hartford ; 
Rogers & Bro., Waterbury ; Rogers 
&: Hamilton Co., AX'aterbury ; Wilcox 
Silver Plate Co., Meriden ; Watrous 
Mfg. Co.. Wallingford, and Standard 
Silver Co., Ltd., Toronto, Ont. 

During the first six months of 1899 
the following companies were also 
|l>urchascd : 

Derby Silver Co., Derby; Simpson, 
iHall. Miller & Co., Wallingford: 
Sini])son Xickel Co.. Wallingford. and 



Middletown I 'late Co., Middletown. 

During the same _\ear these differ- 
ent companies were merged in the 
International Silver Company and 
ceased to exist as independent corpo- 
rations, and the headquarters of the 
consolidated industry was established 
in wdiat had been the office of Meri- 
den., Br.itajinia XLo.,_ on _State street, 
Meriden, although the building w^as 
considerably enlarged by the addi- 
tion of two stories. 

A'arious changes were made in the 
scheme of manufacturing, all of 
which were to the advantage of 'Sler- 
iden. 

The production of goods bearing 
the trade mark of [Meriden Silver 
Plate Company was removed to the 
factory of the Meriden Britannia Co. 
and the plant of the Barbour Silver 
Co. was moved from Hartford and 
installed in the factory made vacant 
by the previous change. 

In January, 1903, the total capital 
stock of Ignited States Silver Coipo- 
ration was acquired which gave the 
company indirectly the ownership of 
C. Rogers & Bros., of Meriden, Conn. 
The business of this latter company 
was now replaced by that of W m. 
Rogers Mfg. Co. and Rogers Cut- 
lerv Comi)any of Hartford, which 
were removed from Hartford and are 
now installed in the factory on lUitler 
street. With the exception of the 
Hartford factories mentioned and one- 
in Middletown, one in Lyons, X. V., 
and the Rogers & Hamilton factory 
in Waterbury all the various ])lants 
acfiuircd bv the International Silver 



36 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



Co. are in full operation to-day. The 
officers of the company are: 

Samuel Dodd, president ; George 
H. Wilcox, first vice-president ; 
George C. Edwards, second vice-pres- 
ident ; Charles A. Hamilton, third vice- 
president ; George M. Curtis, treas- 
urer; George Rockwell, secretary. 



never actively connected with the com- 
l)any and resigned the office in July, 
1900. 

The directors of the company are 
Samuel Dodd, George H. Wilcox, 
George C. Edwards, Charles A. Ham- 
ilton, George M. Curtis, George 
Rockwell, C. H. Tibbits, Samuel L. 




H. C. Wilcox. I. C. Lewis. Geo. R. Curti.s. D. C. Wilcox. 

John Munsoii. L. J. Curtis. Samuel Simpson. W. W. Lyman. W. H. Johnson. 

FOUNDERS OF THE MERIDEN BRITANNIA CO. 
From a photo taken about 1852. 

These officers with one exception Barbour, C. E. Breckenridge, C. Har- 
are the same as were elected at the ry Peets, Fred P. Wilcox, Andrew- 
organization of the company. The Andrews and Watson J. Miller, 
late General Samuel Thomas, of New A brief sketch of this line of man- 
York, was elected treasurer when the ufacture in Meriden previous to the 
company was organized, but was formation of any of these companies, 



jA 



MANUFACTORIES. 



^7 



follows, together with a shoit history 
of Mericlen Britannia Co., Wilcox Sil- 
ver Plate Co., jMeriden Silver Plate Co. 
and C. Rogers & Bros., of INIeriden. 

MANUFACTURE OF BRITANNIA WARE 

PREVIOUS TO THE FORMATION OF 

MERIDEN BRITANNIA CO.. 1852. 

The manufacture of britannia ware 
is one of the oldest industries in this 



with Mr. Boardman, who settled iri 
Pladdam, and Charles and Hiram 
Yale, who located in ^^"allingford. 
Mr. Griswold built the house, 50 Gris- 
wold street, now occupied by Mrs. 
Charles Collins. His shop stood 
south of the house, separated from it 
by a garden. As there is no stream at 
this point, he must have used, at the 
start, either hand or horse power. 




H. Wilcox, Vice-President. Samuel Dodd, President. Geo. M. Curtis, Treasurer. 

OFFICERS OF THE IXTERNATION AE SII.NFR CO. 



country, records showing that this 

ware was made in Boston during the 

latter half of the seventeenth century. 

phe business was begun in this town 

tibout the year 1808, by Ashabel 

rriswold, or Squire Griswold, as he 

as familiarly known. He had 

arncd the trade of Captain Danforth 

f Rocky Hill, this state, together 



Here for a number of years he made 
britannia pots and tea and table- 
spoons. The pots were cast in two 
parts and then soldered together and 
the spouts and handles added in the 
same wa}'. The pots, after soldering, 
were placed on a lathe and turned and 
polished, and a very good finish was 
s^iven to the articles. It was not un- 



38 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



til about the time the Meriden Bri- 
tannia Co. was formed that pots, 
plates and cups were made by rolling 
the metal and then pressing it into 
shape by means of dies or forms. 
The articles formed by casting were 
susceptible of a high polish and pre- 
sented quite an attractive appearance 
if properly cared for by the purchas- 



oftentimes, when poorly combined, at 
a low temperature, the effect of a han- 
dle or spout dropping off when in use 
at the table may be more easily imag- 
ined than described. A better com- 
position was afterwards employed, 
made of tin, antimony and copper, 
which was much harder and retained 
a more pronounced luster. The out- 



v 




MERIDEX BRITANNIA CO.. IN 1 863 



er. Table and tea spoons were cast 
and then scraped and burnished bv 
hand if for table use, or sold rough 
for cooking purposes. The metal 
first used appears to have been a com- 
pound of tin and lead, or practically 
pewter, and would easily dent, and 
as the solder used was composed of 
lead and bismuth, which would melt 



put of such a factory as that of Mr. 
Griswold could not have been large. 
In 1830 he employed not more than 
ten or twelve men, and in examining 
his sales book at that time it is found 
that the total sales of one month did 
not exceed $2,500. The power used 
was furnished by an old blind horse 
traveling around a beam which com- 



MANUFACTORIES. 



39 



nnmicated with the floor above. 
Among the articles disposed of by him 
were such as cloth of different knids, 
glass tumblers, stockings,, whips and 
varus. These goods were undoubt- 
edlv taken by Mr. Griswold in ex- 
change for his wares. His merchan- 
dise was sold mainly by peddlers, who 



and undoubtedly the exchange was a 
profitable one for the peddler. Bar- 
ter was the usual method of dealing, 
and as one of the early manufactur- 
ers expressed it recently, "Money was 
a mighty scarce article." As there 
were no railroads until 1838 if any 
shipments were made direct to pur- 




FACTOKV A, INTFRXATIOXAL SILVER CO. (MERIDEX SILVER I'LATI- CO.) 



penetrated to all parts of New Eng- 
lland and frequently journeyed South. 
\\'e learn of one such itinerant wlnj 
ireturned with nothing but goose 
Ifeathers in exchange for the wares 
lie had taken out ; but feathers were 
I valuable commodit\- in those davs 



chasers at a distance, it was neces- 
sarv to cart them to Middletown or 
Xew flavcn and ship by boat. Tin 
was brought in the same way, and in 
the account book in question, mention 
is made of ])urchases of Spanish and 
India tin. 'i'he price paid was usually 



40 



A CENTURY OF MEPvIDEN. 



about seventeen cents per pound, the 
price to-day being about twenty-nine 
cents. The India tin was undoubted- 
ly the same as that used in Meriden 
to-day, now called Straits of ^lalacca 
tin. Where the Spanish tin was 
mined cannot be learned, as only min- 
or deposits of that metal occur in 
Spain and it has never been mined 
to any extent in that country. In 
1837 there were also engaged in the 
same business James A. Frary, who 
afterwards had as partners a Mr. 
Couch and a Mr. Benham. Mr. Fra- 
ry's factory stood about where the 
Malleable Iron shop is to-day located. 
I. C. Lewis was located in East Mer- 
iden, or Bangall, and had as partners, 
at different times, George Cowles and 
L. J. Curtis. He used water power, 
and at last steam power. Edwin E. 
Curtis was engaged in making spoons, 
and his factory stood near his house, 
112 Curtis street, and at one time he 
had as a partner his brother, L. J. 
Curtis. Enos Curtis was also in the 
business and his factory was located 
in the north part of the town on what 
is now Britannia street. In 1837 
Barber's , Historical Collections for 
Connecticut, mentions, as engaged in 
the business in Meriden, four manu- 
facturing britannia ware and three 
britannia, or block tin, spoons. Most 
of the manufacturers learned the 
trade in Wallingford where the Yales 
were actively engaged in the business. 
Isaac C. Lewis served his appren- 
ticeship with the Yales and returned 
to Meriden soon after 1838 and went 
to work for Partrick Lewis, his broth- 



er, who had a shop back of Eli C. 
Piirdsey's former store on the south- 
cast corner of East Main and Broad 
streets (which has been taken down) 
and afterwards built a shop on the 
southwest corner of East ^^lain and 
High streets, where Charles Par- 
ker afterwards lived. About 1833 I- 
C. Lewis left his brother and with 
George Cowdes began the making 
of Britannia ware in Bangall in the 
east part of Meriden, where he con- 
tinued, with various partners, until 
the formation of the Meriden Britan- 
nia Co. W. W. Lyman began business 
after an apprenticeship with Mr. Gris- 
wold in 1844. He had a shop near 
his house on Britannia street, and af- 
terwards at the Twiss factory in 
Prattsville at the east end of Pratt's 
pond and later in the Frary factory 
near Colony street, where he continued 
until the Meriden Britannia Co. was 
formed. L. J. Curtis learned his 
trade in Wallingford of the Yales, 
and afterwards was in partnership 
with I. .C Lewis, E. E. Curtis and W. 
W. Lyman. With the latter he re- 
mained until the formation of the 
Meriden Britannia Co. wdiich was 
consummated by the union of the 
Lewis-Curtis and Lyman-James A. 
Frary & Co. interests of Meriden and 
John Munson, of Wallingford, to- 
gether with H. C. and D. C. Wilcox ; 
who, under the firm name of H. C. 1 
Wilcox & Co., had disposed of most 
of the products of the various com- 
panies. Besides those already men- 
tioned, in Perkins' History of Meri- 
den, published in 1849, occur the 



MANUFACTORIES. 



41 



names of the following as engaged in 
the manufacture of britannia ware: 
L'harles Parker, S. L. Cone with four 
hands, L. G. Baldwin, five hands. In 
the same history I. C. Lewis is men- 
tioned as employing eight hands, but 
Mr. Lewis, a few weeks before his 
death, told Geo. M. Curtis that at the 
time the Meriden Britannia Co. was 
formed, in 1852, he employed about 
forty hands. From this one would 
judge that the figures in Perkins' 
History were not entirely trust- 
worthy. j\Ir. Lewis also stated that 
in the forties twelve hours constituted 
the ordinary day's work, except in 
winter when the number of .houfs 
was somewhat less. The men were 
not paid regularly, but took orders 
on stores instead of cash in payment 
of wages, and the merchants were 
jpaid in manufactured goods. In 
the winter when light was needed it 
was furnished by whale oil lamps. 
Apprentices were not indentured us- 
ually. To learn the trade, took gen- 
erally five years, boys beginning at 
|from twelve to fifteen years of age, 

nd going to school during the win- 

er months. In 1830 w-ages were 
'm 75 cents to $1.00 per day ; in the 

nrties $1.00 to $1.50 per day, and in 

\^S- about $2.00 per day was earned 

the most skillful workmen. The 

jrices per pound of various metals 

jompare as follows: 

1830 189s 

•Spelter or zinc $ .05 $ .06 

Antimony 23 .14 

' '"^'l 05 .046 

' "Ppcr 17 .18 

' '" 17 -30 






By 1850 the variety of articles man- 
ufactured had considerably increased. 
Among the output were found such 
articles as cuspidors, cups, soup 
ladles, sugars and cream pitchers, 
candlesticks, caster frames, Huid 
lamps, mugs and dippers. 

MEKIDEX mUTANXIA CO. 

The Meriden Britannia Co. was or- 
ganized under the joint stock laws 
of the state of Connecticut, on the 
1 6th day of December, 1852, with a 
capital stock of $50,000, subscribed by 
the following gentlemen : I. C. Lew- 
is, H. C. Wilcox, D. C. Wilcox, 
James A. Frary, Lemuel J. Curtis, W. 
W. Lyman, of Meriden, and John 
Alunson, of Wallingford. The fol- 
lowing officers were elected: I. C. 
Lewis, president, and H. C. Wilcox, 
secretary and treasurer. As already 
stated, the manufacture of britannia 
ware was begun in Aleriden about the 
year 1808, by Ashabel Griswold. 
Subsequently, others engaged in the 
business, and by 1850, there were sev- 
eral firms engaged in the manufacture 
of this w^are in Meriden, the principal 
being James A. Frary & Co., I. C. Lew- 
is & Co. and Curtis & L}"man. There 
had also been formed a partnership 
by two brothers, Horace C. and 
D. C. Wilcox imder the firm name of 
H. C. Wilcox & Co., and most of the 
product of the different factories was 
marketed b_\' this firm. In order to 
control competition, reduce expenses 
and bring the management of ailairs 
under one head, the Meriden Britan- 
nia Co. was formed. Into this union 



42 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



was also incorporated the business of 
John Munson, who was at this time 
manufacturing in W'alHngford. 

The business was now confined to 
the Frary shop in the north part of 
the- town, the Lewis factory in the 
east, and the Munson factory in Wal- 



ing was not used, but in 1854 began 
the rolling of metals and the subse- 
quent formation by spinning and 
stamping. Shortly after, plating 
was adopted, and in 1856 a large plat- 
ing factory was built on State street, 
the first of their large collection of 




FACTORY E, INTERNATIONAL SILVER CO. ( MERIDEN BRITANNIA CO.) 



lingford, the offices being at No. 2 
West Main street in Meriden, in the 
building now occupied by the Gris- 
wold, Richmond & Glock Co. At the 
formation of the company, all articles 
were cast in moulds and electro-plat- 



shops in this vicinity. The output 
during these first years consisted of 
such articles as tea and coffee-pots, 
bitter tubes, candlesticks, cups, tea 
and tablespoons, dinner casters, flui'i 
lamps, cuspidors, sewing birds, etc.. 



M A N U F ACTORI ES. 



43 



and, as their utility was duly appre- 
ciated by the public, as was shown by 
the rapidly increasing trade of the 
company, the number and variety of 
wares were constantly increased. By 
1855. they had begun the output of 
nickel silver forks and spoons, heavily 
plated, and subsequently they se- 
cured the services of the famous Rog- 
ers brothers, luider whose supervision 
these goods were produced. The 
honesty and skill of manufacture and 
beauty of design account for the rapid 
increase of this business, and to-day 
the reputation of their trade-mark 
("1847 Rogers Bros.") on forks, 
spoons and knives is world-wide, and 
goods bearing this stamp will invar- 
iably bring a higher price in the mar- 
ket than any other brand. The busi- 
ness of the company had grown so 
large by 1863 that the factory on the 
west side of State street, over five 
hundred feet long, was erected 
(ground being broken on the first 
day of the battle of Gettysburg) and 
the other factories in Meriden and 
Wallingford were abandoned. Their 
wares were now being sold all over 
the United States, and exported to 
many foreign countries, notably to 
South America, where a large and 
profitable trade was built up, so that 
a few years later it was necessary to 
jSend a representative to that conti- 
Tient to look after the various intcr- 
■•-ts of the company, whicli con- 
icction has been since maintained. 

A New York depot or salesroom 
\as established during the early years 
'f the business in connection with an- 



other company, but in 1863 they es- 
tablished their own warerooms at 199 
Broadway, and shortly afterward tire 
secretary of the company. D. C. 
Wilcox, moved to New York to give 
the business his personal supervision. 
By 1866 they had also established an 
agency on the Pacific coast under the 
care of W. P. Morgan, and a few 
years later a store was opened in Chi- 
cago, under the charge of A. L. 
Sercomb, and an agency was estab- 
lished in London. By this time, their 
wares had materially changed in 
styles and quality. No britannia was 
now made, the base metal of all prod- 
ucts being either what is called white 
metal or nickel silver, which is as dur- 
able and susceptible of as high a fin- 
ish as solid silver. Many articles 
were being produced of a highlv or- 
namental nature, and artistic in de- 
sign. In 1 88 1, another large factory 
was built on the corner of Miller and 
State streets in Meriden, and the same 
year a branch factory was established 
in Hamilton, Ontario, which devel- 
oped at once into a prosperous busi- 
ness. A few years later, a new plat- 
ing shop was built in Meriden, to be 
used exclusively for plating forks, 
spoons and knives, and it is to-day 
the most complete and extensive plat- 
ing factor}- in the countrx'. During 
these years, and since, man}' additions 
and extensions to the factories were 
built, about which no special mention 
has been made. The wares to-day are 
sold in almost every country of the 
civilized world. 

Tlie number of different articles 



44 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



produced is bewildering in its va- 
riety ; they comprise not only those 
for table use, but embrace a large 
number for toilet 'use as well. The 
fact that an article bears the trade- 
mark of the Meriden Britannia Co. is 
considered the country over as a guar- 
antee of standard quality and honest 
manufacture. The company in 1895 
went extensively into the production 
of sterling silverware, and this de- 
partment to-day produces a very im- 
portant part of the output. In 1876, 
the company made a brilliant display 
of its productions at the Centennial 
exhibition in Philadelphia, and repeat- 
ed it on a still more elaborate scale at 
the Columbian fair of Chicago, in 
1893. They exhibited in Paris in 
1899, and have made displays at nu- 
merous minor exhibitions and fairs, 
and they have invariably been given 
the highest awards in recognition of 
their achievements. Their salesrooms 
in New York were removed from 199 
to 550 Broadway, and subsequently 
to 46 East Fourteeenth street, on 
Union Square, and a few years ago 
were moved to 208 Fifth avenue, on 
Madison Square, and thence to 218 
Fifth avenue. The company also ac- 
quired large interests in other manu- 
facturing corporations. The capital 
stock of the Meriden Britannia Com- 
pany at its organization in 1852, was 
$50,000; in 1854, was increased to 
$60,000; again, in 1857, to $100,- 
000 ; in i860, it was made $200,- 
000; in 1863. $250,000; in 1866, $550.- 
000, and in 1879 it was increased 
to $1,100,000, where it remained. As 



stated already, the officers elected at 
the organization were L C. Lewis, 
president, and H. C. Wilcox, secre- 
tary and treasurer, but a few davs 
later Mr. Wilcox resigned the office 
of treasurer, and George R. Cur- 
tis, who had been the teller in the Mer- 
iden bank, was elected treasurer in his 
place, and continued to hold the office 
until his death in 1893. 

In 1865 H. C. Wilcox resigned 
the office of secretary and D. C. j 
Wilcox was elected in his place and j 
continued in the office until his 
death in 1886. In 1866 Mr. Lewis re- 
signed the office of president and Mr. ; 
H. C. Wilcox was elected in his place I 
and continued to hold this office until . 
his death in 1890. At his death I. C. 
Lewis who had served in that capacity,, 
was re-elected and held the position | 
until his death in 1893 when 
George H. Wilcox was elected. 
The officers in charge at the 
time the Meriden Britannia Com- 
pany was merged into the Interna- 
tional Silver Company were: George 
H. Wilcox, president ; F. P. Wilcox, 
vice-president ; George M. Curtis, 
treasurer, and George Rockwell, sec- 
retary. The directors were : D. B. 
Hamilton, Waterbury ; George H. 
Wilcox, George Rockwell and George 
AI. Curtis, of Meriden ; F. P. Wilcox, 
New York City ; C. Berry Peets, New 
Haven ; J. M. Harmon, Meriden ; 
Henry J. Lewis, Stratford, and G. 
P. Davis, Hartford. 

WILCOX SILVER PLATE CO. 

The great success of the Meriden 
Britannia Co., when viewed in the 



MANUFACTORIES. 



45 



light of its humble beginnings in 1852, 
induced several gentlemen in the year 
1865 to establish anotber company to 
engage in manufactm'ing the same 
general class of goods. The war was 
over, a period of great expansion and 
prosperity had developed during 
those critical years and there seemed 
no reason to believe that the period 



tannia Co. was organized in Decem- 
ber, 1865, with a capital of $150,000, 
and the ofificers elected were Jedediah 
Wilcox, president ; and C. H. Collins, 
secretary and treasurer. The board 
of directors included such additional 
names as Aaron L. Collins, Charles 
Parker, Levi E. Coe, George W. 
Lvon and H. H. Miller. The factorv 







-•M-^i 








WILCOX SILXKK ri-ATl-: CO. IX 18.')^. 



I of growth was at an end. Most 
prominently identitied with the new 
company called the Wilcox Britannia 
".. was Jedediah Wilcox who had 
i:een very successful in the wool- 
len business and whose resourceful 
' iicrgy led him to believe that the 
|new company would be as profitable 
jis its older rival. The Wilcox Bri- 



of J. Wilcox & Co.. woolen manufac- 
turers, had been destroyed by fire 
(luring the year and the brick build- 
ing now occupied by the Meriden 
Woolen Co. on the north side of Pratt 
street had been recently erected. The 
Wilcox Britannia Co. immediately af- 
ter its organization, proceeded to erect 
a wooden building on the site of the 



46 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



burned factory at the corner of Pratt 
and ^lyrtle streets, and were soon 
busily engaged in manufacturing sil- 
ver plated ware. During the year 
1867 the name of the company was 
changed to the Wilcox Silver Plate 
Co., and the capital stock was in- 
creased to $200,000, and at the same 
time Mr. Wilcox, finding that his wool- 
en business gave him little time to at- 
tend to the alTairs of the new com- 
pany, resigned its presidency and 
A. L. Collins was elected as his suc- 
cessor. The capital was again in- 
creased, this time to $250,000. In 
1869 quite a change in the list of di- 
rectors took place and we find the 
following board was elected : A. L. 
Collins, I. C. Lewis, Charles Parker, 
H. C. Wilcox, E. A. Mitchell, George 
W. Lyon and George R. Curtis and 
the capital stock was increased to 
$370,000. In 1868 a company had 
been formed called the Parker & Cas- 
per Co., which built and occupied 
what is now the larger half of the 
western part of Manning, Bowman 
& Co.'s factory. Samuel Dodd, who 
for more than ten years had been 
the cashier of the Home National 
bank, had, when the Parker & Casper 
Co. was formed, become its financial 
manager. But its period of existence 
was short ; for it was absorbed in 1869 
by the Wilcox Silver Plate Co. and 
Mr. Dodd was elected secretary and 
treasurer of the consolidated com- 
pany and really its manager: for Mr. 
Collins, while still holding the office 
of president, gradually withdrew 
from active management. The com- 



pany soon entered on a period of great 
prosperity. Its wares became well 
and favorably known all over this and 
many foreign countries. The man- 
agement was conservative and yet en- 
terprising. The wares made were 
confined mostly to what is known as 
plated hollow ware although quite a 
business was done in cut glass as well. 
The beauty of design was a marked 
feature of the goods made by this 
company. Mr. Dodd had drawn 
around him a corps of well trained 
and efficient helpers, notably P. 
S. Pelton, for many years superinten- 
dent, succeeded some years later by 
Lewis Hall ; also Henry B. Beach 
as a salesman, and C. E. Breck- 
enridge first as a salesman and 
then as manager of the New York 
salesroom. In 1882 the large brick 
addition to the northeast wing was 
added to accommodate the rapidly 
growing business, while during other 
years there were various other addi- 
tions of minor importance added. 
There were scarcely any changes 
among officers or directors during the 
last thirty years of the company's ex- 
istence except as caused by death. At 
the time the company was absorbed 
by the International Silver Co., in ; 
1899, the officers were as follows: A. 
L. Collins, president ; Samuel Dodd. : 
secretary and treasurer ; George E. ; 
Flint, assistant treasurer ; Lewis Hall, , 
superintendent. The directors were: . 
A. L. Collins, Charles Parker, George 
H. Wilcox, Samuel Dodd, George M. ■ 
Curtis, H. B. Beach, Geo. W. Lyon. 
Lewis Hall and George E. Flint. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



47 



MERIDEX SIIAER PLATE CO. 

\\ hen the Parker & Casper Co. was 
bought out by the \\'ilcox Silver 
Plate Lo. in 1869 Charles Cas- 
per immediately organized the Aleri- 
deii Silver Plate Co., under the joint 
stock laws of the state of Connecti- 
cut. The organization papers bear 
the date of January 3, 1879, and Mr. 
Casper's associates were Isaac H. 
Cornwall, \\'illiam E. A. Bird and 
William R. Mackay. The capital 
stock was $30,000 and the directors 
were Charles Casper, William R. 
Mackay and Isaac H. Cornwall, who 
were elected president, secretary and 
treasurer, respectively. The com- 
pany bought the old factory property 
of" J. H. Canfield & Co. at the cor- 
ner of Colony and Cross streets, and 
running through to South George 
street, on January 24, 1870, and pro- 
ceeded .'It once to the manufacture of 
silver plated ware. From the start 
the company was prosperous and the 
following year it was found necessary 
to increase the capital stock to $40,- 
000. This increase was taken by 
A, C. Markham, who was elected a di- 
rector in 1872. Subseciuently H. 
Wales Lines became connected with 
the company and was for a short time 
its secretary and treasurer. In 1873 
Robert H. Curtis was elected to the 
position of secretary and treasurer. 
.\bout the same time the Meridcn 
|Tlritannia Co. acquired a block of the 
■lock and thenceforth there were two 
:■ three representatives from that 

■nipany on the board of directors. 

1 the vcar 1880 the brick addition 



containing the office and large addi- 
tional factory room on Colony street 
was erected to accommodate the ex- 
panding business of the company. In 
1887 Charles Casper disposed of his 
stock and resigned from the com- 
pan\- and Cicorge R. Curtis was 
elected president as his successor in 
1888. but was not activel}' comiected 
with the compan}-, and at his death in 
1893, Robert H. Curtis w^as elect- 
ed to fill the position, but resigned 
from the board in 1895. The direct- 
ors at the time the company was 
merged with the International Silver 
Co., were: Benjamin Page, George H. 
Wilcox, William R. ^lackay, W. W. 
Mosher, George ]\I. Curtis, F. H. 
Gushing and the officers: George 'SI. 
Curtis, president ; F. H. Gushing, sec- 
retarv and treasurer ; William R. 
Mackay, superintendent and assistant 
treasurer. 

C. ROGERS X- ItROS. 

The firm of C. Rogers & Bros, was 
formed in 1866 and located on But- 
ler street, south of ^\n\n street, where 
a factory was built and the manufac- 
ture of casket hardware, shrouds, etc., 
was carried on. Some years later the 
firm began, the making of plated forks, 
spoons, knives, etc.. and cjuite a flour- 
ishing business was built u]). In 
1899 the business was incorporated 
with the name of C. Rogers & P.ros. 
of Mcriden, Conn., under the laws of 
the state of New Jersey and later un- 
der the laws of Connecticut. In 1902 
the capital stock was purchased by the 
United States Silver Corporation and 
when the International Silver Co. pur- 



48 



A CENTURV OF MERIDEN. 



chased this company they, of course, 
obtained control of C. Rogers & Bros, 
of Meriden. The old officers were: 
C. B. Rogers, president ; N. B. Rog- 
ers, vice-president ; Gilbert Rogers, 
treasurer ; Wilbur F. Rogers, secre- 
tary ; Dan Fellows Piatt, assistant 
treasurer. The directors were: Ar- 
thur Baldwin, N. B. Rogers, Gilbert 



bits, S. L. liarbour and G. M. Curtis. 
This board of directors subsequent- 
ly elected George H. Wilcox, presi- 
dent, and George M. Curtis, secretary 
and treasurer. 

The factory was then leased to the 
International Silver Co., and this com- 
pany then installed in it the business 
of Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co., and Rog- 




FACTORY H, Ix\TERNATIOx\ AL SILN'ER CO. (FORAIEKLV C. ROGERS ^^ BROS.) 



Rogers, Dan Fellows Piatt, Cephas B. 
Rogers, Wilbur F. Rogers and George 
F. Rogers. 

As soon as the International Silver 
Co. obtained control these officers and 
directors all resigned and a new board 
was elected consisting of Samuel 
Dodd, George H. W^ilcox, George D. 
Munson, George Rockwell, C. H. Tib- 



ers Cutlery Co., of Hartford, as has 
already been stated. 



THE CHARLES PARKER CO. 



The history of this large and diver- 
sified manufacturing concern up to 
within a comparatively few years was 
the history of its founder, Charles 



MANUFACTORIES. 



49 



Parker, a pioneer hardware manu- 
facturer of the country, and whose 
death, as stated elsewhere, c:curred 
when he had attained the remarkable 
age of ninety-three. For some years 
previous to his death, however, the 
business was conducted by his two 
sons. Dexter \Y. and Charles E., and 
by his son-in-law, W. H. Lyon. The 
business which was established in 1832 
has added materially to the welfare 
of the town of Meriden ; for almost 
entirely within the borders of the town 
has the industry always been carried 
on. 

The product has always added fame 
to ]\Ieriden, for the articles made are 
used in all the four quarters of the 
globe ; and the name of Charles Parker 
has become recognized throughout the 
world as a synonym for the most pop- 
ular goods, having- best values not only 
in one line but applying also to every 
article produced by the company. 

On a portion of the land between 
Elm and High streets, where the main 
.factory buildings and office headquar- 
ters of the concern are now situated, 
Charles Parker built a stone shop and 
in 1832 began the manufacture of cof- 
fee mills. 

His motive power was a blind horse, 
who pro])elled a pole sweep, which, 
hour after hour, and day after day. 
plodded around in a circle in the rear 
of the east end of what is now the 
vise shop ; which was the only power 
of the factory until 1844, when the 
-tram ])ower introduced at the fac- 
tory by Mr. Parker was the tirst used 
in Meriden. 
44 



\\ ith the previous experience in the 
manufacture of cofifee mills as a con- 
tractor for Lewis & Holt, an<l with a 
very limited capital which he had 
saved from his ])revious small earn- 
ings, Mr. Parker laid the foundation 
of the industry which now covers over 
fifteen acres and requires four engines 
of combined capacity of 500 horse 
power and twenty boilers aggregating 
about 2, GOD horse-power ; and in addi- 
tion to that a liberal sup])ly of water 
power at the factories at East Meriden 
and Yalesville. 

At first Mr. Parker not only made 
but sold his own goods ; and it was his 
wont to make up stock, then wait up- 
on the trade in person until he had 
disposed of it. The practice of first 
receiving advance orders did not come 
into vogue until some years later. 

In the early days traveling great dis- 
tances was a slow proceeding and the 
stage coach and canal boat were neces- 
sarily patronized by him. He made 
extended trips twice a \ear and upon 
one occasion he received an order 
which took two }ears for the factory 
to make up. 

For a few }cars, beginning 1833, 
his brother, Edmund Parker, and He- 
man White were associated with him 
as ])artncrs, and llie firm was known 
as Parker & White. During this ])art- 
nershi]) the business had many trials 
and re\'erses : ])tit none ever atlecled 
the financial standing of Charles Par- 
ker, for never during the history of the 
business was his credit compromised. 
His l)rother retired in 1843 and Mr. 
White the vear following. 



MANUFx\CTORIES. 



51 



Mr. Parker, a few years after, add- 
ed to his product that of plated spoons 
and forks, and was the tirst manufac- 
turer in Meriden of plated hollow 
ware, at what is known by Meriden- 
ites as the Parker "Spoon Shop," 
which has always been operated 
by water power supplied from 
Black pond, which body of water the 
company still controls. The output 
of this branch factory now comprises 
a portion of the company's lamp prod- 
uct, and steel spoons, forks, knives, 
etc. The capacity of the factory is 
very large and the goods are in great 
demand in the South and West and are 
also exported to a considerable extent. 

Although the manufacture of the 
Parker spectacles, which were exten- 
sively used years ago, has been dis- 
continued, practically every other ar- 
ticle which was ever added to the large 
product is still being made, and the 
variety and volume of the output is 
added to every year. 

The Parker coffee mills, made in 
fully one hundred sizes and styles, 
have now been on the market for prac- 
tically three-quarters of a century ; and 
tlic demand for them is greater than 
< \cr. These mills have been, and 
liiubtless always will be in demand by 
the trade, the only difference being 
that when they were first made they 
were sold by the small peddler and 
low are shipped in carload lots to the 
arge jobbers of this and foreign coim- 
ries. 

In the early days, in a factory which 
Itood on the opposite side of the road, 
fut some distance farther west than 



that now known as the Parker Clock 
factory, where a full line of nickel 
alarm clocks is produced, the making 
of locks and builders' hardware was 
pursued. This old factory, which has 
long since been torn down, once stood 
on land which was given to the city 
by the Parker Company and now com- 
prises eight acres of Hubbard Park. 
This branch of the industry was dis- 
continued some years ago. 

The factory where the "Parker" 
guns are made is situated some distance 
from the main factory of the Charles 
Parker Company and employs neces- 
sarily the highest skilled workmen. 
The Parker shot gun, which for many 
years has been recognized all over the 
world as the best made and most ac- 
curate on the market, has since the 
time of the Civil war, been made un- 
der the name of Parker Bros. 

The first improved gun which 
has since won unstinted praise 
from true sportsmen, cost a sum equal 
to a large fortune ; but Mr. Parker ac- 
complished what he had determined to 
do and which Parker Brothers 
still continue to do, that of making 
in large quantities the celebrated Par- 
ker shot gun, which proved to be all 
that the founder of the company could 
most fondly desire. 

For more than sixty years the Par- 
ker vise, originally patented in 1854, 
has been made at the main factory and 
the demand for the same has been in- 
creasing ever since that date. The 
vise, like many of the other products 
of this company, is made from the raw 
material in large quantities. 



52 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




MANUFACTORIES. 



53 



The Parker vise oeeupies the high- 
est place, not only in the minds of the 
dealers, but is known in all trades as 
the best tool of its kind ])rocnrable. 
The line comprises about one hundred 
and fifty sizes and kinds, which are 
adapted for the uses of locomotive 
works, car builders, machinists, guns, 
sewing" machines, automobile and car- 
riage manufacturers, jewelers and ar- 
tisans generally. 

The Charles Parker Company are 
tlie oldest and largest manufacturers 
of these vises and also of coffee mills 
in the country. At the main factor}- are 
also produced miscellaneous goods 
including a complete line of brass, 
bronze and steel wood screws ; also 
lamps in all varieties and of the 
highest grade and miost pleasing 
design ; gas and electric portables and 
a complete line of lavatory and bath 
voom fittings. 

There, too, the piano stools and 
coffee mills are assembled and finished, 
the wood work of which is carried on 
at the factor}' at Yalesville. 

It is a fact that The Charles Parker 
Co. manufacture more piano stools, 
l)enches, music racks and cabinets than 
any other one concern in the world. 
In conjunction with this department 
the com])any also luanufacture a line 
of piano scarfs and covers of infinite 
variety. 

Until 1905 the Charles Parker Com- 
pany also owned and operated the 
plant known as the Meriden Curtain 
I'ixture Company, the largest factory 
oi its kind in the world and employ- 
ing 500 hands, the product of which 



comprises window shades, shade roll- 
ers and fringes. This business is now 
consolidated with other manufactur- 
ers of similar goods and is known as 
the Columbia Shade Cloth Co. 

The Charles Parker Company be- 
came incorporated in 1876 with a cap- 
ital stock of $500,000, and like the 
Parker Clock Company, which it con- 
trols, is a close corporation. The first 
officers were Charles Parker, presi- 
dent ; Dexter W. Parker, secretary 
and treasurer, and Charles E. Parker, 
vice president. vSince the death of 
Charles Parker, his son, Dexter W., 
has served as president ; Wilbur F. 
Parker, vice-president, and William 
H. Lyon, secretary and treasurer. 

The Parker Clock Company, which 
was incorporated June 12, 1893, has 
the following officers : William H. 
Lyon, president and treasurer, and 
James F. Allen, secretarv. 

The several industries carried on by 
the Charles Parker Company give 
steady employment to about fifteen 
hundred well-paid hands : and its l)us- 
iness for three-quarters of a century 
has added greatl}" to the prosperity of 
the town. 

Many of the men in the employ of 
the company have grown up in the 
business and achieved ])roniinence in 
the communil}-. I'ortunate, indeed, 
are those in its em])lo}' : for they who 
have shown a dis])osition to give 
their best services to the concern have 
had their efforts recognized and re- 
warded in every reasonable degree. 
Especially is this true of the tra\eling 
salesmen, a])out a score in number, 



54 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



who cover every state in the union, 
calHng upon the large jobbers of 
the country and remaining away from 
the factory many weeks at a time on 
their trips in the interest of the con- 
cern. The New York salesrooms are 
at 32 Warren street. 

Since the death of Charles Parker 
the general management of the bus- 
iness has devolved upon his son-in- 
law, William H. Lyon, who has been 
associated with the concern for many 
years. He, like the other officers of 
the company, is a kind and consider- 
ate employer and a man of rare bus- 
iness attainments and great energy. 



THE MERIDEN CURTAIN FIX- 
TURE CO. 



An industry grown from a small be- 
ginning to one of magnitude is that 
of The Meriden Curtain Fixture Co., 
the works of which cover several acres 
and furnish employment at the pres- 
ent dav to several hundred hands. 
The product, window shades and 
shade cloth of all grades, sold through 
the Columbia Shade Cloth Company at 
New York, contrasts strongly with the 
modest output when the business was 
first started in a portion of the old 
Methodist church on Broad street. 

At that time shade rollers only were 
made, and but a few hands were em- 
ployed. The business increased and 
the quarters were enlarged by utiliz- 
ing the whole of the old church and 
by the addition of another building. 
About 1 89 1 it was found necessary to 
further enlarge the factory, and the 



compau}- did so by occupying a por- 
tion of the present large plant on 
Charles street. This enabled the com- 
pany to engage in the manufacture of 
fringes for their shades, the cloth for 
which was bought prepared to be 
made up. Later the company desir- 
ing to go into the manufacture of 
cloths, as well as rollers and fringes, 
decided to make another addition to 
the plant, and at that time the present 
five-story brick structure, 40 x 258 feet 
in dimensions, was built. Still later 
another grade was added to the out- 
put, and a second building, 52 x 182 
feet, and three stories in height was 
erected on the company's property. 

The goods made by the company 
are highly creditable to Meriden and 
the business always has been conduct- 
ed largely with Meriden capital. The 
plant is , equipped with modern ma- 
chinery ; an artesian well furnishes an 
abundant water supply for various 
purposes, and four mammoth steam 
boilers furnish not only motive power 
but also sufficient for generating elec- 
tricity for lighting the factory. 

The company is capitalized at $400,- 
000. Its officers are Wilbur F. Par- 
ker, president; W. H. Lyon, vice- 
president ; S. G. Wilkins, secretary ; 
W. R. Hees, treasurer ; T. D. McChes- 
ney, general manager ; and Irving G. 
Cooley, manager. The president, 
vice-president and manager are all 
well known residents of Meriden. 
Mr. Parker was manager for a period 
of seven years, prior to associating 
himself exclusively with the Chas. 
Parker Co., of which he is now vice- 




MANUFACTORIES. 



55 



\-i\< 










r'^^ "^i^^^BP^ 



56 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



president. Mr. L}on, the vice-pres- 
ident is also the treasurer and general 
manager of the Chas. Parker Co. Mr. 
Cooler, who became manager January 
I, 1906, has been engaged with the 
Curtain Fixture Co. since 1895. 



THE MILLER BROTHERS CUT- 
LERY CO. 



Conspicuous among the products 
which have made Meriden famous the 
world over is cutlery, and for nearly 
half a century The Miller Brothers 
Cutlery Company has been recognized 
as one of the important factors in the 
manufacturing life of the city. The 
business was established soon after the 
close of the Civil war ; and for a few 
years the factory was located in Yales- 
ville. It soon became necessary to 
seek larger and more accessible quar- 
ters, and the site of the present fac- 
tory in Meriden was purchased from 
Pratt, Read & Company, comb manu- 
facturers. This site has been longer 
used for manufacturing purposes than 
any other in the town, dating back to 
the firm of Howard, Pratt & Co., in 
1822. 

In 1878, the present Miller Brothers 
Cutlery Company was organized by 
Messrs. Lemuel J. Curtis, Isaac C. 
Lewis, William F. Rockwell, Charles 
\. Rockwell and George W. Lyon. 
This new company took over the en- 
tire business of the old company of the 
same name. Mr. Curtis was the first 
president, with William F. Rockwell 
as treasurer and general manager. 
On the death of Mr. Curtis, Mr. Lew- 



is became president and served until 
his own death in 1893, being succeeded 
by William F". Rockwell as president 
and treasurer. 

In its early days, the American 
pocket knife industry had a hard road 
to travel. Apart from the keen do- 
mestic competition, it was ground be- 
tween the flood of the cheap German 
commodity on the one hand, and the 
English product with its reputation of 
centuries on the other. One concern 
after another was forced to the wall, 
and hundreds of thousands of dollars 
were lost in the struggle. The ulti- 
mate success, not only of his own 
company, but of the industry itself, 
was very largely due to the great abil- 
ity and untiring energy of William F. 
Rockwell. His absolute knowledge of 
the business and exceptional mathe- 
matical ability made it possible for him 
to demonstrate to the framers of suc- 
cessive tariff legislation the imperative 
necessity of protection to the indus- 
trv ; and it was this protection that 
made it possible for the American 
manufacturer to produce to-day a 
pocket knife that is the equal if not 
the superior of any other knife made. 

In 1882, the manufacture of 
Miller Bros, steel pens was begun. 
The first makers of pens in this coun- 
try were Harrison & Bradford, their 
factory being located in Mount \ er- 
non. New York. The Miller r.roth- 
ers Cutlery Company bought the nu' 
chanical equipment of their plant ami 
engaged Mr. Bradford as superinten- 
dent of the new department. In the 
manufacture of these delicate article?. 



58 



A CENTURY OF MERIDKX. 




CHARLES F. ROCKWELL. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



59 



Miller Bros, have been as successful 
as with their cutler}-, and both lines 
are large factors in advertising their 
home city. 

I'rom a small factory with few em- 
ployees to the large, modern plant giv- 
ing daily employment to three hundred 
or more people, is the best indication 
of the wisdom with which the affairs 
of the company have been managed. 
The entire energy of the management 
is concentrated on the three lines man- 
ufactured (pocket cutlery, steel ink 
erasers and steel pens) and every de- 
tail is given the most careful consider- 
ation. 

On the death of William F. Rock- 
well in 1901, Charles L. Rockwell 
became president, and Charles F. 
Rockwell treasurer and general man- 
ager, succeeding his father in the ac- 
tive administration of the company. 
Harrv A. Stevens is secretary. 



CONNECTICUT TRAP ROCK 
QUARRIES, INC. 



Meriden is the center of the crushed 
stone industry of the state of Connec- 
ticut and here the business of quar- 
rying and crushing stone for ship- 
ment by rail was inaugurated. 

In 1879 Carpenter Bros., of Port 
Chester, N. Y., secured a contract 
from the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., to 
quarry and crush trap rock for bal- 
lasting its road bed. This was the 
first railroad crushing plant in New 
England and was operated by the 
Carpenters for several years solely on 



ballast, the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. 
Co. taking the entire product. 

In 1890 John S Lane, then of Hart- 
ford, conceived the idea of estab- 
lishing a crushing plant to supply a 
small but growing demand for trap 
rock for macadam and concrete in 
the cities and towns reached by the 
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Carpenter 
Bros, had completed their contradt 
and abandoned their quarry and Mr. 
Lane's attention was naturally drawn 
to the opportunities offered here for 
such a business. Early in 1890 he 
leased from Bartholomew & Coe the 
land adjoining the Carpenter quarry, 
opened another quarry and erected 
suitable machinery for crushing. 
This was the foundation, and to John 
S. Lane is the credit due, of the first 
commercial stone crushing plant in 
the New England states, although 
similar plants had been established on 
the Hudson river some years pre- 
vious. The business grew rapidly 
from the start, not only along the 
lines which Mr. Lane originally had 
in view, but the four tracking of 
the New York division of the N. Y., 
N. H. & H. R. R. about 1893 made 
a demand for immense quantities of 
railroad ballast also. This called for 
frequent additions to the plant and 
eventually the acquirement of the 
(juarry Carpenter Bros, had formerly 
used. 

In 1 89 1 Arthur S. Lane was taken 
into partnership and the firm of John 
S. Lane & Son was established. In 
the course of a few years similar 
plants, all within a radius of fifteen 




PART OF MAIN OUARRY. 




lKL >11KK >lll-.li AMI .sluKAl.E i;].\S. 

MERIDEN I'LANT OF THE CONNECTICUT TRAP ROCK OUARRIES, INC( )Kl'()R.\TEn. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



6 1 



miles or less from Meriden, had been 
established, notably those of B. D. 
Pierce. Jr., Co.. at Middlefield; The 
Cooke Stone & Ice Co.. at Plainville, 
and The Rocky Hill Stone Co., at 
Rocky Hill. 

In 1902 a consolidation of these 
companies was eiTected under the 
name of The Connecticut Trap Rock 
■Quarries, Incorporated ; and this 
company now operates the crushing 
plants at the several points named, 
supplying the trade offered by the 
cities and towns reached by the N. Y., 
N. H. & H. system. 

Since Mr. Lane's original venture 
in 1890 the use of concrete has come 
into almost universal practice for 
foundation and similar work. The 
several states have taken up the ques- 
tion of improved highways and an- 
nually build miles of stone roads, and 
there is scarcely a town or city which 
has not its system of macadam roads. 
The value of rock ballast on the rail- 
roads, too, has been fully demonstrat- 
ed, and its necessity on roads of im- 
portance is admitted both for econom- 
lical maintenance and comfort of the 
'traveling public. These several in- 
.fluences have brought about a steady 
and healthy growth of the business. 

All of the former managers of the 
ndependent quarries retain their in- 
ercsts in the Connecticut Tra]) Rock 
Quarries, Inc.. and form its executive 
tafif, as follows : 

President — Bradford D. Pierce, Jr. 
Treasurer — Arthur S. Lane. 
Secretary — Irvine^ S. Tinker. 



Cieneral Sui)erintendent — James H, 
Cooke. 

The general office of the company 
is at loi Meadow street, New Haven, 
Conn. 



KELSEY PRESS CO. 



This manufacturing concerns adds 
fame to Aleriden where it has always 
existed ; for in its works are made, 
among other printing utilities, the cel- 
ebrated Excelsior printing presses, 
which have been on the market for 
over thirty years and are used all over 
the world. The company also pos- 
sesses and operates the only type foun- 
dry in the Nutmeg state, casting in 
large quantities the celebrated nickel 
alloy type. At the factory on South 
Colony street, where a large number 
of hands are given constant and re- 
munerative employment, are also made 
the Combination cabinet, the Excelsior 
type case, an improved and patented 
style which saves a vast amount of la- 
bor to the compositor ; card and paper 
cutters, small binding machines, and 
other articles used by both the expe- 
rienced and inexperienced printer to 
great advantage. 

The now extensive business of the 
Kclsey I'rcss Co. is the outcome of 
the small start made by William A. 
Kclsey in 1872 and whose quarters 
first comprised one room in the Morse 
& Cook block. The first i)roduct of 
his industry was one small sized press 
which, from its ])racticability, soon 
came into general use for home, of- 
fice and store printing. These presses. 



62 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



known as the Excelsior, are now 
more than a toy ; for gradually other 
patterns and styles have been added 
to keep pace with the growth of the 
business, until the Excelsior press is 
now made in all sizes from the small 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

WILLIAM A. KELSEY. 

portable card press to the flat-bed cyl- 
inder machine suitable for country 
newspaper work. In 1876 Mr. Kelsey 
built the present factory which has 
since been occupied, and the business 
has continued to grow and prosper, 
the variety of the product becoming 
greater every year. 

In September, 1905, the concern be- 
came incorporated under the state laws 
of Connecticut and the capital stock 
of $75,000 has since been held by the 
following ofificers : William A. Kelsey, 



president ; F. C. Edgerton, vice-pres- 
ident, secretary' and general manager; 
F. L. Huntington, treasurer and su- 
perintendent, all of whom are well 
known and influential residents of 
^leriden. The first named has re- 
mained the head of the business from 
the start ; Mr. Edgerton became asso- 
ciated with the business in 1881, com- 
ing from the Home National Bank, 
where he had been previously em- 
ployed ; and Mr. Huntington, a pres- 
ent member of the state legislature and 
Meriden board of aldermen, has been 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

F. C. EDGERTON. 

connected with the establishment con- 
tinuously from 1885. 

The Kelsey Press Co. has brought 
distinction to Meriden in no slight de- 
gree ; for in putting upon the market 



Jk 



MANUFACTORIES. 



63 



outfits for home and mercantile print- 
ing, they have clone much toward ed- 
ucating the general public in the 
greatest of all arts, the art preserva- 
tive. While a large mail order bus- 
iness is done direct with the consum- 
er, the daily mail of this company, cov- 
ering a far wider field than that of any 
other concern in this locality, reach- 
ing every civilized nation on earth, the 
business of supplying regular print- 



FRAXK WHEELER & SON. 




Photo by Akers. 

F. L HUNTINGTON. 

ig offices with all supplies know'n to 
{ills age is not only extensive but 
|rowing steadily and rapidly. The 
Iroduct of this concern has now for 
pany years been recognized b\ the 
rinting trade as of standard excel- 
•nce, a result attained by conscicn- 
'us eflfort in every detail. 



Frank \\'heeler, senior member of 
the firm of Frank Wheeler & Son, 
who conduct an extensive manufactur- 
ing business on Stone street, in their 
own building, was born September 8. 
1837, St Cromwell, Conn. A few 
months after his birth his parents re- 
moved to Moodus where he spent his 
boyhood and learned the trade of a 
machinist, after having been previous- 
ly employed in a cotton mill in that 
town. 

Late in the 50s he came to Meriden, 
where he has been located ever since, 
and became employed by Parker, 
Snow, Brooks & Co. and later by N. 
C. Stiles, who conducted a machine 
shop in a wooden building on the site 
of the present Journal building. Mr. 
Stiles, about that time, began the man- 
ufacture of power presses ; and Mr. 
Wheeler worked on the first one pro- 
duced. About i860 Mr. Wheeler 
abandoned the machinist trade and 
engaged in photography, for some 
years thereafter conducting a studio 
at the corner of Main and Hanover 
streets, in which building he also 
resided. He soon built up a high 
reputation as an artist in portrait 
photography, but during the last por- 
tion of the time he was engaged in 
conducting a studio, he branched 
out into commercial photography, in 
which he became justly celebrated. 
In 1890 he engaged in the machinist 
])usincss. first in a small w'ay, his orig- 
inal location being on the second floor 
of the building on South Colony 



64 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Street, now owned by the Meriden 
Grain & Feed Co., and there the nu- 
cleus for the present large business 
was established. 

During the intervening years, his 
son, Alfred Pelton Wheeler, who was 
born September 24, 1871, in the build- 
ins: where his father then conducted 



In 1898 the demands upon the shop 
had increased to such an extent that 
the industry demanded more room, 
and the present four-story brick fac- 
tory, fronting on Stone street, was 
erected by them. To the original 
product of the factory, which com- 
prised power presses of all descrip- 




FACTORY OF FRANK WHEELER & SON. 



the photograph business, was growing 
to manhood. After receiving an early 
education in the Meriden public 
schools and graduating from the Shef- 
field Scientific school of Yale Univer- 
sity in June, 1892, the following month 
he entered his father's shop and in 
1895 was admitted to partnership. 



tions, for cutting, drawing, stamping 
sheet metal, was added the business of 
machinery, dies, tools and special ma- 
chines for various purposes. In re- 
cent years has been added the man- 
ufacture of special hardware, includ- 
ing an extensive line used in the con- 
struction of piano players. There are 



MANUFACTORIES. 



65 



also made at this busy factory the cution of the work, from the 8.000 



hardware parts for some of the varied 
systems of loose-leaf ledgers, lamp 
parts, etc. The factory which now 




FRANK WHEFLKR. 



furnishes employment to forty-five 
hands, many of whom are skilled 
workmen, is equipped with all mod- 




ALFKED 



WHEELER. 



ern machinery necessary for turning 
out its varied output and all facilities 
are at hand for the economical prose- 
45 



pound crane for handling heavy cast- 
ings to the most modern appliance 
for polishing, buffing and plating of 
the hardware specialties made. 



BRADLEY & HUBBARD MFG. CO. 



An industry which has for many 
years been one of the largest in its 
line in the world, and an important 
factor in the growth and business rep- 
utation of Meriden, is that of Bradley 
& Hubbard Mfg. Co., organized Jan- 
uary I, 1875, succeeding Nathaniel 
L. Bradley and Walter Hubljard, who 
founded the business in 1854. Their 
works consisted of a small two-story 
frame building located at the corner 
of Hanover and Butler streets. The 
company's present buildings cover an 
area of more than six acres, with sev- 
eral hundred thousand feet of floor 
space. When the company was in- 
corporated the officers were \\'alter 
Hubbard, president ; Nathaniel L. 
Bradley, treasurer, and Charles F. 
Linsley, secretary, who with Clarence 
P. Bradley, have always composed 
the board of directors, as well as the 
stockholders of the company. At the 
date of its incorporation the company 
employed about 1 50 jieople ; to-day 
tlu're are nearly i.ooo, which indicates 
the growth of a business started in 
1854 with not more than twenty-five 
employes. 

The products of the company con- 
sist of gas and electric light fixtures 
of all kinds, of the most elaborate 
and artistic designs, for residences, 



MANUFACTORIES. 



67 



churches and other pubHc buildings : 
also the celebrated "B & H" lamps, 
fire place furniture, and a large varie- 
ty of miscellaneous goods in metal, in- 
cluding bronze, brass and iron grille 
work, bronze doors, railings, stairs, 
etc.. all of which have attained a rep- 
utation, not only throughout the 
I'nited States but all over the world, 
for beauty of design, mechanical work 
and finish. The factories are ecjuipped 
with the most modern machinery and 
facilities for the manufacture of their 
products, enabling their employes, 
many of whom are skilled w'orkmen, to 
produce the best possible results. 

Salesrooms, where samples of their 
products can be seen are maintained in 
Xew York City, Boston and Chicago, 
also at the factory. 



WALTER HUBBARD. 



Walter Hubbard, president of the 
Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co., wdiose 
: gift to the people of Meriden of the 
\ park bearing his name, has awakened 
I a desire in many people of the state 
i and country who have visited Meriden 
and Hubbard park, to know some- 
thing more of the city's benefactor be- 
yond the fact that he is a gentleman 
of culture and means. For nearly a 
half century he has been one of its 
leading citizens. Politics and public 
-'.iiinii liaye never attracted him. 

lie was born Sept. 2^^. 1828, in 
Middletown, Comi., is a descendant 
of George Hubbard, who came from 
I n^land in 1(^)33. and was one of the 



original settlers of ^Middletown in 
1650. His ancestors have lived in 
this region for 250 years and the Hub- 
bards furnished a remarkable record 
in the war of the Revolution. Cap- 
tain Jeremiah Hubbard, grandfather 
of Walter Hubbard, \yas one of the 
number. 

Like the majority of the youth of 
his day, Walter Hubbard was reared 
on a farm. 

He was educated in the ])ul)lic 
schools and also attended the Chase 
preparatory school of Middletown. 
At the age of eighteen years he se- 
cured a position as clerk in a Meri- 
den store, and with aid of self denial, 
a clear head and energy, he was en- 
abled to accumulate enough capital to 
embark in business for himself. This 
he ciid in 1851, oi)ening a dry-goods 
and clothing store in ]Meriden and 
continuing it successfully until i860. 
In 1852 he was married to Abby Ann, 
daughter of Levi Bradle_\', of Chesh- 
ire ; she died a few months after their 
marriage, and Mr. Hubbartl has neyer 
again married. 

Li 1854, in company with his broth- 
er-in-law, N. L. Bradley. ^Nir. Hub- 
bard founded the business which in 
1875 became incorporated under the 
name of the Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. 
Co. and devoted himself entirely to its 
interests. Since its incor])oration he 
has been president of this great indus- 
tr\'. Mr. llubl)ar(l is actiyely con- 
nected with many im])orlant concerns 
of ?ileriden. He is president of the 
Mcriik'u Gas Light Com])auy, the 
.Meriden Electric Light Ciim|)any and 



I 



68 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




70 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



the Meriden Trust & Safe Deposit 
Company. He is also interested in lo- 
cal banks and other companies as 
a stockholder and director. In 1882-3 
Mr. Hubbard built the Winthrop ho- 
tel, which is one of the finest in New 
England. In this he was actuated to 
confer a benefit upon the city rather 
than as an investment. His gifts to 
various charities have been numerous. 
He has always made liberal donations 
to public charities and has given free- 
Iv of his means to the cause of educa- 
tion. His interest in the Meriden 
hospital has been of great benefit and 
in keeping with his gifts to other in- 
stitutions. In 1883-84, j\Ir. Hubbard 
went around the world and he has fre- 
quently visited Europe and the prin- 
cipal portions of this country. 

Mr. Hubbard is a member of the 
Union League Club of New York, the 
New England society, of New York, 
the American Geographical society, 
and a number of state and city organ- 
izations. He makes his home in a 
mansion on Washington place, a most 
desirable section of the citv. 



NATHANIEL L. BRADLEY, 



Nathaniel Lyman Bradley, treasur- 
er of the Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. 
Company, is a man who bears the high- 
est reputation for business ability not 
only in his own city of Meriden, but 
also in all the business centers. 
The firm of which he is treasurer and 
one of the chief stockholders, is first 
in the world in its line of goods and 
a proportionate share of its success 



has come through his grasp of busi- 
ness situations. 

Mr. Bradley was born in Cheshire, 
Connecticut, December 2^], 1829. 
His parents were Levi and Abigail 
Ann (Atwater) Bradley, upright and 
unassuming farming people who came 
of the good sturdy New England 
stock. Daniel Bradley, father of 
Levi, was a farmer in Vermont and 
was driven from his home by the mil- 
itary operations of the British during 
the Revolution. He moved to Ham- 
den, Connecticut, and thence to Chesh- 
ire. His son, Levi, was born in 
Cheshire November 11, 1792, and died 
in Meriden March 18, 1877. Levi 
Bradley was a man of great energy 
and keen business discernment. He 
was not content to be merely a farmer, 
he strove to be the best farmer in his 
section. His success characterized 
his whole career and his three sons, 
Samuel, William L. and Nathaniel L., 
inherited much of his business ability. 
The subject of this sketch has also had 
two sisters : Emeline Amelia Bradley, 
married the late Alfred P. Curtis, and 
was the mother of Mrs. George A. 
Fay ; and Abby Ann Bradley, died in 
1852, who married Walter Hubbard, 
president of the Bradley & Hubbard 
Mfg. Co. 

Nathaniel Bradley received his 
early schooling in the Cheshire schools 
and graduated from the old Meriden 
Academy where so many of his fellow 
citizens finished their education. He 
left school, however, at the early age 
of fifteen and at once went to work as 
clerk for E. B. M. Hughes, a 



il 



MANUFACTORIES. 



71 




72 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



hardware merchant in New Haven, 
Connecticut, in the store now occupied 
by John E. Bassett & Co. After 
a year his father felt that he 
must have his aid on the farm, 
and so he returned home, great- 
ly to the regret of Air. Hughes, 
who had already recognized the apti- 
tude of the lad. He continued to work 
for his father until he was twenty- 
one ; but the life of a farmer did not 
satisfy his growing ambition to be- 
come of some note in this world and, 
accordingly, when the opportunity 
came of embarking in a little business 
venture in Southington, Conn., he 
readily accepted the offer to become 
one of the stockholders. His business 
was the making of clocks and after six 
montlijS' experience in the factory he 
was offered the contract of making 
three hundred clocks a day and gladly 
took the responsibility. It was during 
his connection with this small concern 
that he was given his first opportunity 
to show his skill as a salesman. 
Owing to the overproduction of the 
factory, Mr, Bradley was sent to New 
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and 
Washington to sell some of the sur- 
plus stock. The result of his first 
trip was such that he not only sold 
all the goods on hand but continued 
to keep the factory busy with other 
orders that taxed the factory to its 
fullest capacity. His success in sell- 
ing goods was appreciated to such 
an extent that he was made the 
head salesman and a director in the 
company. Here he continued un- 
til 1854 when, in company with oth- 



ers, he started that great industry 
with which his name has ever since 
been associated in Aleriden, the popu- 
lation of which was then but 2,500. 

Mr. Bradley holds many important 
positions besides that of treasurer of 
the above company. He was a stock- 
holder and one of the directors 
of the first street railway com- 
pany in Meriden, He is a director of 
the First National Bank ; the City 
Savings Bank ; the Meriden Trust 
& Safe Deposit Co. ; the Mer- 
iden Republican Publishing Com- 
pany, J. D. Bergen Co., and other 
financial enterprises in Meriden and 
elsewhere. In politics he is a Re- 
publican and, although never seeking 
office, he has been alderman and acting 
mayor. 

In his religious affiliations Mr. Brad- 
ley is a Congregationalist, and is 
a member of the First Congregational 
church, having been chairman of the 
society's committee twenty-eight years. 
He has always contributed very gen- 
erously to its support, and gave a 
princely sum toward the construction 
of the present stone edifice. Oth- 
er great works have also been greatly 
benefited by his aid from time to time. 
He was one of the first to give large- 
ly to the work of the Y. M. C. A., ami 
he contributed toward the building 
owned by that association and also to 
the proposed new building of the 
Y. W. C, A. When the Curtis Me- 
morial Public Library was built, Mr. 
Bradley gave $1,000 to that institu- 
tion for books, and a bronze tablet has 
been placed in one of the alcoves in 



:74 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



recognition of his generosity. Since 
its foundation he has also been 
a Hberal friend of the Meriden 
Boys' Ckib. Air. Bradley is a 
large owner of local real estate and 
was the first to build tenements fitted 
with all modern improvements, in 
which he was followed by other prop- 
erty owners. He has for many years 
been a large owner of this class of 
houses and has deservedly been ac- 
corded the re])utation of being a fair 
minded and liberal landlord. For the 
past fourteen years he has been one 
of the trustees of the Connecticut 
School for Boys and in July, 1899, 
was unanimously elected president of 
the board. On account of other du- 
ties making more urgent demands on 
his time he resigned the honor in fa- 
vor of Francis W. Parker, of Hart- 
ford, one of the trustees. During the 
administration of Superintendent 
Howe Mr. Bradley made the State 
School a present of a complete set of 
brass musical instruments, and as a 
result of this one instance of his 
heartfelt interest in the institution 
there has ever since been a well or- 
ganized band there. 

Mr. Bradley is also vice president 
'Of the Meriden Fire Ins. Co. ; a di- 
rector in the Walnut Grove Ceme- 
tery Association and president of 
-the Meriden hospital, which ofiice he 
has held since its organization, and 
•contributed liberally toward the 
■ cost of the building. He is also pres- 
ident of the Meriden Trotting Park 
Association. He is a member of the 
Connecticut Society of the Sons of the 



American Revolution. His interest 
in public afifairs has always been 
widely felt and all improvements in 
streets, parks, cemeteries, etc., have 
always met with his hearty support 
and have been benefited by his wise 
judgment, while he also gave with 
Walter Hubbard in 1905, several acres 
of land to the city for park purposes. 

Mr. Bradley has been quite a trav- 
eler, not only in his own country but in 
foreign lands as well. He has crossed 
the Atlantic several times. 

In October 25, 1859, Mr. Bradley 
was married to Harriet E., daughter 
of Selden and Lucy Hooker (Hart'. 
Peck, of Kensington, Connecticut. 
Mrs. Bradley is a woman of rare per- 
sonal charm and presides with grace 
over her beautiful home, which is al- 
ways pointed out as one of the most 
imposing in Meriden. One son, Clar- 
ence Peck Bradley, one of the direct- 
ors and stockholders of the Bradley & 
Hubbard Alfg. Co., resides with his 
parents and is also private secretary 
and treasurer for his father. 



CHARLES F. LINSLEY. 



Charles F. Linsley, secretary and 
one of the directors of Bradley & Hub- 
bard Mfg. Co., who has for many 
years been a leading spirit in the af- 
fairs of that large corporation, was 
born at Branford, Conn., in the year 
1843. His father was Frederick 
Linsley. His mother (who is now 
living) was Harriet Foote. He is a 
descendant on the paternal side from 
John Linsley, who came from Eng- 



MANUFACTORIES. 



75 





'-S**/ 






r'«.^fi»^-&-j/ 



76 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



land and settled in Branford in 1646; 
and on the maternal side from Na- 
thaniel Foote, who came from Eng- 
land and settled in Wethersfield, 
Conn., early in the seventeenth cen- 
tury ; also from Rev. Samuel Russell, 
of Branford, Conn., in whose house 
the ten ministers met and donated 
forty books for the "founding of a 
college in this colony," viz : Yale Col- 
lege. 

In his youth he was taught at home 
and in the common district school that 
to work was honorable. At the age of 
seventeen years he left the farm and 
came to Meriden to accept a position 
offered him by the late Charles H. 
Collins in his grocery store, where he 
remained about two and one-half 
years, until August, 1862, when he 
enlisted for three years as private in 
Company F, Fifteenth Connecticut 
Volunteers, He was appointed by 
Col. Charles L. Upham quartermaster 
sergeant of the regiment, in which ca- 
pacity he served until the close of the 
w^ar. After returning to Meriden he 
entered the office of the Wilcox Sil- 
ver Plate Co., where he remained un- 
til 1869, when he was offered and ac- 
cepted a position with Bradley & Hub- 
bard. As Mr. Bradley in those days 
was away from home much of the 
time, and Mr. Hubbard in New York 
nearly all the time, he had an unusual 
opportunity of developing business 
ability, which was appreciated to the 
fullest extent by Mr. Bradley and Mr. 
Hubbard. He gradually became each 
year a more important factor in the 
fast growing business, having been 



given an opportunity of taking an im- 
portant part in advancing the interests 
of the firm. The Bradley & Hubbard 
Mfg. Co.'s works, occupying over six 
acres, employing about i ,000 people, is 
one of the largest manufacturers in 
its lines in the world. Mr. Linsley's 
connection with the company covers 
a period of thirty-seven years. Ever 
since the incorporation he has been 
one of the three original stockholders 
and directors, also the secretary of the 
company. He is a man of broad ideas 
and excellent business capacity. He is 
a director in the following Meriden 
institutions : First National Bank, 
City Savings Bank, Meriden Trust & 
Safe Deposit Co., Meriden Gas Liglit 
Co. and Meriden Electric Light Co. 
He has never held any public office ex- 
cept as a member of the Board of Ap- 
portionment and Taxation. He was 
married in 187 1 to Georgiana E. Gay, 
who is a prominent member of Susan 
Carrington Clarke Chapter, Daughters 
of the American Revolution. They 
have one child, a daughter — Mrs. 
Tames H. Hinsdale. 



CLARENCE P. BRADLEY. 



Clarence Peck Bradley, the young- 
est of the four directors and stock- 
holders of the Bradley & Hubbard 
Mfg. Co., is the only son of Nathan- 
iel L. Bradley, one of the founders and 
treasurer of the large corporation 
which bears his name. He was born 
in Meriden, and as stated elsewhere in 
the sketch of his father, he comes from 
earlv New England ancestry. His 



I 



MANUFACTORIES. 



77 




78 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



early education was obtained in the 
schools of Meriden, and he finished at 
the Russell Military School at New 
Haven, also known as the Collegiate 
and Commercial Institute, where he 
prepared to enter Yale College. 
Having his choice between a college 
education and extensive foreign travel, 
he chose the latter, where, by observa- 
tion and study of people and their cus- 
toms in the various quarters of the 
globe, he became possessed of knowl- 
edge which has been of inestimable 
value to him since starting upon his 
business career. Upon his first return 
from abroad, he was given an oppor- 
tunity by a fond and indulgent father, 
of proving his business worth, by be- 
ing placed in charge of his interests. 
His success in familiarizing himself 
with and afterwards managing these 
affairs, which called for a display of 
good judgment and business ability, 
soon secured for him the confidence 
of his father, to the extent that he was 
made his secretary and treasurer, and 
wnthin the past few years, has man- 
aged practically all of his fathers pri- 
vate interests. In 1885, he was elect- 
ed one of the directors of the Bradley 
& Hubbard Mfg. Co., in which he has 
been ever since a factor in its affairs. 
His success in matters of finance has 
won him the confidence also of other 
manufacturing concerns where his 
counsel and judgment are appreciated. 
He is also one of the directors of the 
City Savings Bank. 

He is a prominent figure in social 
life, and in 1905 served as president of 
the Home Club, one of the manv social 



organizations with which he is affil- 
iated. Of this club he was one of the 
prime movers in the construction of 
the present handsome building on Col- 
ony street and served the organization 
as a member of the building commit- 
tee. He is a member of the Sons of 
the American Revolution. His inter- 
est in the Curtis Memorial Library is 
indicated by a bronze tablet in one of 
the alcoves. 

Mr. Bradley is a prominent member 
of the Masonic fraternity and his 
membership in that order includes all 
of the several branches in Connecticut. 
He is a member of Meridian Lodge, 
yj. i\. F. & A. M. ; Keystone Chapter, 
z'], R. A. M. ; Hamilton Council, 22, 
R. & S. M. ; St. Elmo Conimandery, 
9. K. T. ; also of the Scottish Rite 
bodies of New Haven, and of Lafa\- 
ette Consistory of Bridgeport where 
he received his thirty-second degree. 
He is also a member of Pyramid Tem- 
ple, Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport. 

^Tr. Bradley has spent much time 
in travel ; he has visited Europe sev- 
eral times, and studied the life and 
customs, of nearly every civilized na- 
tion, as well as having circumnavi- 
gated the globe. 

A Republican in politics, he never 
has accepted any public office what- 
soever. He is, however, like his 
father, possessed of a vast amount of 
public spirit and regard for the town 
of his birth. During the preparations 
for the Centennial celebration, he has 
served with efficiency and value as a 
member of the general committee ot 
citizens appointed to arrange and 



I 



MANUFACTORIES. 



79' 



■arrv out the extensive plans for that 
listoric occasion. 



THE HAXDEL COM PAX Y. 



This Aleriden manufacturing" con- 
:ern, incorporated in 1904 with a cap- 
tal of $50,000, occupies an enviable 
)Osition in the trade ; for its goods, 
;o original in design and artistic in 
:reation, make it independent of either 
\.merican or foreign competition. Its 
)roduct, "Handel Ware," appeals to 
ill high class and celebrated interior 
lecorators and jewelers, and the rep- 
itation the concern has gained is the 
■esult of the artistic abilities of the 
nan whose name it bears, and the 
listory of the business, therefore, is 
hat of its president, treasurer and 
bunder, who is a native of Meriden. 

Philip J. Handel is one of four chil- 

Iren, and his parents were Jacob and 

Jatherine (Wuterich) Handel. His 

grandfather, Philip Adam Handel, 

vas an industrious farmer of Witten- 

)erg, Germany, who emigrated to this 

ountry and settled in East Hartford, 

fter having learned of the advantages 

b be availed of in America through 

■is daughter, P^redericka, who had 

I 

ijOne before. His maternal grand- 

ather, Frederick Wuterich, was also 

f| native of \\'ittenberg, ( Jermany ; he 

as the proprietor of large machine 

forks there, but died when tiuite a 

amg man. Jacob liaufkl, father of 

lilip J., settled in Meriden many 

tars ago and married here, in the 

irlv sixties, Catherine Wuterich. who 



was also born in Wittenberg. He 
was a worthy and respected citizen of 
]\Ieriden, and died by accident in 1875, 
after having been employed as a fore- 
man for many years at the works of 
the Charles Parker Co. 

His children were George and Fred, 
now large dealers in cattle and general 
merchandise at Musselshell, Mont. ;. 
Emma, who married Dr. Franklin 
Drake, a leading practicing physician 
of Webster City, Iowa ; and the sub- 
ject of this sketch. He married in 
1890 Caroline Sutterlin, who died in 
1904, after a lingering illness of two 
years. 

Like his brothers. I'hilip J. Handel 
is rugged in physique, and when 
nine years old, his father having died, 
he was possessed with that sense of 
responsibility that he began to take 
])art in the maintenance of the house- 
hold. As a boy he showed a talent 
for drawing, which was heartily en- 
couraged 1)\' his fond ])arents, and he 
studied, with a laudal)le aim and am- 
bition, books of art. To assist him 
in attaining his aml)ition he bought a 
l)rinting outlit, and, in the pla_\' hours 
of the ordinary boy, did job ])rinting 
on a small scale. At the age of four- 
teen he left school and secm\'d em- 
])lo\ment at the factory of the Mer- 
iden I'.ritannia Co.. but a month later 
he entered the works of the old Mer- 
iden l-dint ( ilass Com])an\-. In ihc 
latter factory he was given an o])iior- 
tunit\- to show his eapal)ility and to 
(le\-elo]) a talent for designing and 
decorating, wliieli in late years has 
l)ro\-e(l invaluable to him. At the age 



8o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




MANUFACTORIES. 



Lif nineteen, in 1885, Mr. Handel with 
Adolpli Eydam as a partner, began his 
career as a Meriden manufacturer in 
his present Hne. Afterwards, he con- 
tinued alone in the present factory un- 
til 1904 he incorporated the business 
Lit which he has ever since been the 
nain stockholder of the close corpora- 
tion, and leading spirit in the fast 
ijrowing enterprise, as president and 
Tcasurer. During the past five years 
the business has more than trebled. 



mentioned A. AI. Parlow, who has 
charge of the decorative glass de- 
partment, and Anton Teich of the 
metal and art glass department, both 
of whom are men of established repu- 
tations in their particular kind of 
work. 

Owing to the increased demand for 
the high class product the company 
recently opened a branch factory in 
New York where the most skilled ar- 
tisans could be procured to assist in 




MKKIDEX FACTORY OF THE HANDEL COMPANY. 



md the factory is equipped with every 

facility for the execution of the work 

[here carried on. The power plant 

electric) recently constructed anew, 

fitted with a one-hundred horse 

ower boiler, 85 horse power engine 

nd fifty K. W. generator, making a 

est modern and efficient equipment. 

.Associated with Air. Handel at the 

ctory are many skilled artisans and 

echanics. Among them mav be 

46 



sujiplving the demand for their goods. 
Mr. Handel is known as one of the 
public spirited men of the town, which 
this vear celebrates its centennial, 
and the ware he has put on tlie market 
during the past score of years, has 
well earned him an honored place in 
its history, although he is ])ut fine of 
the youngest, yet successful, manufac- 
turers of the town. He is a member 
of Center Lodge, 97. A. V. & A. M. ; 



82 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



the Home Club and the Cosmopohtan 
Club and several fraternal organiza- 
tions in which he is deservedly popu- 
lar. He also serves as a member of 
the Centennial committee, on the sub- 
committee of Decorations and Street 
Fair. 



FOSTER. MERRIAM & CO. 



This time honored concern has add- 
ed to the prosperity and fame of Mer- 
iden as a manufacturing center for 
over seventy years ; and from the start 
have been associated with it many men 
who have taken an important part in 
the history of the town. Foster, Mer- 
riam & Co. at the present day conduct 
a large factory fronting on Cross street 
and extending several hundred feet 
'along the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & 
H. railroad, in the very heart of Meri- 
den. They are extensive manufactur- 
ers of casters, drop handles, furniture 
trimmings, cabinet hardware and bath 
room fittings. 

The business of the present day con- 
trasts strongly with the small start 
made in the western part of Meriden, 
at what was then known as Crow Hol- 
low, and the small shop thirty by twen- 
ty-five feet, first utilized, has long since 
been destroyed by fire ; but its location 
is marked by the foundation which 
still remains. 

The original founders of the busi- 
ness were Albert Foster, Hiram Fos- 
ter, Julius Way, Asaph Merriam, Nel- 
son Merriam, all of Meriden, and a 
Mr. Belden, of New Britain, who 
formed the first partnership vmder the 



name of Foster, Belden & Co., for the 
making of casters only. The capital 
was then but about $2,500. The firm 
did not make its own castings ; they 
were cast at a foundry in the town, and 
one of the firm used to carry the cast- 
ings in his buggy to the shop everv 
day, and bring them back to the depot 
when finished and packed, in the same 
vehicle. There were probably less 
than 200 pounds of castings used dailv 
by the little shop. The firm simply 
finished the work and shipped it. 
Horse power was used in turning the 
machinery, and the members of the 
firm were at first the only workmen 
employed. The firm as organized in 
1835, "^^'^s short lived, for the follow- 
ing year, Mr. Belden sold his interest 
to Asaph and Nelson Merriam. With 
the withdrawal of Mr. Belden, the 
name was changed to Foster, Mer- 
riam & Co. At this time the product 
of the business did not exceed fifty sets 
of casters per day. The panic of '37 
nearly swept the firm out of existence ; 
as it was, the company was obliged to 
suspend operations for six months. 
Although every credit customer on the 
company's books failed and did not 
pay over fifty per cent, of their obliga- 
tions, the little firm of Foster, Merriam 
& Co. paid every dollar of its indebt- 
edness. Five years after the organi- 
zation of the company, in 1840, Julius 
Way sold out his interest to John Sut- 
lifi:'. Asaph Alerriam sold out in 1843 
to the remaining partners. 

The company had been graduall}' 
growing too large for its diminutive 
quarters in Crow Hollow, and in 1850, 




MANUFACTORIES. 



83 




MANUFACTORIES. 



the land on which the factory now iness. and has i^rown to large propor- 
stands was pnrchased of Lauren Mer- tions. .Vlso, as demanded hv the 
riani. Three years later Alanson trade, various kinds of furniture trim- 
W'atrous hecame interested with the mings have been added, until almost 
company in the iron foundry business anything- in the hardware line required 
and a foundry was built on the land of by manufacturers of furniture can be 

found among the product of this firm. 
bVom its establishment until 1880, 
none of the members of the firm had 
died while a member ; but in Febru- 
ary of that } car. Xelson Merriam, the 
president, was stricken suddenly of 
heart disease, and the late John Sut- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

WILLIAM ZERFASS. 

the company. The business in this de- 
partment was conducted separately un- 
der the firm name of A. W'atrous & 
Co. This branch continued until the 
death of ]\Ir. W'atrous in 1862, wdien 
his interest was bought out by the sur- 
viving members. In 1866 the firm 
was incor])orated as a joint stock com- 
pany with a capital of $80,000. but has 
always been conducted under the old 
firm name. In 1869 the manufacture 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

J. L. RUTHERFORD. 

lift, who had for many years been one 
of the directors, succeeded him as 

president. 



Mr. Sutliff held that office until his 
of drop handles was added to the bus- death, June 22, 1897, when James R. 



86 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Sutliff, who had, since 1887, been vice- 
president, and previous to that the su- 
perintendent of the factory, was elect- 
ed president and held that office until 
his death January 18, 1902. 

Nelson C. Merriam, son of Nelson 
]\Ierriam, was for many years a prom- 
inent factor in the concern and upon 
his death was succeeded as western 
representative by William Zerfass. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

ROBERT J. MEJfRIAM. 

On March 7, 1902, George C. Mer- 
riam, who since 1880 had filled the of- 
fices of secretary and treasurer, was 
elected president ; also retaining the of- 
fice of treasurer. On that date J. L. 
Rutherford was elected secretary, 
and William Zerfass superintendent. 
Shortlv after the decease of Mr. INIer- 



riam who died suddenly March 23, 
1904, William Zerfass was elected 
president, also retaining the office of 
superintendent. Robert J. Merriam 
was then elected to his present office 
as treasurer. 

The present directors of the com- 
pany are as follows : William Zer- 
fass, J. L. Rutherford, Robert J. Mer- 
riam, George E. Savage and Dr. O. A. 
Parker. , 

The business of the company has in- 
creased largely within the past decade 
and several noticeable enlargements 
and additions have been made to the 
plant, which now covers a large area, 
as is shown in the accompanying en- 
graving. Over 350 hands are given 
steady employment and the product of 
the factory is shipped all over the 
world. The goods are made from the 
raw material and every portion of the 
work of producing their large output 
is conducted within the several build- 
ings now occupied. The business adds 
greatly to the prosperity of Meriden ; 
and the product of the factory is 
both creditable to the city and a source 
of pride to its citizens. 

The trade embraces a large terri- 
tory, and there is no state in the Union 
in which cannot be found those who 
rse some of the articles manufactured 
by this concern ; and the trade with 
Canada and other foreign countries is 
no small item. The company has been 
burned out three times partially and 
once wholly ; but the pluck and push 
that always characterized the corpora- 
tion was not disheartened by these ca- 
lamities. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



87 



The company has always been con- 
servative, and changes in help are rare 
occurrences. The employes respect 
their employers ; for they are well 
treated and do faithful w'ork ; and no 
company in the city stands higher in 
the estimation of the public, the em- 
ployes and the trade than Foster, Mer- 
riam & Co. 



THE .MERIDEN FIRE ARMS CO. 



The ^leriden Fire Arms Co. bids 
fair to become Meriden's largest man- 
ufacturing concern. Its owners, 
Sears, Roebuck & Co., of Chicago, 
noted for their splendid achievements, 
liberal business enterprise and world- 
wide trade, are bending their energies 
toward that goal. 

In January of 1905, the nucleus of 
the present company moved to this 
city from Hopkinton, Mass., reorgan- 
izing under the name of The Meriden 
Fire Arms Co., in the old Malleable 
Iron Company's plant in the northern 
part of the city. 

The advent of the new company was 

a happy day for Meriden. The ]\Iallea- 

ble Iron Works had been closed for 

I several years and the buildings were 

I fast falling into decay. Houses w' ere 

[either vacant in the neighborhood of 

the works, or were renting for but a 

poor return on the money invested. 

In the brief space of a year and a half 

ithis has all been changed. The fac- 

ory buildings were overhauled at 

arge expense with a view to house in 

hem hundreds of busv men and a 



thousand fl>ing wheels for the manu- 
facture of guns and revolvers of div- 
ers patterns. It is very difficult to get 
a rent in North Meriden to-day and it 
is said that tlTe price of real estate 
and the value of rents have increased 
tw'enty per cent. 

The formation of the ^Meriden Fire 
Arms Co. was made possible by the 
immense business in guns and pistols 
and the vast capital of Sears, Roe- 
buck & Co. For years past the con- 
cern has found it difficult to get the 
quantity or character of fire arms de- 
manded by a constantly growing and 
exacting trade. The location of the 
works in Meriden is mainly due to its 
vice-president and general manager, 
A. J. Aubrey, an old Meriden boy, 
who, though many years away from 
Meriden, had neither forgotten the 
business advantages of nor the love 
which he had for the old town. 

Mr. Sears, president of the Chica- 
go firm, and Mr. Aubrey came to Mer- 
iden to look the ground over. It had 
been decided that Hopkinton was too 
far removed from the gun-making 
centers to be advantageous in building 
up an extensive gun factory. With 
large gun concerns in Hartford. New 
Haven, Springfield and Norwich, any 
one of a number of towns hereabout 
would make it easy to get in touch 
with gun sentiment and gun workers, 
so essential to the smooth working of 
a large gun enterprise. It was by no 
means settled that Meriden was to be 
selected as the site for the new works. 
Plants in Middlctown and other places 
were available. 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




l^LZ 



MANUFACTORIES. 



89 



The condition of tlie factory build- 
ings in the old jMalleable Iron works 
was so bad that an immediate hitch in 
negotiations for its purchase was oc- 
casioned. The owners receded some 
from their original asking, but thirty 
thousand dollars with the necessary 
large expenditures for repairs to re- 
habilitate the old buildings was still 
considered by Messrs. Sears and Au- 
brey as far above a taking figure. For 
a time it seemed unlikely that the new 
company would locate in Meriden. 
Good sites had been found in New Ha- 
ven and Middlctown with a likelihood 
of their selection far above that of 
the Meriden location. 

At this juncture ^Ir. .Vubrey, anx- 
ious to bring the big works to Aleri- 
den if it were possible, returned to this 
city, determined to make another try 
for the North Meriden plant. The 
owners would not budge from their re- 
duced asking price. It then became a 
question if the people of Meriden 
would ])ermit another city to get a 
concern that would bring several hun- 
dred thousand dollars in annual wages 
to tradespeople and householders and 
a vast prestige to the city as a manu- 
facturing center. Several leading- 
business men of the city were asked 
by Mr. Aubrey if the town would aid 
the company to secure the plant. 

A liasty meeting of the local board 
of trade was called. Mr. Aubrey 
talked the matter over with it, explain- 
ing the position of Sears, Roebuck & 
Co. in the ])remises, their expectations 
as to output of guns and ultimate ex- 
tension of the works till thev should 



be the largest and most distinctive in 
the United States. Mr. Aubrey's 
earnestness and tact caught the board. 
His proposition was not to be passed 
by as was indicated by an immediate 
subscription of more than half the 
amount needed to bring the Sears, 
Roebuck & Co. oft'er up to that de- 
manded by the owners of the desired 
property. The remainder of ten 
thousand dollars asked of the board 
of trade was subscribed the day after 
the memorable meeting with the re- 
sult that the Malleable Iron works 
were turned over to the new owners 
to become again the scene of great ac- 
tivity but in a new business. 

The owners of the concern met in 
Meriden to rechristen their new works. 
Naturally the name became the Meri- 
den Fire Arms Co. The Chicago peo- 
ple were as well pleased over the turn 
in afifairs as were the citizens of Mer- 
iden. With keen outlook they sized 
up the many advantages of their new 
location. Big as the plant was, it was 
but the beginning of a great gun con- 
cern. Acting on that thought, the 
abutting vacant property, running 
nearly two thousand feet along the 
railroad, was purchased, some day to 
be covered by tlie company's factory 
buildings. 

On the loth of January. 1905. the 
"trek" of the works from Ilopkinton 
to ^Meriden ])egan. Just twenty days 
later the old whistle over the power 
house broke the silence of years with 
its call to work ; steam and smoke cir- 
cled again over the buildings and the 
wheels in the long unused shops be- 



90 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



gan to turn for a long career of use- 
fulness and profit, let us hope. 

It is well to record the foregoing 
bit of history, parts of which we be- 
lieve to be prophetic of a futvire of 
large enterprise. 

The Meriden Fire Arms Co. is op- 
erated under a charter obtained in the 
state of Illinois which entitles it to 
capitalize at one hundred and seventy- 
five thousand dollars. The stock is 
held by Sears, Roebuck & Co., the only 
partners being A. J. Aubrey, the gen- 
eral manager and F. A. Stephani, the 
treasurer of the local concern. 

Its way of doing business has led 
the company to equip the factory with 
every labor-saving device known to 
the trade. No machinery has been be- 
yond the reach of the concern. The 
factory buildings are filled wath mod- 
ern machines that, like magic, trans- 
form the rough drop forgings, made 
of the best equality of steel, into a part- 
ly completed product, as smoothly and 
apparently as easily as the modeler 
shapes his wax. 

A large element in the cost of run- 
ning a plant on such lines is that for 
machinery, good at the time, but later 
superseded, which goes to the junk 
man, having outlived the day of its 
usefulness. 

Mr. Aubrey has been connected with 
the company, either as a member of 
the present company or as vice-presi- 
dent of the Hopkinton concern, a year 
and a half. In that short period he has 
been fortunate in securing the Meri- 
den location with all of its promises 
for the future, at the same time the 



output of the works has been nearly 
doubled. In the short space of a year 
new' guns have been invented by him 
and are now on the market. 

The A. J. Aubrey single barrel, 
hammer shot gun is being turned out 
at the rate of over two hundred guns 
a day. The A. J. Aubrey double gun 
is now on the market, superseding the 
old Fryberg gun made at Hopkinton. 
This new sporting fire arm is equal to 
any made in this country or England. 
It is a handsome specimen of the gun- 
n.iakers' art. The lines are beautiful 
in proportion and drop. In that re- 
gard it is perhaps the highest devel- 
opment attained in sporting guns. 
The mechanism of this gun is simple, 
strong and perfect, insuring an easy 
working and reliable arm. It is of the 
popular hammerless kind and is made 
with or without the automatic shell 
ejecting device. 

Another gun bearing ]\Ir. Aubrey's 
name nearly ready for the market is 
the single hammerless. This gun is 
said to be without an equal among its 
kind. Like the double hammerless it 
is fine in its lines and simple and 
strong in its construction. It has sev- 
eral new features that will commend 
it to that class of sportsman who 
want a light gun of the single barrel 
kind which at the same time is high 
grade. 

In addition to the guns mentioned 
above as brought out in the year past 
may be mentioned the small Atlas 
sporting rifle. This rifle takes its 
place with a number of similar guns 
popular with young sportsmen. 



A 



MANUFAt TOKIHS. 



91 




z 2 

1x S 




92 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



A well equipped pistol factory is 
connected with the business. Twen- 
ty varieties of hammer and hammer- 
less pistols are manufactured with an 
output in January, 1906, of a hundred 
pistols a day. 

Everything points to a wide open 
future for the company. Meriden is 
to be congratulated that it is here. It 
is a matter of the largest concern to 
the city that its full ambitions shall be 
reached. 

Albert James Aubrey, vice presi- 
dent and general manager of the j\Ier- 
iden Fire Arms Co., was born in Hart- 
ford, Conn., February 23, 1863. His 
parents, John and JMary Aubrey, re- 
moved to Meriden when he was three 
years of age. Flere he grew to man- 
hood, living in Meriden continuously 
until he was twenty-one years of age. 
His early education was obtained in 
the public schools, the first school-he 
attended being the East district, locat- 
ed on the Middletown road, near the 
Parker spoon factory. When ]\Ir. 
Aubrey was eight years old his pa- 
rents purchased the old Yale farm sit- 
uated on East Alain street. He then 
attended the Center school on Parker 
avenue. After graduating from this 
school he entered the employ of the 
Parker Gun Co. and has been identi- 
fied with the gun business up to the 
present time, being associated wuth 
several of the largest gun concerns in 
the United States. 

On July I, 1904. Mr. Aubrey en- 
gaged as general manager with Sears, 
Roebuck & Company, in Hopkinton, 
Mass. 



Mr. Aubrey is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity. His immediate fam- 
ily consists of his wife, nee Pilanche 
E. Boomer, whom he married in Ful- 
ton, N. Y., November 25, 1891, and 
a daughter, Clara May Aubrey. 
Others of his family now residing in 
Meriden, are a brother, Alfred John 
Aubrey, formerly a clergyman of the 
Unversalist denomination, now super- 
intendent of the pistol department of 
the ]\Ieriden Fire Arms Co. ; two sis- 
ters, Mrs. F. W. Stiles and Mrs. A. 
W. Proudman. His father, John Au- 
brey, who is over eighty years of age, 
makes his home with him. He has 
also a brother, W. H. Aubrey, a steel 
engraver, residing in Syracuse, N. Y. 



MANNING, BOWMAN & CO. 



The history of the present large 
manufacturing concern of Manning. 
Bowman & Co., which has for many 
years added to the importance of Mer- 
iden as an industrial center, dates back 
over forty years to Middletown, Conn., 
where the company was organized and 
the first goods bearing its name were 
made. The company requiring in- 
creased capital for the successful con- 
duct of its business, interested such 
public spirited Meriden citizens as 
Horace C. Wilcox, Isaac C. Lewis and 
George R. Curtis, with the result that 
in 1872 the concern removed to its 
present location in Meriden. After 
becoming a ]\Ieriden enterprise the 
board of directors w^as organized by 
the election of Messrs. Wilcox. Lew- 



i 



MANUFACTORIES. 



93 



s, and Curtis, with the addition of 
OS. H. Parsons, Edward B. Manning, 
iobert Bowman and Edward Furniss. 
rhe officers elected were : Edward B. 
planning, president ; Robert Bowman, 
ecretary and treasurer. Other large 
tockholders at that time were W. W. 
.yman and Lemuel J. Curtis. 



iden, covered but a small portion of 
the large triangular area, formed by 
Pratt, Miller and Catlin streets, the 
whole of which is now occupied by 
the factory of the company. At first 
only fifty hands were employed. 
From this small start has developed 
the present imposing plant which has 




FACTORY OF MANxXIXG, ]',OWMAN & CO. IX 18/2. 



' In 1872 a small wooden building, 
ireviously occupied by the Parker & 
Hasper Co., who had been making sil- 
'sr plated ware, but who were at 
bout that time absorbed by the Wil- 
<|x Silver Plate Co.. became the home 
'* Manning, Bowman & Co. The 
iist quarters of this company in ]\Ier- 



a frontage on three streets of i.ooo 
feet, an excellent illustration being 
shown on the following page. 

i'he product of the factory has been 
noticeably changed within the past 
decade. A large volume of the orig- 
inal output was mounted enameled 
ware, britannia, planished tin and cop- 



MANUFACTORIES. 



95 



per goods. As far back as the Cen- 
tennial of 1876, the company had 
world's fair exhibits of its goods, 
which included their first enameled tea 
and coffee pots with white metal 
mountings. The company secured 
medals for these goods at the Centen- 
nial Exposition in Philadelphia and 
were also awarded prizes at other sim- 
ilar exhibits. The company's enameled 
wares with patented metal mountings 
rapidly gained popularity. 

In 1898 George E. Say#^e, who had 
for twenty-five years Been.^ associated 
with the Meriden Britan^a Co., be- 
came the active head of t-he business 
as president, treasurer and general 
manager. In 1900 Albert L. Stetson 
was elected secretary, which ofiice he 
still holds. The output of the factory 
at the present day consists largely of 
chafing dishes. Meteor coft'ee perco- 
lators, prize trophies of varied and 
beautiful design, including those in 
solid copper with English pewter 
mountings ; plated table ware and a 
full line of bath room furnishings. 
The chafing dishes of this company 
have become famous, especially 
those with the patented 'Tvory Enam- 
eled" food pan, which can be applied 
to any chafing dish, making a clean, 
ttractive and desirable article. The 
roduct of the factory is not excelled 
n beauty and durability by the output 
f any similar establishment. Repeated 
nlargements of the factory have been 
lade and new machinery has been 
urchased to keep pace with the con- 
' Itantly increasing demand for its 
oods. An equipment enabling the 



company to generate its own electric- 
ity for lighting and power purposes 
has been installed and the large plant 
has been fitted with an adequate fire 
sprinkling system. The latest article 
of manufacture is the celebrated 
"Eclipse" bread kneader and mixer, 
which practical and economical house- 
hold labor-saving device is made in a 
separate building completely equipped 
for that purpose w'ith special machin- 
ery recently installed, the latest and 
best procurable. 

The present board of directors com- 
prises: George H. Wilcox, George AI. 
Curtis, Samuel Dodd, George Rock- 
well, George E. Savage, Albert L. 
Stetson and William L. Mirrielees. 

In addition to extensively fitted up 
show rooms at their factory, the com- 
pau}' have salesrooms in the Crock- 
ery Exchange building, at 25 \\'est 
Broadway, New York, and in the 
North American building, corner of 
State and Monroe streets, Chicago, 
with agencies in San Francisco, Cal., 
and London, England. 

George Edwin Savage, president of 
Manning, Bowman & Co., has for 
many }ears been one of the most fa- 
miliar figures of local manufacturing 
circles. He is the son of Edw'in and 
Frances Sophia (W^ilcox) Savage and 
was born in Berlin, Conn., February 
27, 1851. He is a worthy descendant 
of one of the oldest families in Con- 
necticut, from 1652, when John Sav- 
age became one of the original 
settlers of Middletown, Conn. 

From the New England Historical 
Record it is found that in 1674 John 



96 



A CENTURY OF JSIERIDEN. 




GEORGE E. SAVAGE. 



:maxufactories. 



97 



Savage possessed 1,207 acres of land 
bordering on the Connecticut river 
and that his name is seventh on the 
Hst of the members who organized the 
First Congregational church of that 
town. The family name has ever 
since been a common one in this sec- 
tion of the state. He is a great grand- 
son of Seth Savage, who was corporal 
in the Revolutionary War. 

George E, Savage began his busi- 
ness life at the age of seventeen, for 
it was upon the advice of his uncle, 
the late Horace C. Wilcox, that he 
left his father's farm in Berlin before 
he had fully completed his education 
at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, 
.Mass., and associated himself with the 
Meriden Britannia Company. There 
by close application and keen observa- 
titon, he obtained a thorough knowl- 
etlge of the silver ware business and 
soon after was given the management 
of the !Meriden salesrooms of that com- 
pany, which position he occupied for 
nearly a quarter of a century, until 
prevailed upon by the officers of the 
Meriden Britannia Co. to accept the 
position of general manager of Alan- 
ning Bowman & Co. With the last 
named concern, Mr. Savage has been 
a potent factor in its recent remark- 
able growth, and previouslv having 
been one of the directors, in 1898 was 
elected president and treasurer, both 
of which offices he has since filled. 

He is also one of the directors of 
Foster, Merriam & Co., and for some 
years has been a director in both the 
Meriden Savings bank and the ]\Ieri- 
den National bank. He is well known 
47 



in social life, being a member of the 
Home Club of Meriden, and of 
Captain John Couch Branch, Sons of 
the American Revolution, and is a man 
of marked executive ability. He is 
much interested in church matters, be- 
ing a member and one of the trustees 
of the First Congregational church. 

He was married in Meriden June 9, 
1875, to Charlotte P., daughter of Al- 
bert Foster, one of the founders of 
Foster, Merriam & Co., and from that 
marriage there is now living one son, 
Albert Wilcox Savage, born June 16, 
1889. Mr. Savage is known as a man 
of strong personality, sound judgment 
and a most loval citizen of ]\Ieriden. 



CONN. TEL. & ELEC. COMPANY. 



This fast growing manufacturing 
concern, wdiose busy plant is located 
on Britannia street, and the rear of 
Avhose factory adjoins the tracks of 
the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., is the 
result of the small start UMde by 
E. C. ^\'ilcox in 1893. In 1894, B. 
L. Lawton entered into partnership 
with ^Ir. Wilcox. It was at that com- 
])arative]\' recent date that the foun- 
dation of the present Itusiness was laid 
in a small portion of the jilant of the 
^NFeridcn MaIUa])!e Iron Ci>m]);ui\-. 
In 1902 the business of the firm had 
so increased that they were warrant- 
ed in purchasing the present factory, 
which had previousl\- l.)een occupied 
by the I'ond Harness Com])any. and 
on March 1. U)0J,. were incorporate<l 
with a capital .stock of $36,000, but 
which, by another act of the legisla- 



98 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



ture, has since been increased to $45.- 
000. Since the concern became incor- 
porated, the officers have been as fol- 
lows : 

E. C. Wilcox, president ; B. L. Law- 
ton, vice-president and treasurer, and 
B. C. Rogers, secretary, all of whom 
are natives of Meriden. 

The high quality of their product, 
which comprises telephones, telephone 
switch-boards, and electrical supplies, 
has placed them in the position of the 




E. C. WILCOX. 

largest manufacturers of their goods 
in this section of the country. Their 
plant has been several times enlarged 
and improved since they removed to 
the present factory buildings. 

They make everything in their line 
from the raw material to the finished 
product. Among their latest triumphs 
is an inter-communicating telephone 
for interior use in buildings, which 
furnishes in itself, by pressing but- 
tons, complete exchange connections, 
with all parts of the building, and re- 



leases the same automatically, and 
comprises the only successful system 
of its kind of the present age. The 




B. L. LAWTON. 



company are also turning out a new 
spark coil apparatus, the use of which 
is exceedingly advantageous when ap- 
plied to automobiles. Seventy-five 




B. C. ROGERS. 



hands on the average are employed 
and the business is now on such a firm 
basis that steady work is the rule. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



99 



J. D. BERGEN CO. 



Prominent among the industries 
>liich have made Meriden famous in 
lie state of Connecticut is the cut 
lass manufacturing estabhshment of 
lie T. D. Bergen Company, formerly 
)cated on Miller street. This factory 
ad been operated to its fullest capac- 
;v for many years, and its product 
old throughout the entire United 
itates and in many foreign countries. 
^lie aim of the J. D. Bergen Co. has 
•een to produce a line of cut glass 
rhich shall sell, not only during the 
oliday seasons, but through the en- 
ire year. This has been accoui- 
lished by keeping always in mind the 
opular price feature, which has be- 




PRESIDEXT TAMES D. BERGEN 



come so infimately associated with 
the Bergen product that in the e}"es 
of the trade "Bergen Cut Glass" and 
"Popular Price'' is to-day synony- 
mous. 

The present factory is the outgrowth 
of a venture having its inception in a 
partnership formed by James D. Ber- 
gen, the founder and present Presi- 
dent and Treasurer of the J. D. Ber- 
gen Co., early in 1880 under the 
style of Bergen & Niland. The prin- 
cipal business of the young firm at 
that time w^as the production of the 
caster bottles, then so much in vogue. 
A working arrangement with the 
jMeriden Britannia Co. helped matters 
along with the new firm, and the bus- 
iness was successfully conducted for a 
period of about five years. J. D. 
Bergen, at the end of that period, 
seeing greater opportunities before 
him, purchased out the interests of 
his partner, and early in 1892 made 
a stock company of the business, 
forming the J. D. Bergen Company, 
with a capital stock of $40,000, sub- 
sequently increased to $60,000. It is 
of interest to note that the first board 
of directors included such men as 
Clarence P. P)ra(Iley, C. Berry Peets. V.. 
J. Doolittle and C. E. Stockder, Jr. 
To-day, thirteen years later, JNIessrs. 
Bradley, Doolittle, Peets and Stock- 
der are still actively interested in the 
concern, and supplementing their ef- 
forts is N. L. Bradley, of the Bradley 
& Hubbard Mfg. Co., who is to-day 
also in the directorate. 

The J. D. Bergen Co. employs a 
force of a])proNimately 200 lianils at 



loo 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




J. VAL. EERGEN. 



its Meriden plant, 
maintains offices 
and show rooms in 
New York and in 
Chicago, and resi- 
dent agents at Bos- 
ton, Baltimore and 
all other principal 
cities of the United 
States. In addi- 
tion to the regnlar 
traveling force, 
Mr. Bergen's two sons, J. Valentine 
Bergen and W. Tracy Bergen (who 
cover the sonth and middle west re- 
spectively), the Bergen Company 
maintains traveling representatives in 
the far West in the United States, and 
foreign representatives who take in 
practically all of Asia and Oceanica. 
There is also a resident agent in the 
citv of Mexico and in Honolulu. 

The product of the J. D. Bergen 
Company, while well known for many 
years, is constantly increasing in fa- 
vor among discriminating purchasers. 
This is perhaps due to the fact that 
its product is the legitimate expres- 
sion of a manager and subordinates 
w'ho have practically been bred and 
born in the cut glass business. With 
this in mind, it cannot be any sur- 
prise to the reader to learn that the 
factory was usually oversold early in 
the fall, and, as a matter of fact, the 
Bergen Company has been unable to 
till all its orders during the last few 
months of the year for at least half a 
dozen years past. This fact, and the 
opportunity offered to purchase the 
large five-stor\' brick plant at Center 



and Britannia streets, a few month 
ago, has resulted in the acquiremen 
by the Bergen Company of the large! 
plant, an excellent view of whicl 
appears on the opposite page. Th» 
new location, where much greatei 
facilities are enjoyed, was firs; 
occupied in March, 1906. Th(: 
plant now occupied is one formeri\l 
used by one of the local indiisj 
tries and is admirably situated fm 
the large business I 

now being there 
carried on b\' the 
J. D. Bergen Com- 
pany, as it possess- 
es not only more 
lloor space but ex- 
cellent railroad ac- 
commodations, the 
factory • fronting 
on the main line of 
the X. v.. X. H. & 
H. R. R., a private spur track fmiiiii 
which extends alongside the factory. 

Each department of the factor} .| 
while under the personal supervisioiij 
and management of James D. Bergen.! 
is under the superintendence of man-|i 
agers who have satisfactorily demon- 
strated their entire ability for their re- 
spective positions. The result is that 
the product of the Bergen Company, j 
as ofifered on the market, is all that iti 
should be. and holds high rank in tbc^ 
cut glass industry. This art, in which ' 
the American workman, perhaps by 
reason of his superior deftness, seems 
to excel those of all other nations, has 
nowhere reached the excellence that 
it has in the United States 




\V. TRACV KERGEX 



102 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



THE M. B. SCHENCK CO. 



The inception of the M. B. Schenck 
Co. was in 1881 when the present 
president of the company began the 
manufacture of a line of double wheel 



The fifteen years intervening be- 
tween the close of the war and the 
above date were devoted by Mr. 
Schenck to the hardware trade in Ful- 
ton, N. Y., his native town. 

This had not only qualified him a- 








MANUFACTURING PLANT OF THE M. B. SCHENCK CO. 



casters of his own invention, suitable 
in their sizes and varieties for furni- 
ture and trucks. For nearly twenty- 
five years they have been known the 
world over as the Yale caster. 



a merchant but had given him a prac- 
tical knowledge of the requirements 
of the trade which later on has proven 
an exceedingly valuable asset. 

While fairlv successful in his bus- 



A 



MANUFACTORIES. 



103 



iness, it was limited by existing con- 
ditions, and could not be enlarged to 
cover the broader field to which his 
laudable ambition aspired. 

With his invention as a nucleus, he 
sold out his business and came to New 
Haven in 1882, to learn the new and 
untried life of a manufacturer. 

At the end of a five years' struggle, 



1891, in company with his son, \\\ A. 
Schenck, they bought the Beecher 
-Mfg. Co. plant which has since been 
brought to a high state of perfection. 

The i:)lant extends 600 feet along the 
main line of the X. Y., N. H. & H. 
R. R., which aft'ords excellent advan- 
tages for a manufacturing business. 

In 1897, it was incorporated with 




M. B. SCIIENCK. 



with inex]X'riencc, insufficient active 

licapital, ])atent lawsuits and discourage- 

jments almost overwhelming, and just 

s the tide was turning in his favor, a 

lestructive fire swept away a very im- 

'ortant part of his business. 

Inducements, seemingly promising, 
|)rought him to Aleriden in 1887. In 



M. B. Schenck as jn-csident, W. A. 
Schenck as sccretar\-, treasurer and 
general su])crinten(lcnt. 

Five distinct and exceedingly popu- 
lar lines of casters, all the product of 
Mr. Schenck's inveniive talent, are 
now made and the business has grown 
to large proportions. 



I04 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



M. B. SCHENCK. 



Martin B. Schenck was born April 
29, 1838, in Fulton, New York. He 
was brought up on his father's farm, 
educated in the common schools 



the rebellion, and from 1865 to 18S1 
was engaged in mercantile pursui<s. 
He came to New Haven, Conn., in 
1882 but five years later his factory 
was burned out and he came to Meri- 
den. 




RESIDENCE OF M. B. SCHENCK, BROAD STREET. 

and in Falley Seminary, Fulton, N. Y. In creed he is a ^lethodist ; in pol- 

In the years following he taught itics a Republican, from the birth of 

school learned the builder's trade, the party. He is a devoted member of 

served from 1862 to 1865 in the 147th ^lerriam Post, No. 8, Grand Army of 

Regiment, N. Y. \'ols., in the war of the Republic, and a manufacturer. 




MANUFACTORIES. 



105 



He was an active "Wide Awake" 
1 the campaign of i860, cast his first 
residential vote that year for Lincohi 
nd again four years later, sending his 
allot home from the army in an en- 
elope. 

His experiences the last fifty years 
ave been exceedingly varied, inter- 
stmg and instructive. He is a lover 
f choice literature and has traveled 
sctensivelv in his own country and 
)road. 

His pleasant home on Broad street, 
irrounded by well-kept grounds, 

one of the most desirable locations 
1 the city. It stands at an elevation 
t 135 feet above the business portion 
t" the city, away from the throb and 
hir of its many great industries and 
iinmands a view of city, park and 
ountain range rarely equaled in the 
any beautiful, busy cities of Connec- 
i-ut. 

Mr. Schenck is, on his father's side, 
i pure old New York Knickerbocker 
utch blood, and belongs to the ninth 
.-neration in this country. 

His first ancestor of his name in this 
luntry was Roelof ]\Iartense Schenck 
ho came from Holland in 1650, and 
arried, in 1660, Xeeltje Gerretse van 
nuwenlioven (now called Conover) 
Ihose grandfather came from Holland 

1630. Thev all settled in New Am- 
i-rdam, later in Flatlands, now Brook- 
in. and were prominent among the 
i^)llanders in New^ York under the old 
Iplch regime. 

His mother's first American an- 
:kor, Newman Perkins, came from 
l!igland with Roger Williams, and 



finally settled with him in Rhode Island. 
He is of the sixth generation in 
this countr}- in this line. Descendants 
from these families inheriting the 
sturdy equalities of their ancestors, 
have been prominent in business, social 
and political circles all along the line 
from the earliest times. Through all 
the great wars from the revolution 
down to the present time, each gener- 
ation has filled its full quota, always 
regarding loyalty to high civic princi- 
ples as the paramount duty of the 
American citizen. 



^lERIDEN GAS LIGHT CO. 



Aleriden has been well provided 
with gas by the above public service 
corporation since 1863, when the com- 
pany received its charter from the 
Connecticut Legislature. The busi- 
ness has always been conducted by 
]Meriden men and local capital, and 
during its entire history the company 
has furnished pure coal gas. 

The first plant occupied was that 
which stood on the site of the pres- 
ent plant of the Meriden l-'lectric 
Light Company on South Colony 
street. The original gas works suf- 
ficed for the needs of the town for 
some years. The company began bus- 
iness with a capital stock of $35,000, 
but this has been since gradually in- 
creased to $350,000. 

The first cost of gas to the peoj^le 
of ]\Ieri(len was $4.65 a thousand feet. 
As a result of that necessarily high 
])rice, gas was then principally used for 
illuminating purposes and largely by 



MANUFACTORIES. 



107 



people of means. Happil\- for the 
housekeeper of the present day the 
charge per thousand feet made by the 
company, makes gas an economical as 
well as labor and time-saving fuel. 
The passing of time only has made 
possible a gradual reduction in the 
lirice of gas ; so that it has finally be- 
come generally and even liberally used 
in Meriden. By 1874 the demands 
were such that the company, after 
erecting a new and larger plant on 
Cooper street, abandoned the former 
location for their new one. From 
that time to the present, and more es- 
pecially within the past decade, new 
i)uil(lings have been erected on the 
property, which covers several acres ; 
until the works comprise, in 1906, one 
of the best ecjuipped in all New Eng- 
land. Among notable improvements 
is the acquisition of a giant gas hold- 
er. Previous to the construction of 
this gasometer the gas holding capac- 
ity of the plant was but 200,000 cubic 
feet. A new building for purifying 
gas and another for the office and sta- 
tion meters have also been added with- 
in recent years. The plant now con- 
sists of a retort house ; exhauster, con- 
denser and washer building ; purifying 
building ; a holder of 200.000 cubic 
feet capacity ; and a steel gasometer, 
100 feet in height, capable of holding 
700,000 cubic feet. There is also a 
governor house which regulates auto- 
matically the pressure in the gas 
mains ; and coal sheds of generous ca- 
pacity adjoin the tracks of the N. 
v.. N. H. & H. R. R. The manufac- 
turing and distributing force is thir- 



ty-five men. The annual output is 
100,000,000 cubic feet. 

During the past eleven years the 
company has reduced the price of gas 
from $1.80 to $1.25 net per thousand 
feet ; these reductions having been en- 
tirely voluntary on the part of the 
company, have been appreciated by the 
public and resulted in the freer use of 
gas, there being, in 1906, 4,800 met- 
ers in use. Large additions to the 
street mains have recently been made 
and there are now forty-five miles of 
pipe laid, covering practically every 
street and avenue in the city limits, 
and, to a certain extent, beyond. 

The late James A. Hadley was su- 
perintendent of the plant from the 
commencement of business by the 
company until his death which oc- 
curred in October, 1895. The present 
superintendent and manager has 
served in that dual capacity since Alay, 
1896. 

The officers of the company are: 
President, Walter Hubbard ; secretary 
and treasurer, Samuel Dodd ; mana- 
ger and superintendent, Charles A. 
Learned. The above officers with 
Charles F. Linsley, George 'M. Curtis, 
E. J. Doolittle and F. C. Sherman, 
comprise the board of directors. 



MERIDEN ELECTRIC LI( ;i IT CO. 



While electric lighting was in vogue 
some years previous to 1887. it was 
in that year that the above company 
was organized by charter from the 
state legislature, the capital stock then 
being $25,000. The station, at that 



MANUFACTORIES. 



109 



time purchased from the old company, 
was located on State street and passa- 
ble service was rendered the public. 
The equipment consisted of two 100 
h. p. boilers ; two engines of the same 
cai)acity and two fifty arc light dyna- 
mos, thirty-seven of wdiich were de- 
voted to city street lighting. 

The enterprise of the new compan\' 
soon began to assert itself ; for by in- 
creasing the capital stock to $50,000, 
a new ])ower station was erected on 
."^outh Colony street on the land wdiere 
once had stood the buildings of the gas 
company. In 1902 the electric light 
station was thoroughly remodeled and 
made practically fireproof, the capital 
being then increased to $200,000. All 
the old engines were removed and 
compound condensing engines of i.ioo 
horse ])ower substituted which are di- 
rectly connected with the dynamos. 
Xew steam boilers of 750 horse power 
have also been installed giving the sta- 
tion a combined machine capacity of 
750 K. ^V^ For some years the com- 
pany has furnished a twenty-four hour 
service for both light and power, the 
rate being 12 1-2 cents per K. W. for 
lighting; and for power from 10 cents 
to 5 cents per K. W.. according to the 
quantity used. The company has al- 
ways supplied the municipality with 
street light; and in 1906 furnish 200 
arc lights for that purpose ; 8,000 in- 
candescent lights of sixteen candle 
power are also supplied from the sta- 
tion and considerable power for man- 
[ufacturing and other purposes. With 
|its service the company covers the city 
)roper most cffectivclv and the same 



is rarely complained of but com- 
pares favorably with that of any pro- 
gressive New England city. Since 1887 
the local electric light company has 
been under a management whose offi- 
cers and directors have been the same 
as those of the JMeriden Gas Light 
Company ; yet a friendly rivalry exists 
between the two com])anies. for the 
business is kept entirely separate. 

James A. Hadley, during the latter 
years of his life, was the superinten- 
dent ; but since 1896 Charles A. 
Learned has held the office of general 
superintendent. The officers and di- 
rectors are recorded previously in the 
description of the ]\[eriden Gas Light 
Company. 



CURTIS S-W AY COM I'AXV 



From its remarkable growth during 
the past six vears, for since 1899 only 
has it been under its present manage- 
ment, the Curtiss-Way Com])any has 
added more than its full quota to the 
good name of Meriden as a manufac- 
turing center. This company, whose 
now extensive ])lant, covering more 
than one acre of floor space, located 
on Pratt street, was materially en- 
larged in i<;05 and the forma) (i])en- 
ing after the marked changes had been 
made, occurred Xovember 20 of that 
\ear. The accom])anying illustration 
gives an excellent and truthful repre- 
sentation of the extensive i)rintery. the 
])roduct of which comprises a most 
varied and extensive line, not only of 
book, job and mercantile printing, but 
advertising novelties, calendars, mem- 



110 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



oranduni and other books. The com- 
pany also runs its own electrotyping 
plant, does its own paper ruling and 
also its own book and pamphlet bind- 
ing, being thoroughly equipped to turn 




Photo by Akers & Pigeou. 

JAS. A. CURTISS. 

out complete the work undertaken by 
the busy concern. 

The business was first established 
about 1880 b_\- A. J. Converse, and 
after having been conducted by him 
for some years, was acquired by 
James A. Curtiss, a prominent busi- 
ness man and wholesale grocer of this 
•city, who formed a company known as 
the Converse Publishing Company, 
which was managed by Mr. Converse 
until his retirement in 1899. It was 
in that year that the present company 
was organized, the principal stock- 



holders being James A. Curtiss and 
William H. Way, the former who had 
become extensively concerned finan- 
cially, and the latter who had been su- 
perintendent of the plant since 1891, 
and whose names the corporation has 
since borne. 

At that time but thirty hands were 
employed and the plant was a dimin- 
utive afifair compared to that of the 
present date, which comprises one of 
the largest and best of its kind in New 
England and gives employment to 
over 100 hands. The assets of the 
company, including the new plant, are 




W. H. WAV. 



in excess of $100,000 and the capital 
stock is $50,000. 

The company has its own separate 
power house, and is equipped with a 
forty horse-power Twiss engine and a 



MANUFACTORIES. 



Ill 



ctv horse-power Bigelow steam 
iler. Tlie power plant is. therefore, 

ample capacity for the machinery 
(1 heating', and is also sufficient for 
ncrating electricity for lighting, and 
i company will soon install machin- 
k- for the latter purpose. With the 
\v three story hrick addition to the 
:tory, the company have buildings 

feet long by 130 feet deep, all of 
lich have been purchased by them 
rough the legitimate profits of an 
norably conducted business during 
? past six years. This success has 
en in a great measure due to the 
ecutive ability of ^Ir. Way, who by 
; indomitable energy and business 
Limen, has brought the business to 

present happy state. 
The Curtiss-\\'ay Company employ 
;ht to ten traveling men and have a 
iw room at 335 Broadway, New 
irk City, and another on East Main 
eet, \\'aterbury. Conn. The work 
lanating from this complete printing" 
mt. is shipped to every state east of 
.\Iississi])pi river, and its reputa- 
II for twentieth century work and 
lity to compete with the largest 
[icerns in the country are well known 
jthe trade. Xot only has the Cur- 
if-\\'ay Company a reputation for 
''ng a most successful competitor for 
if^e contracts in the printing and ad- 
•stising novelty line but they have the 
Kne of completing and shipping 
hjr orders when promised. This re- 
Phsibility rests largely upon the su- 
dntendent, ¥. Ad. Gehring, who as- 
Mjed that position in 1902, having 
i"riouslv been associated with a larcfe 



printing concern in Holxoke, Mass. 
Mr. Gehring, like ]\Ir. Way, is a thor- 
oughly practical printer and under- 
stands not onl}- the handling of a large 
force of employees without friction, 
but has the faculty for making all 
things count for the good of the con- 
cern, which invariably reverts to the 
benefit of the customer. 

The plant is kept scrupulously neat 
and clean at all times and a higher 
class of hands are there employed 
than in the ordinary printing office. 
There are also recognized heads of all 
of the several difl:'erent departments 
and wasted time is an unknown quan- 
tity at this plant. The cylinder press 
room contains a large number of au- 
tomatic feed, perfecting and cylinder 
and job presses which never cease, 
only at the blowing of the whistle, and 
oftentimes diiTerent departments of 
the plant are obliged to run overtime. 
The composing room comprises an un- 
usually large, well ventilated and light- 
ed department and the number of com- 
positors alone there em])loyed would 
make a most respectable payroll for 
a common printing estaljlishment. In 
addition to the large number of hand 
compositors, they have a monotype 
plant which makes and sets its own 
tvpe and is used largely in book and 
catalog contracts. The paper ruling 
room possesses a number of the 
Hickox Automatic Strike Ruling Ma- 
chines, which the Curtiss-Way Com- 
])any find especially useful in their or- 
ders of railroad and express company 
forms and blanks, of which they are 
extensive manufacturers. 



112 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Included in the product of the com- 
pany are also a large and varied as- 
sortment of calendars and calendar 
pads, and in advertising novelties are, 
aluminum trays, mirrors, match safes, 
memorandum books, fancy blotters, 
paper weights, whiskbroom holders, 
fans, yard sticks, lead pencils, import- 
ed calendars, and a great varietv of 



Aleriden, for they are most handsoiiK 
ly finished in natural color hard woo( 
and do credit to the good taste of {]■ 
concern. The high studded ceiling ' 
supported by steel girders and ther 
are no posts to obstruct the office fore 
in their movements. Xew and ham 
some furniture harmonizing ])erfectl,' 
with the woodwork "ives a mo.-; 



'%g^- 




PLANT OF THE CURTIS.S-WAY COMPANY, 



Other novelties used extensively by the 
trade for advertising purposes, of 
which space forbids only this partial 
enumeration. 

The large offices of the Curtiss- 
Way Compan}', which are now con- 
tained in the new three story brick ad- 
dition, are a source of local pride to 



pleasing impression to the visitor anc, 
every modern method for facilitating, 
business is immediately at hand. \ 
private telephone system connecti; 
with every department of the busy 
plant, thus bringing the office in clos-,; 
est touch with every portion of its 
working force. There are private of- 



MAXUFACTORI! 



"3 



tices for the manager, stenographer 
and bookkeeper, and a most attractive 
show room exhibits the pleasing" and 
satisfactory work executed. 

W. H. W'av, secretary and manager, 
is a native of Ashiield, Mass. His pa- 
rents removed to IMeriden with him 
when he was four }ears of age and he 
was educated in the Aleriden pubHc 
schools. From the age of twentw he 
las been continuously engaged in the 
|ob j)rintin-;;" and newspaper business. 
I'revious to becoming associated with 
he company of which he is now man- 
iger, he was engaged in his present 
ine of business in Massachusetts. Mr. 
A'ay is a man of rare executive abil- 
ty. and the growth of the Curtiss- 
A'ay Company is most substantial evi- 
lence of that necessary qualification 
"I success. 



lll-J.MSCHMIED MFG. CO. 



One of the industries of Aleriden, 

le product of which adds fame to 

ie town, is that carried on by the 

lelmschmied Alfg. Co., wdiose fac- 

)ry is located on Reseivoir avenue. 

C. \'. Hehr.schmied, the founder and 

fesident, was born October 30. 1863, 

I Steinschoenua, r>ohemia, where a 

nimon school education was fol- 

A-ed by a course at the Imperial 

chnical school of his native town. 

s marked tendency toward artistic 

{•rk was fostered by his training 

1 was a vital factor in its develop- 

nt and growth, but he felt that the 

hd was too confined for a realiza- 

48 



tion of his struggling ideals. There 
was an America beyond the seas 
where ambitions were nouri.'^hed and 
talent recognized. The price he set 
on his own ability stimulated him 
to leave Bohemia and seek the sea- 
coast where he embarked for the 
United States. 

Mr. Helmschmied was emploved in 
several cities before coming to Meri- 
den. Directly after landing in New 
York he went to New Bedford, Mass., 
wdiere he became a designer for Smith 
Bros., manufacturers of decorated 
opal ware ; at the end of two years 
he went to Trenton, X. J., and 
worked for Jesse Dean at china 
]:)ainting ; two more years were spent 
in Xew Bedford with the Mount 
\\^ashington Glass Company as de- 
signer. 

Mr. Helmschmied's talents as a de- 
signer were recognized when he en- 
tered the employ of C. F. Monroe in 
1886. He aimed at the best and con- 
stantly strove to live up to that aim. 
When the C. F. Monroe Company 
became incorporated he became a 
stockholder and \\as made superin- 
tendent of the ])lant and he was also 
the leading designer there for six- 
teen years. He withdrew from Mon- 
roe's in January. n;n3, o])cned his 
own factory and began to manufac- 
ture for himself. The corporation 
known as tlu' [lelmschmied Mfg. Co., 
of which he is ]iresident and treasur- 
er, was incor])(jrated in the fall of 
1904. the ca]Mtal stock of which was 
increased to $10,000 in the sj^ring of 
i<;o5. C"olonial glass novelties and 



114 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 




n 



1 



MANUFACTORIES. 



115 



letal ornaments comprising shades, 
ises. and other decorated ware from 
lank glass have since been added to 
le product. 

The factory on Reservoir avenue 

a busy center where the finest kind 

f decorated ware is turned out. The 

cods are sold direct from the fac- 

)rv and the New York office is at 



CONN. BREWERIES COAIPANV. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

C. y. HELMSCHMIED. 

53 Broadwax'. (~)wing to an in- 
easing demand for the ware Mr. 
elmschmeid now contemplates erect- 
g a new factory, having interested 
cal investors in the project. 

Mr. Helmchmied is a member of 
e Colonial club of Meriden and in 

litics is a Republican. 



A manufacturing plant that for 
many years has added to the volume 
of local business is that of the Meri- 
den branch of the Connecticut Brew- 
eries Company and which was for 
some years, and until 1890, conducted 
by the Meriden Brewing Comi)any. 
It was at that time that the business 
of the Meriden IJrewing Company 
was consolidated with that of A. 
Wintter & Co., who conducted a sim- 
ilar plant at Bridgeport and the cor- 
poration was formed, known as the 
Connecticut Breweries Company. 
The company was organized with 
many of its employes as stockholders 
and with a- paid in ca])ital stock of 
$700,000 which amount is far less 
than the present value of its two large 
plants. 

Since the formation of the jiresent 
company the officers have changed 
somewhat owing to deaths which 
have occurred. The president, Peter 
\\\ Wren, of Bridgeport, has presid- 
ed over the deliberations of the board 
of directors, however, fmm the be- 
ginning to the present time and un- 
der his leadership the business has 
steadily increased yearly. Within re- 
cent years and owing to the deaths of 
T. H. McMahon. the former general 
manager, and A. Wintter. the latter 
who until his decease, held the office 
of secretary and treasurer, Mr. Wren 
has had added to his duties those of 
treasurer and general manager. The 
vice-president is John A. Hurley, who 



ii6 



A CEXTURV OF MERIDEX. 




MANUFACTor<I]:S. 



ii: 



is cspccialK' well known in Aleriden, 
liavinjj been formerly manager of the 
Meriden branch. 

|. 11. McMahon, son of the de- 
ceased general manager, is the sec- 
retary of the company. The present 
manager of the ]\Ieriden branch of the 
C()m])any. Michael F. Sullivan, suc- 
ceeded Robert J. Veit, the former 



The .Meriden plant is admirably sit- 
uated for the manufacture and distri- 
bution of its product, being located on 
South Colony street, the rear of the 
brewing buildings adjoining the main 
line of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., 
and from which a side track brings 
excellent shipping facilities innne- 
diatelv at hand. 




Photo by R. S Godfrey. 

KETTLE FLOOR, CONNECTICUT BREW 



ES CO. 



nanager, in December, 1903. The 
i'resent manager of the local plant is 
' resident of Xew Haven and previous 
p coming to Meriden was associated 
'^ith the Yale Brewing Compan\-. 

he board of directors of the Con- 
jpcticut Breweries Company are : 
[eter W. Wren, John H. McMahon. 
Ij)hn A. Hurley. Robert J. \'eit and 

illiam Hickev. 



The plant is kept scrui)ulously clean 
and the capacity of the output is 100.- 
000 barrels a year. The material 
used in the manufacture of the ]irod- 
uct is the best obtainable and the 
goods find a ready sale. There is 
frequently more than one brew a 
dav at the ])lant which consists of 
the following buildings: I'.rewhouse, 
shipping and storage houses, cold 



ii8 



A CENTURY OF MERIDZX. 



storage plant five stories in height, 
kept at the exact temperature of 35 
degrees every day in the year ; ale 
fermenting house ; artificial ice-mak- 
ing plant, with a capacity of seventy- 
five tons of ice a day ; boiler house 
containing two 100 horse powder 



company to keep it in first class order. 
In 1894 a new office building was 
added to the plant which comprises 
one of the handsomest in the citv. 
The office building is entirely sepa- 
rate from the buildings where the 
manufacturing is carried on and con- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 
REFRIGERATING PLANT, CONNECTICUT BREWERIES CO. 



boilers ; cooperage for the repair of 
barrels and casks ; pitch yard ; large 
and modern stable building laid with 
asphalt floorings and fitted with 
steam heat and every comfort for the 
large number of horses it accommo- 
dates and the men employed by the 



tains a large counting room as well as 
a directors' room and manager's pri- 
vate office. 

The product of the plant consists 
of lager beer, ale and porter, and also 
special brands wdfich have become 
somewhat celebrated throughout tin- 



MANUFACTORIES. 



119 




FERMENTING ROOM, CONNECTICUT BREWERIES 



CO. 




Photos liy ii. s. Godfrey 



RACKING ROOM, C0XM:(1T(UT nRKWKRIKS 



CO. 



I20 



A CENTUKV OF MERII )i:.\ . 



country, notably "Golden Pale Ale" 
and "Pale Extra Lager." The com- 
pany has well established agencies in 
several leading cities of the country 
and naturally supplies a large portion 
of the lager beer and ale consumed 
within a radius of several miles of 
each of its plants. The company 
does a large bottling business and its 
goods in this department are not only 
shipped largely to New York, New 
Jersey and the national capitol but 
have also become known and popular 
with the trade in nearly every state 
in the union. The product of the 
company also finds its way at regular 
intervals to foreign climes and a spe- 
cial brand, rated among the choicest 
of foreign beverages, is exported to 
South America, Cuba and the Bahama 
Islands. 

The company employs about sixty 
workmen at its Meriden plant and 
with its large pay roll adds man} 
thousands to the amount distributed 
annually to the well paid employes 
of Meriden manufacturing plants. 



FRITZ BROTHERS. 



Fritz Brothers, composed of E. T. 
and W. F. Fritz, are the successors 
to the dog collar manufacturing busi- 
ness formerly carried on by the Con- 
necticut Saddlery & Bell Company. 
of whose factory they occupy a por- 
tion and whose reputation they have 
added to in marked degree. They 
purchased the business in May, 1903, 
and have every facility for turning out 
their goods in large quantities. The 



members of the firm, who are both 
natives of Meriden, were no strangers 
to the l)usiness when they took pos- 
session of the factory ; for one of the 
brothers was the founder of the dog 
collar dfjiartment of the concern tliev 
have succeeded and has had fifteen 
years' experience both as a maker of 
the goods and a traveling man. His 
brother, W. F. Fritz, also had a wide 




W. F. FRITZ. 

experience in the same line of manu- 
facturing, having been previously em- 
ployed at the Chapman Mfg. Co. 
They now hold the distinction of be- 
ing the only exclusive dog collar man- 
ufacturers in the state. Besides mak- 
ing over 400 different styles of dog 
collars, including the Boston bull col- 
lar which alone has made their name 
famous, thev are makers of leather 



MANUFACTORIES. 



I2[ 



muzzles, leads and harness for canines 
and are dealers in dog collar bells, 
locks, brushes, combs, whips and 
blankets. They also manufacture 
trout basket straps and skate straps 




E. T. FRITZ. 

for the trade and their goods are 

shipped to all parts of the country. 

They have a branch office in Chica- 

!^^o at 1228 George street and employ 

':hree traveling salesmen. The manu- 

tacture of their goods gives the Fritz 

t brothers an opportunity to display 

jnuch judgment and good taste and 

heir success is attested by the demand 

r their output. While both arc 

ractical manufacturers of dog collars 

id furnishings and are well known 

p the large trade they supply. E. T. 

ritz, as a rule, devotes his time to 

le factorv and W. l-\ Fritz to call- 



ing upon the trade. The industry car- 
ried on by them furnishes employ- 
ment to several hands during the busy 
season and the goods made add no 
little to the reputation of Meriden as 
a manufacturing town. 



SIL\ER CITY CUT GLASS CO. 



One of the newest manufacturing 
concerns of Meriden is the Silver City 
Cut Glass Company, who since June 
I, 1905, have conducted a busy plant 
on Hicks street. Their factory, which 
is a two-storv wooden structure, is 




PEKCA' 



'ii()i:.\i.\. 



that formerly occupied by the Hicks 
.\'ovelt\' C"ompan\-. Articles of cut 
glass of nearly every form rmd de- 
scription comprise the ])rodi:ct and the 
concern has already earned a rcputa- 



122 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



tion from the high character of the 
work emanating" from their factory. 

The officers of the company are as 
follows : President, Percy Phoenix ; 
vice-president, A. Abecurnos ; secre- 
tary and treasurer, Joseph Schnick. 
They are all young men and the en- 
terprise in which they are engaged is 
their first start in business for them- 
selves. 

All the principals and employes are 
residents of Meriden. The president 
is an expert cutter and designer, for- 
merly employed by the Meriden Cut 




A. AUECURNOS. 



glass cutting at the factory of the 
Meriden Cut Glass Company. 

The factory is equipped with the 
most modern machinery from their 
earnings as employes for others. The 




JOSEPH SCHNICK. 

frames are the new adjustable style 
and the power is electric motor with a 
capacity for thirty frames. The show 
room is on the second floor and is well 
worth a visit by strangers to Meriden 
during the Centennial week. 



THE IVIERIDEN GRAVURE CO. 



Glass Company and the C. F. Alonroe In the above named company, Mer- 

Company. The vice president, and iden possesses the only plant in the 

secretary and treasurer are likewise state given up to the exclusive produc- 

young men of talent and ability and tion of photo-gelatine prints ; and the 

secured a wide experience in practical business, which was established m 



MANUFACTORIES. 



123 



1888. has now become one of the larg- 
est in its exclusive product in the 
United States. The business has 
grown steadily from the start and the 
character of the work has established 
the standard of the trade. Illustra- 
tions for catalogues, books, magazine 
inserts and a general line of reproduc- 
tions comprise the output which is 
creditable both to the citv and the state. 



business has grown till now the com- 
pany supplies a trade extending to 
nearly every state in the Union. The 
Gravure Company was the first in its 
line to produce practical illustrations 
for commercial purposes, and being 
the first in the field has held the lead 
to the present time. The com])any 
has a plant remarkably well fitted for 
the extensive and economical prosecu- 




PLANT OF THE MERIDEN GRAXURE CO. 



The business of the company has al- 
ways been conducted in the same loca- 
tion ; but in recent years several new 
buildings have been constructed to 
meet increasing requirements, the 
plant now extending through to Bil- 
lard street, where since 1905, the com- 
pany's office has been located. Begin- 
ning with a few local customers the 



tion of the work which they i)roduce. 
The officers of the company, both 
of whom are well known residents of 
Meriden and interested in its growth 
and prosperitw are: J. 1'. Allen, pres- 
ident and treasurer, and ( ). W. Bas- 
sett, secretary. A Xew York office is 
maintained at the American Tract So- 
ciety r>ui](ling, 150 Xassau street. 



124 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



A. H. JONES. 



Augustus Howard Jones, manufac- 
turer of Meriden, is the son of Joseph 
and Martha (Jackson) Jones, both 
natives of Wales. He was born in 
New York City, December 21, 1851. 
His father died when he was nine 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

AUGUSTUS H. JONES. 

years of age and at twelve he began 
to earn his livelihood, after which he 
attended the night school until the 
age of fifteen, when he returned to 
day school for a year and finished his 
education. 

In 1866 he began his apprentice- 
ship in a brass foundry where he 



served four years and a half learning 
his trade. He became an expert core- 
maker and a contractor in the manu- 
facture of locks. In 1867 he came to 
Meriden where he has since remained. 
After serving two years as foreman 
in the brass foundry at the Bradley & 
Hubbard factory, he started a brass 
foundry of his own which, however, 
he gave up in two wrecks and returned 
as foreman for the B. & H. Mfg. Co.. 
who had made it an object for him 
to do so. 

In 1882, he was one of the organ- 
izers of the Foster Hardware Co., 
which in 1885 was reorganized under 
the name of the Meriden Bronze Co.. 
and of which large concern, Mr. Jones 
became president in 1891. That con- 
cern for many years furnished em- 
ployment to a large number of hands 
and added materially to the business 
prosperity of the town. Financial de- 
pression forced the Bronze Company 
out of business and Mr. Jones' j)er- 
sonal loss was $100,000. 

With characteristic courage and 
grit, in 1901, he organized the com- 
pany and started the factory since lo- 
cated o; Miller street, which now 
bears his name and wdiere he has since, 
from a small beginning, been engaged 
in the manufacture of white metal 
novelties. 

Mr. Jones is a thirty-second degree 
Mason, has served in the city govern- 
ment four years as councilman and 
two years as alderman, is a member 
of the Home Club and of genial and 
companionable nature. He was mar- 
ried in 1870 to Jennie E. Logan, 



MANUFACTORIKS. 



125 



dauiihter of Thomas and Margnerite 
l.ogan. They attend the First Con- 
!>rei:ational church. 



r.AILEY'S STEA^I LAl'XDRY 



Xumericall}', this was the tenth 
laun(h\v estabhshed in ^leriden, and 
was the first to be continued success- 
fully ; and at this writing;- it is the laro-- 




THEODORE F. BAILEY. 

est and finest equipped establishment 
of the kind in the city. 

The nucleus of the i)resent busi- 
ness was formed l)y Theodore F. Bai- 
ley, an old and respected resident of 
Meriden. and his first operations were 
small, [n 1895 'lis daughter, ^^Irs. 
Hattie L. Aubrey, becahie the head, 
and since that time the growth of the 



business has been somewhat remark- 
able. In May, 1896, the present 
laundry building in* the rear of Mr. 
Bailey's residence on Crown street, 
was erected, and the introduction of 
machinery transformed the industry 
from a hand to a steam laundry. 
Since that time machiner\- for steam 
carpet cleaning has also been put in, 
and a large business in that line is 
now carried on. In 1905 a large l)arn 
was erected and added to the jjlant, 
the upper portion of which now con- 
tains the carpet cleaning macliincr}', 
and thi5 work is, therefore, now car- 
ried on in a separate building. The 
power used comes from the laundrx's 
own boiler horse, which in 1905 was 
installed with a new $1,000 boiler. 
Another advantage the laundrx' enjoys 
is an artesian well, sunk on the prem- 
ises, which supplies an abundance of 
water for all purposes outside the en- 
gine room. Both floors of the main 
building, which is 60 by 40 feet, are 
now used for the ])urposes of the laun- 
dry : the sorting, washing, starching, 
mangling and delivering being done 
on the first floor, and the ironing, since 
1905, on the second floor. 

Among the commendal)le character- 
istics of this laundry are jircimptness 
in the deliver}- of work. The fact that 
a woman's e\-e su])ervises the work 
also adds to the re])utation of the laun- 
dr\- for careful work. 

Airs. Aubre\- has ])ro\-en hcrsell a 
most capal)le manager of the now suc- 
cessful business, and is assisted by her 
voungest son, Williani R. Aubrey, and 
a force of twenty-five emploxes. 



126 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



BEA\'ER LAKE ICE CO. 



The Beaver Lake Ice Company, 
wholesale and retail dealers in ice, of 
Meriden, came under its present man- 
agement early in June, 1905, when the 
corporation was formed with the capi- 
tal stock of $15,500. 

The origin of the business, under 
its present name, dates back to 1894, 
when the late William Garlick, of 
South Meriden, withdrew from the 
Meriden Ice Company, after having 
been for five years its president and 
having many years previous to that 
bought out his father's ice business. 
The company as now organized, was 
formed through the efforts of Benj. 
F. Milner, the present secretary and 
treasurer, a native of Meriden, who 
attended the local public schools and 
has ever been a promoter of local in- 
terests. Through his instrumentality 
the corporation purchased from his 
estate the business so successfully car- 
ried on by Mr. Garlick, including 
the ice houses, harvesting privileges, 
horses, wagons, custom and good will. 

Since the business came into the 
present hands many improvements 
have been made to the equipment and 
new office headquarters, stables and 
central ice depot have been estab- 
lished, all of which are located at 100 
State street, where there are excellent 
railroad facilities and ample accommo- 
dations for a larger business. 

Beaver Lake, the principal source 
of supply and from which the company 
derives its name, is one of the many 
healthful bodies of water in the vi- 



cinity of Meriden entirely fed with 
springs and which the company keep 
well freed from vegetable growth. As 
a result the ice harvested in their large 
ice houses, of 10,000 tons capacity, is 
of the most healthful character. The 
full ice harvesting capacity of the lake 
is much greater than that required by 
the company. 

While the quality and service of 
the Beaver Lake Ice Company have 
ever been commended by the people 
of Meriden, whom they supply, the 
new company has always strived to 
excel in this regard the good name es- 
tablished by Mr. Garlick, and this, 
with added capital and increased force, 
they have been enabled to do in no 
small measure. 

The red teams of the company are 
familiar sights on the numerous 
streets and avenues of this vicinity; 
and courtesy, good weight and honest 
treatment, those qualifications which 
have ever characterized the business 
of the concern through its several 
changes in management, are ever ap- 
parent. The management also is not 
only progressive but liberal and being 
familiar with the needs of the public 
from previous connection with the ice 
business, fully realize the meeting of 
competition. The officers of the com- 
pany are Charles E. Curtis, president, 
and Benjamin F. Milner, secretary 
and treasurer ; the former being also 
a well known financier and a vice-pres- 
ident of the City Bank of New Haven 
and the latter from his birth a Meriden 
"boy" but now and for the past six 
vears also cashier and office manager 



MANUFACTORIKS. 



12* 




5ENJAMIN F. Mlf^NER. 



128 



A CEXTURY OF MKRIDHX. 



of the New Haven Ice Company. The 
directors of the company are Charles 
E. Curtis, Benjamin V. Mihier and 
Samuel A. York. 



WILLIAM T. LUDY. 



One of the successful young busi- 
ness men of Meriden is W'illliam J. 
Lubv. He is the son of the late Maur- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

WILLIAM J. LL'I'.Y. 

ice Luby and Ellen (Ryan) Luby. 
His father, who died in 1899, con- 
ducted the monument business for 
some twenty years in the same loca- 
tion now occupied by his son, whose 
works on Hanover street now cover 
about one acre and a half of ground, 
and there some of the finest specimens 
of art are executed. 



His reputation as a designer and' 
builder of monuments has been earned 
solely by the high merits of his work. 
His business establishment gives 
steady employment to well paid men 
and the specimens of art as thus ex- 
emplified by him are highly creditable 
to the town. 

\\ . J. Luby was l:)orn on Columbia 
street, Meriden. December 28, 1879. 
He attended the public schools of this 
town, and after two years at the High 
school, took a course at the Pequod 
Business College. d^Vom early boy- 
hood he was constantly associated with 
his father's monument works, and ai 
an early age he showed a gift for 
drawing. Vihich talent has been a 
most necessary and desirable qualifi- 
cation in his business. 

After his father's death he bought 
his present business from the estate, 
and that he has increased the opera- 
tions of the worls qrite largely is a 
well known fact. His talent for de- 
signing beautiful monuments has mad.' 
his name somewhat famous, and the 
specimens of art modeled at hi^ 
works, more frequently are shipped to 
l)laces far outside of Aleriden. than 
those which adorn local cemeteries. 
It was Air. Luby who designed the fa- 
mous Clara Barton monument that has 
attracted such favorable attention and 
also the At water Memorial monument 
at Terryville. 

Mr. Luby is a member of .Meriden 
Lodge, 35, B. P. O. Elks, the Meriden 
Young Men's T. A. B. Society, Div. 2, 
A. (). H., and Meriden Business Men's 
Association. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



129 



He stands well as a citizen of the 
town which this year celebrates its 
centennial and is deservedly popular 
among" a large circle of acquaintances. 
Since starting upon his business career 
he has done his utmost toward the up- 
building of the Silver City where he 
has alwavs lived. 



CHARLES E. SCHUNACK. 



Charles Emil Schunack, a progres- 
sive manufacturer of paper boxes and 
silverware cases in Meriden, also a 
dealer in piano stools, chairs, benches, 
scarfs and music cabinets in New 
York City, was born in Spremburg, 
Germany, November 15, 1859. His 
father was Gustav Schunack, a native 
of the same locality and a manufactur- 
er of w^oolen cloth, who married 
Louisa Lange, who with their two 
children, including the subject of this 
sketch and his sister Emmy, emigrat- 
ed to this country in 1873, the follow- 
ing year removing to Meriden where 
his father died in 1899. 

Charles E. Schunack obtained his 
education in Germany and upon com- 
ing to this country, at the age of four- 
teen, entered the mills at Webster 
where the family first located before 
coming to ^Meriden ; but in 1874 he se- 
cured employment in the bronze de- 
partment of the ]\Ieriden Malleable 
Iron Company where he remained five 
years and devoted himself industrious- 
ly and conscientiously to the interests 
:»f his employers. In 1879 he became 
i contractor in the l)r()nzc dei)artment 
f the factory of Hart, Bliven & 

49 



Meade at Kensington, but after five 
years he returned to Meriden and took 
charge of the lamp department of the 
Chas. Parker Co., \\ here he continued 
for many }ears. 

He began business as a box manu- 
facturer in 1891, locating on Randolph 
avenue, in a structure that was first in- 
tended for a large stable but whicli 
has been remodeled and added to and 
comprises a paper box factory of mod- 
ern pattern. From a small beginning 
Iiis business has increased to goodlv 
proportions, the output of the factory 
comprising paper and leather boxes 
of any desired style or description and 
fancy cases for silverware. Mr. 
Schunack's factory is equipped with 
modern machinery. 

In 1901 he opened a large sales- 
room at 115 and 117 East 14th street, 
New York, where he sells piano stools, 
benches, chairs, scarfs and music cal)- 
inets manufactured by the Ciias. Par- 
ker Co., of Meriden, and has since di- 
vided his time between his New York 
and Aleridcn offices. 

?ilr. .Schimack is ably assisted at the 
factory by his only sister, Emmy Schu- 
nack, a lady of much business ability 
and thorough understanding of the 
work. Success in all his under- 
takings has brought Mr. Schunack in- 
to prominence in the manufacturing 
circles of the town where he is known 
as a man of modern ideas, energy and 
\igor. His ability to please the trade 
lie supplies from his factory has been 
a great factor in his success in Mer- 
iden : wliilc his natural aptitude as a 
salesman and genial good fellowship 



I30 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 



j^. O •,.,-7CO^^<..<,,fc-t-<9«-^^ 




MANUFACTORIES. 



131 



lave also made him popular at the 
netropolis. He is married to Rhoda 
jaldwin, of Kensington, a lady of 
■efinement and they have two chil- 
Iren. }»lildred and Elsie. Mr. Schu- 
lack is thoroughly identified with the 
ife of Aleriden, being a member of 
\Ieri(lian Lodge, ']'], A. F. & A. j\I., 
^ilgrinis' Harbor Council, R. A., and, 
vith his wife and children, attends the 
•Irst Congregational Church. 



hands, executed most of the work 
emanating from the factory, making 
his own designs. After a short time 
he received a sufficient number of or- 
ders to warrant his employing help 
and the business gradually developed, 
through the desirable qualities of the 
product, until it outgrew its quarters ; 
and it was in 1900 the present factory 
building, which possesses an excellent 
railroad frontage, was removed to. 




I:. S. Godfrey. 



FACTORY OF A. T- HALL cV CO. 



A. T. HALL & CO. 



A. J. Hall & Co., manufacturers of 
ecorated ware, and whose output is 
jecidedly creditable to this town, con- 
luct a factory at the corner of Me- 
lianic and George streets. The in- 
justry was started in a small way in 
^99 by Arthur J. Hall. His first 
fcation was on Mill street and at 
|e beginning ^Ir."Hall. with his own 



Before the end of the first year of its 
business, James D. Bergen, president 
of the J. D. Bergen Co., of Meriden, 
purchased a half interest from Mr. 
Hall, and this he still retains. 

The firm occupy the entire build- 
ing and at their show rooms and of- 
fices are exhibited for the benefit of 
both wholesale and retail customers, 
specimens of their artistic and sala- 
ble ()Ut])ut. They maiuifacture gas 



132 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN, 



and lamp shades, decorated novelties, 
including tobacco jars and cracker 
jars, vases, bric-a-brac, and many oth- 
er goods which add to their reputa- 
tion. In keeping with the spirit of 
the period, they have issued many nov- 
elties in copyrighted designs as fitting 
mementos of the old home week in 
which Meriden celebrates its Centen- 
nial anniversary. 



which now extends the full length of 
the building, a distance of 290 feet, 
and with more recent enlargements 
the concern now possesses a street 
frontage of about seventy-five feet. 

The working force has, from neces- 
sity, been increased in proportion, 
until they now employ fifty skilled 
workmen, and are capable of produc- 
ing anything in cut glass from a five- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



AT J. J. XILAXD & CO. S FACTORY. 



J. J. NIL AND & CO. 



J. J. Niland & Co., now fast com- 
ing to occupy a position in the front 
ranks of the successful business con- 
cerns of this city, was started about 
1902. The first quarters occupied con- 
sisted of a room in the Morehouse 
building on Miller street, which in a 
short time proved too small for the 
fast growing business, and they found 
it necessary to enlarge their plant. 



vase. James J. Xiland is the enter- 
cent caster bottle, to a thousand dollar 
prising head of the concern, and to his 
practical knowledge of the business 
may be attributed the phenomenal suc- 
cess achieved by the concern. With 
every detail of the glass cutting indus- 
try he has become thoroughly familiar, 
having worked at the business contin- 
uously from boyhood. He served six 
years' apprenticeship at the trade, and 
came to Meriden after having worked 



MANUFACTORIES. 



a few }"ears in some of the leading 
glass factories of England and Scot- 
land. 

Upon coming to this town he at once 
associated himself with the Bergen & 
Niland Company, then on State street, 
with wliom he continned n.ntil his 
ambition prompted him to tr_\- his for- 
tvme as a manufactnrer on his own 
acconnt. The show rooms of T- T- 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon. 

JAMES J. NILAND. 

S'iland & Co. at the factory on Miller 
itreet, contain a line of cut glass sel- 
dom equalled for variety, quality and 
■loderate prices, and visitors whether 
respective buyers or not are invar- 
ibly delighted with the exhibition 
lere contained. The ^product of this 
actory in its entirety is from the 
rude lilank to the finished ornament 



and the patterns of the company are 
not only original but radically differ- 
ent from unscrupulous imitations. 
Among the customers of this concern 
are Tiffany & Co., celebrated jewelers 
of New York City, and mau\- leading 
glass and crockery dealing concerns, 
including Higgins & Seitcr, also of 
Xew York. The product adds no 
little fame to Aleriden and the indus- 
try gives employment to well paid 
hands, thereby adding to the prosper- 
ity of the town. 



THE JENNINGS & GRIFFIX 
MFG. CO. 



A manufacturing concern, within a 
quarter of a century grown to large 
proportions, and whose product has 
ever added distinction to this locality, 
is The Jennings & Griffin Mfg. Co., 
with factory at Tracy. The plant which 
now covers a large area in a situation 
most favorable to the manufacture 
of its goods, especially within the past 
vear. has been noticeably enlarged and 
improved. 

It was in 1880 that Charles E. Jen- 
nings and Francis B. Griffin, whose 
names have long since been synonyms 
for the highest grade of mechanics' 
tools, in a modest way started to make 
for themselves a reputation. Their 
aim was to e.xcel in their line of man- 
ufacture; and having a full under- 
standing of the wants of the trade, aufl 
the way to supply them, they could 
scarcely fail of success. They filled 
their orders with honest goods; and 
liaviuu" always continued to do so, 



134 



A CENTURY (JF MERIUEN. 



prosperity has been their fit reward. 
Gradually the factory has grown 
and new machinery has replaced the 
old, until they have become enabled to 
produce edge tools and boring imple- 
ments in large quantities, used by me- 
chanics in every part of the civilized 
world. The company at the present 
day owns about twenty acres of land 
on both sides of the railroad track, 
includins: where the factorv is situated 



enabling the company to supply a 
greatly increased demand for edge 
tools. The first building erected this 
year is 32x48 feet, and the last addi- 
tion, comprising a practically fire- 
proof building, is 46x88 feet in di- 
mensions. 

The recent additions have also given 
the company the opportunity to make 
various other notable improvements to 
the plant. The forge fires in the new 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



FRONT OF JENNINGS & GRIFFIN MFG. CO. 



and where nine dwelling houses have 
been erected by them for their em- 
ployes. While the factory has been 
gradually enlarged from the begin- 
ning, the addition of two more build- 
ings in 1906, when Meriden celebrates 
its looth anniversary, gives the plant 
a frontage of 200 feet and a length, 
east and west, of 400 feet. The new 
additions were for the purpose of 



building will be fed with fuel oil sup- 
plied by a pipe from a tank located at 
the Yalesville station of the X. V.. N- 
H. & H. Railroad, about 100 yar(l> 
from the factory. The company also 
expect to make their own gas for 
running their auxiliary engine, and 
have, as well, a second supply of gas 
from the Wallingford gas works. The 
old style hammers have been replaced 



MANUFACTORIES. 



135 



witli the latest pattern power ham- 
mers, enabling the company to in- 
crease their output materially. With 
the aid of the Ouinnipiac river, from 
which the factory has always been 
supplied with water power, and the 
auxiliar\ supply of gas, the factory 
has now a combined motive power of 
J15 horse power. A deep w^ell. which 
the company has possessed at their 
plant for some years, furnishes pure. 



an arrow head, in the center of which 
is the letter ( J ) ; this trade mark is in 
itself a familiar pass])()rt in the trade, 
and indicates that the articles made 
upon honor are the genuine C. E. Jen- 
nings tool. The company also man- 
ufactures the original L'Hommedieu & 
Watrous ship augers, those brands 
well known to the hardware and shi])- 
building trade all over the world. The 
L'Hommedieu brand has been on the 




Photo by K. S. Godfrey. 

KE.^R OF JENNINGS & GRIFFIN ,M FG. CO. 

cold water for all other purposes, market since i.SiS. For many years 
Among other improvements possessed the company has maintained head- 
by The Jennings & Griffin Alfg. Co., is quarters in Xew ^'<)rk City, and their 
their own electric lighting plant. salesrooms at the metroiiolis are at 42 

The product consists of high grade Murray street. 

mechanics' tools, including edge tools Both Messrs. Jennings and (iritiin, 

and boring implements of every de- the former of whom is president, and 

scnption. The goods are turned out the latter secretary and treasurer, 

complete from the raw material and in si)end a large i)ortion of their time in 

great variety being trade marked with Xew ^'ork looking after the trade. 



^36 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX. 



which has now grown to large propor- 
tions. For some years the factory has 
been in charge of A. B. Jennings, the 
superintendent, a son of the president. 
who having grown up with the busi- 
ness, Hke the other officers of the com- 




A. B. JENNINGS. 

pany, is a thoroughly practical man. 
Many of the factory employes have 
become prominent in civic life, and 
the factory from the large amount of 
business carried on has for many years 
Ijeen the largest factor in that now 
important community of Tracy. 



THE GRISWOLD. RICHMOND & 
CLOCK CO. 



tin roofers, large cornice and sky- 
light makers, extensive dealers in 
crockery, glassware, stoves, ranges, 
furnaces, refrigerators, house fur- 
nishing goods and bicycles, has for 
many years been one of the institu- 
tions of Meriden. They occupy two 
stories of a building fronting West 
Main street at the corner of Hanover 
street, and extending along Hanover 
street for 165 feet. 

The business has grown to its pres- 
ent large proportions from the start 
made by N. F. Griswold in 1854. 
Since that time there have been sev- 




The Griswold. Richmond & Clock 
Company, manufacturers, jobbers. 



N. F. GRISWOLD. 

eral changes in the makeup of the 
concern, but never in its history 
has the store enjoyed anything 
but an excellent reputation. After 
havine later become known as Oris- 



MANUFACTORIES. 



13; 



wold, Lewis & Clock, it became 
Ciriswold, Richmond & Clock and in 
1889 was organized as a stock com- 
pany with a capital of $50,000, many 
of its employes being given holdings 
of the stock as an incentive for hard 




CHARLES C. CLOCK. 

land conscientious work. This it ma\- 

|be said has accrued to the benefit of 

the corporation which, in turn, has 

frown to such an extent that it has 

t)ecome one of the leading trade con- 

brns of the town. Never since its or- 

pnization as a corporation has any of 

p stock been held by any one outside 

pf its foimders and those otherwise 

Imployed in the store, and all of the 

riginal owners and stockholders are 

|ving excepting John L. Richmond. 

le interest of whose widow- was pur- 

pased by the concern in January. 1905. 



The store, within recent years es- 
pecially, has been conducted on an 
extensive scale and it is hard indeed 
for one, either a wholesale or 
retail customer, to inquire for any- 
thing which he might naturally ex- 
pect to be found in the store but what 
can be instantly produced by the en- 
ergetic and painstaking clerks. At 
their work shop, in the rear of the 
store, facing on Hanover street, about 
twenty-five hands are employed in the 
manufacture of tin, sheet iron, zinc 
and copper ware as well as gal- 




S^ 




CHARLES 



CLOCK. 



vanip^ed iron cornice W(irk and sky- 
lights, in which they are prepared to 
make and fill important contracts any- 
where. The interior of the store con- 
ducted by this low-priced co-operative 
company, is one of the most attrac- 



138 



A CENTURY OF MERIUEN. 



tive of any in Aleriden. The great 
display of china, crockery and glass- 
ware which comprises a separate de- 
partment in itself is much visited by 
the buying public. 

In reference to the success of this 
co-operative concern, it may be said 
that the proverbial fair treatment of 
all patrons has been a strong factor. 

The individual members are well 
known citizens of Meriden who have 
for many years been reckoned among 
those who have had its interests in 
view. The president, N. F. Gris- 
wold, is one of the oldest business 
men in his line in the state and con- 
secjuently one of the most favorably 
known. The personal sketch of his 
extended business career is contained 
elsewhere in this book and gives also 
the different changes in the makeup 
of the concern from the very first. 
To the treasurer of the company, 
Charles C. Clock, upon whom a large 
portion of the management now rests, 
is the credit due for the development 
of the manufacturing strength of 
the concern and the extension of 
its business operations to points far 
outside of Meriden. Some years 
since he was succeeded as superinten- 
dent of the factory by his son, Charles 
W. Clock, a young man of great bus- 
iness ability and a thorough master 
of the tinsmith and cornice making 
trades. He has been secretary of the 
concern since the death of Mr. Rich- 
mond. Others holding stock and as- 
sociated with the concern are : A. H. 
Evarts, John Kopp, John Dittmer, 
John Heinrich, Sr., Ernest F. Yenk- 



ner. Fred Minkmeier, Andreas Reiski. 
John Heinrich, Jr., Ceo. Heinrich, C. 
S. Clark and Martin Lemke. 



THE H. T. SAHTH EXPRESS CO. 



The business of the H. T. Smith 
Express Co. has grown to its present 
proportions from the small start made 
bv the late Horace T. Smith, who 




HORACE 



SMITH. 



came to Meriden from Plymouth, \ t., 
in 1854. In 1859 he started business 
for himself. During the first few 
years of his residence here, he was 
employed by the late Deacon R. B- 
Perkins, who then conducted an ex- 
press business. 

Mr. Smith started with four horses 
and his barn was then located near 



MANUFACTORIES. 



139 



the original shop of the Aleriden Bri- 
tannia Company, what is now known 
as "over east." Among his tirst op- 
erations was the drawing of the un- 
derpinning of the old town hall. When 
the ]5ritannia Company was reorgan- 
ized and moved to its present loca- 
tion, Mr. Smith moved his business to 
Stone street, later to Grove street, then 
to State street, and since 1876 to the 
present location at the corner of Camp 
and State streets. Early in August, 
i8y2, his barn was totally destroyed 
b\- rtre. A larger barn has since been 
Ijuilt on the same spot, and comprises 
one of the largest used for its pur- 
pose in the state. 

At the time of his death, 1897, Mr. 
Smith had built up not only an envia- 
ble reputation for reliability as a team- 
ster, but was known as one of the 
most enterprising and industrious cit- 
izens of the town. Since the death 
of Mr. Smith the business has been 
conducted by George P. Smith and C. 
H. Tredennick, and in November, 
1 90 1, was incorporated as the H. T. 
Smith Express Co., George P. Smith 
being president, and C. H. Treden- 
nick, secretary and treasurer. 

During the ]Dast few years and es- 
pecially since the corporation was 
formed, this old established express 
and trucking business has been largely 
increased. The business as conducted 
by Mr. Smith, required from twenty- 
eight to thirty-five horses, but at the 
present time requires about double 
that ntmiber ; and the company is fully 
M^'ipped to handle, not only the 
'tallest express packages, but the 



largest kind of machinery and mer- 
chandise. 



MOREHOUSE BROTHERS CO. 



The Morehouse IJros. Co., one of 
the largest manufacturers of building- 
material in the state, was organized 
in April, 1898. under the statute laws 
of the state of Connecticut. They oc- 
cupy the one-story brick factory build- 
ing, 20-26 Miller street, which is fully 
equipped for the economical and con- 
venient handling of their work. The 
mill is 100 feet wide and 264 feet long 
and the work carried on is of a high 
grade and even artistic character, 
which necessitates the emploMuent of 
the highest skilled workmen, about 
twenty-five of whom find steady em- 
ploxnient. The product of the mill is 
not confined to this city alone but is 
shipped to all sections of the state and 
the reputation of the concern reflects 
credit upon Meriden. The president 
of the company, Henry L. Morehouse, 
is a well known building contractor. 
Andrew C. Morehouse, the treasurer 
and active head of the industry, is a 
son of Henry L. Morehouse, and was 
born in New Haven, Conn., Jul\' 31, 
1874, his parents removing with him 
to Meriden when he was six years old. 
Having previously attended for a short 
time a private school in New Haven he 
continued his education in the public 
schools of this city and at the age of 
fourteen went to work for his father 
to learn the business which he has fol- 
lowed continuousl\- ever since with the 



I40 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEX, 



exception of six months' attendance 
at business college. Under his father's 
guidance and instruction he became 
familiar with all the different branches 
of building and mill work and, there- 
fore, before he became a member of 
the firm he was thoroughly familiar 
with every branch of the business. Mr. 
Morehouse is a member of the various 
local Masonic bodies including Merid- 
ian Lodge, yy, A. F. & A. M., and St. 
Elmo Commandery, 9, Knights Tem- 
plar. Few young business men of the 
city apply themselves more closely to 
business or find more enjoyment in 
their home life. He was married 
June 30, 1897, to Charlotte L., daugh- 
ter of Mrs. Susan E. Smith, of Clin- 
ton, Conn., and they have five living 
children as follows : Henry L., W.ilter 
Franklin, Andrew C. Jr., Edna Geneva 
and Robert Allison. 



THE DEXTER L. BISHOP CO. 



The Dexter L. Bishop Company, a 
corporation comprising the largest 
concern in Meriden engaged in the 
ice business and also dealing in native 
lumber, was organized in January, 
1898. The company of which Dexter 
L. Bishop has been the secretary, 
treasurer and general manager from 
its formation, is the outcome of the 
business established by the Foster 
Brothers, for whom Foster Lake is 
named and also includes that of the 
Meriden Ice Co. and Dayton & Sher- 
man. In 1895 Dexter L. Bishop 
bought an interest in the firm, and one 
year later bought the interest of the 



remaining partners. Seeing the pos- 
sibilities for the future, he wisely 
merged the business into an incori)n- 
rated company. The original capital 
stock of $3,000, was increased in 1903 
to $30,000. 

The company owais extensive ice 
houses, and controls the ice harvested 
at Foster Lake, The Bradley & Hub- 
bard reservoir, and several smaller 




DEXTER L. BISHOP. 

ponds around Meriden with the com- 
bined harvesting capacity of 70,000 
tons. The ice houses at Foster Lake 
have a storage capacity of 8,500 tons, 
and during the harvesting season six- 
ty-five men are employed on the lake. 
The ice supplied to the people of Mer- 
iden from this source is of rare purity, 
and this is made possible only by the 
purity of the Foster Lake water which 



manufactorie:. 



141 



is feel largely by natural springs. 
Great care is taken in harvesting the 
ice, and from two to three inches are 
planed oft' the surface before being 
housed. The analysis of the ice of 
this company has also been made by 
a chemist who pronounces it of ex- 
ceptional purity. 

The wagons of the company are 
continuously making deliveries in all 
parts of Meriden, and during the sum- 
mer season the services of thirtv-five 



the woods where the lumber is se- 
cured. 

The active head and founder of the 
comi)any, Dexter L. Bishop, is one 
of Aleriden's most energetic and re- 
liable business men. He is a son of 
the late Walter G. Bishop, and was 
born at Orange, Conn., August 8. 
1865. He spent his early boyhood on 
the home farm, and accjuired a rugged 
physique which he still retains. When 
quite young his parents moved to 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey 



ICE HARVESTING PLANT AT FOSTER LAKE. 



men and forty horses are required to 
meet the demands made upon them for 
their ice. The delivery depot and of- 
fice headquarters are at 16 Cen- 
ter street, where ample accommoda- 
tions are at hand for the prosecution 
of a large business. The company 
deal also in native lumber, and dur- 
[ing the winter season employ their 
men in this branch of the business, 
temporary saw mills being put up in 



Guilford, where his father engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. 

In 1886, to satisfy a laudable de- 
sire for mercantile life, he came to 
jMeriden, and entered the employ of 
Little. Somers & Hyatt, where he 
gained the merited confidence both of 
his employers and the buying public 
by a most intelligent and faithful per- 
formance of his duty, and uniform 
courtesy to all the patrons of the 



142 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



store with whom he came in contact. 
His entry into the ice business, and 
the subsequent formation of the com- 
pany which bears his name, was the 
natural outcome of his enterprise, bus- 
iness activity and rehabihty, and the 
success to which he has guided the 
business reflects upon his judgment 
and business acumen with full credit. 
Outside of business ]\Ir. Bishop has 
been an active spirit in the life of Mer- 



ber of Center Lodge, 97, F. & A. M., 
Keystone Chapter, No. 27, and St. 
Elmo Commandery, No. 9, K. T. He 
is now serving his second term as 
president of the Meriden Business 
Men's Association, also secretary of 
the State Business Men's Association, 
and is a member of the general com- 
mittee of the Meriden Centennial cel- 
el^ration. He stands high in social 
circles, and is a member of both the 




Photo by R. S. Godfiey. 



DISTRIBUTING DEPOT, D. L. BISHOP CO. 



iden. In 1900-1901 he served as a 
member of the board of aldermen, be- 
ing elected from the Fifth ward. Dur- 
ing his connection with the city gov- 
ernment he proved to be a wise coun- 
selor to his associates in the transac- 
tion of city affairs. He was appointed 
and served on several important spe- 
cial committees with credit to his con- 
stituents and the citv. He is a mem- 



Home and Colonial Clubs of ]^Ieriden. 
In 1891 he was united in marriage 
with Esther C, daughter of C 
G. Johnson, who during his life was a 
leading citizen of Meriden, and a large 
real estate dealer. His home is 
blessed with two bright children, Ethel 
Johnson and Wilfred Merriman. Mr. 
Bishop is a direct lineal descendant 
on the maternal side of Gov. William 



MANUFACTORIES. 



143 



r.eete, first governor of the Connec- 
ticut Colonies, and on the paternal 
side, of James Bishop, one of the dep- 
uty governors of New Haven colony. 
He is also an active member of the 
Center Congregational church of 
Meriden, and one of the trustees of 
the Meriden Young Women's Chris- 
tian Association. He is also a mem- 
ber of the Meriden Board of Trade, 
of which organization he is one of 
the directors. 



ELIAS OEFINGER. 



Elias Oefinger. manufacturer of 

tuning pipes, and who conducts the 

only factory devoted exclusively to 

that industry in the United States, 

was born in Germany in the town of 

Trossingen. In that European town 

the larger ]Jortion of the harmonicas 

of the world are made. He was ed- 

jucated in the common schools of his 

native country and earl}' in life 

earned the trade of a harmonica mak- 

?r, which he followed for many years. 

kVith his brother he came to this city 

\n 1880. In 1900 as a member of the 

jinn of John and Elias Oefinger, he 

liegan the manufacture of the patent 

'Uning pipes bearing his name and 

H'hich have become famous in the 

husical trade. The tuning pipes were 

ITst manufactured in the shop of the 

jjtandard Novelty company ; but in 

bo2 the present factory, corner Me- 

jianic and North George streets, was 

emoved to. where two floors are oc- 

upied. In 1901 Mr. Oefinger's 

"thcr was accidentallv killed bv the 



cars at the Center street crossing and 
his sad death removed from Meriden 
one of the most energetic and indus- 
trious manufacturers within its bor- 
ders. Since the decease of his broth.- 
er Mr. ( )efinger has carried on the 
business alone. Through his inven- 
tive genius he has made and success- 
full}- put upon the market several 
kinds of tuning pipes, among them a 
pitch pipe, giving the entire chromatic 
scale. The pipes made by this manu- 
facturer, 6.000 annually, also comprise 
those giving the correct pitch for tun- 
ing the four strings of the violin or 
mandolin, five of the banjo and six 
of the guitar. The product of the fac- 
tory is sold through the music houses 
of the country. 

Mr. Oefinger, in common with men 
of his nationality, is a great lover of 
nnisic and is a talented player of sev- 
eral instruments. He has for some 
Acars been a member of the Lyra Sing- 
ing society of Meriden ; also a mem- 
ber of the Meriden Turn X'erein and 
the Workmen's Sick Benefit .Associa- 
tion. His industry adds to the l)usi- 
ness welfare of Meriden and his inter- 
est concerning his adopted city has 
never been in doubt. 



WILBUR 1'.. HALL 



Wilbur I'.irdsey Hall, niauufac- 
turer of individual ])e])])ers aud 
salts, napkin rings and other small 
articles of electro plate and white 
metal goods, is of the third genera- 
tion of a familv whose nauie has tor 



144 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



many years been associated with 
this typical branch of ]\lericlen in- 
dustry. Both his father and grand- 
father were prominent in the busi- 
ness and industrial life of the town. 
Mr. Hall is a descendant of one of 
the oldest families in Connecticut 
and which is traced back to John 
Hall, who died in Wallingford in 
1676, and of whom much is stated 
elsewhere in these pages Lewis 



business on his own account in 188 
Three years later, or in July 188 
his success enabled him to build tl 
factory on Parker Avenue which 1 
has since conducted and in which 1 
has won the distinction of makir 
more of the goods, of which \ 
makes a specialty and for whic 
his factory is justly renowned, tha 
all other factories combined, 
and started in the manufacturin 





'*! iff ,.- 

'IlBURBHALL 



jm 







Z ^-ij 



FACTORY OF WILBUR B. HALL. 



Hall, father of Wilbur B., was for 
over thirty years superintendent of 
the Wilcox Silver Plate Co., and as 
such was connected with that well 
known concern, now a part of the 
International Silver Co., until his 
death in 1900. 

Wilbur B. Hall learned the mys- 
teries of the silver plated ware in- 
dustry also in that large factory 



portion of the output of this factor), 
is that of special goods bearing th(i 
name of large dealers. The factor>i 
is well adapted for the work carrieq 
on and in 1905 became equippedj 
with its own electric lighting plant; 
The goods of Mr. Hall's manufac-: 
ture are sold to the trade direct fronij 
the factory and are used all over' 
the world. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



145. 



F. I. WALLACE. 



Frederick J. Wallace, manufactur- 
er of saddlery hardware and horse- 
hair plumes for sleighs, saddle chimes 
and bridles, occupies the old Chap- 
man Manufacturing Company's plant 
and employs quite a number of hands. 
The output of his factory, excepting 
that of the horsehair plumes, is what 
is known as an unfinished product. 



ready adaptation to circumstances, he- 
has established a manufacturing bus- 
iness of the above line, which has 
grown rapidly, in a few years, to large 
proportions. 

^Ir. W^allace, while a native of Mas- 
sachusetts, has been a resident and en- 
gaged in business in Meriden since 
1876; and for fifteen years previous to 
engaging in manufacturing, conducted 
a retail provision store as a member 










FACTORY OF F. J. WALLACE. 



and his trade is with the large job- 
bers and harness manufacturers. As 
Mr. Wallace was formerly a success- 
ful traveling salesman for the old 
Chapman Manufacturing Com])any, 
and Landers, Frary & Clark, when he 
bought and started up his plant he 
possessed a wide acquaintance with 
the trade. Through his knowledge 
of the wants of his customers and his 
50 



of the firm of I'attcn i^ Wallace when 
he served one year as president 
of the Retail Butchers" Association of 
Connecticut, and was also honored by 
being elected treasurer of the Nation- 
al Butchers' Association of the United 
States, which office he held four years. 
His plant, located on Britannia 
street, has a frontage of 135 feet, is 
300 feet deep, and also extends along 



146 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H. 
R. R. for 300 feet. The trade he sup- 
phes is of the highest class and his 
goods are recognized by jobbers and 
manufacturers in his Une as the best 
made in New England. 

Mr. Wallace was married in 1880 to 
Carrie E. Brooks, of Cheshire, and has 
one daughter. 



THE H. WALES LINES CO. 



A town is what its builders make it. 
The H. Wales Lines Co. certainly has 
reason to be proud of the part it has 
taken in the building of Meriden. 
Starting" in 1864 as Perkins & Lines, 
the firm has expanded with the growth 
of the town and to-day is one of the 
largest building concerns in New Eng- 
land. Nearly all of the factories, bus- 
iness blocks, schools, churches and bet- 
ter class of private residences have 
been erected by them and their per- 
manent character tells of the thorough 
manner with which this concern does 
its work. 

In 1878 the withdrawal of Air. Per- 
kins necessitated a change in the bus- 
iness name of the firm and the com- 
pany became H. Wales Lines & Co., 
consisting of Mr. Lines and Henry E. 
Fairchild. 

In 1888 the company was incorpo- 
rated under its present name with H. 
Wales Lines as president and treas- 
urer, Henry E. Fairchild, vice-presi- 
dent, and Lewis A. Miller, secretary. 

The reputation of the firm was 
widely known and a demand for such 
a concern existing in other places the 



company found it to their advantage 
to accept contracts outside of Meriden. 
This outside work increased and with 
it their facilities for handling it. Thev 
now execute contracts in any state and 
are prepared to do any kind of work 
at any time and in any place. 

Architects, engineers and prospec- 
tive builders found it paid them to 
employ a firm who could handle an\ 
size contract with promptness and the 
substantial, well-built public buildings, 
churches, libraries, college buildings, 
school houses, mercantile blocks, resi- 
dences, manufacturing plants, etc., 
that this company has erected in Con- 
necticut and other states are an evi- 
dence of this. 

The compan}' has in its employ an 
efticient corps of engineers, draftsmen 
and other persons trained and expe- 
rienced, capable of meeting the re- 
quirements in a thoroughly practical 
way of every detail of the buildins:; 
business. 

Since its inception the comi)any has 
dealt at wholesale and retail in build- 
ing materials and supplies of all kinds. 
From their organization special at- 
tention has been given to this branch 
and they are now among the largest 
wholesale dealers in their line in the 
state. 

The growth of the business de- 
manded larger and more convenient 
quarters than had been previously oc- 
cupied, so 400 feet of railroad front- 
age was purchased on State street and 
the plant erected which is shown in the 
illustration. The main storehouse is 
150 feet long, two stories high, and 



MANUFACTORIES. 



147 



fortv feet in width. The ofifice is a 
model of convenience. Extending 
from the storehouse and connected 
with it is a brick stable. It is difificult 
to imagine a more satisfactory place 
in which to carry on this business. 
Ample storage room for quickl}' and 
cheapl}' handling materials is a neces- 
sary thing to profitably meet the corn- 



Portland cement, lime, granite, mar- 
ble, blue stone, hair, mortar colors, pat- 
ent plastering mortars, plaster of Paris, 
building brick, fire brick, etc. Being 
New England agents for vitrified 
Ohio sewer pipe and flue linings they 
can furnish the best quality direct 
from the kilns and carry in Meriden 
a stock of from fifteen to twentv car- 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 

OFFICE AND PLANT OF THE H. \V.\LES TWINES CO. 

etition in this line of trade. This loads to fill orders re(|uiriiig inimediatc 

ompany lias unusual facilities for delivery. Every kind of builders' 

ipplying at the manufacturer's price supplies can he furnished pn)m])lly 

eavy articles which enter into the and at low prices, 

instruction (jf a building, such as It is interesting to note that of the 

imber, steel, cast iron, metal lath, ex- prominent buililiugs illustrated in this 

anded metal and all other materials book, there are very few which have 

>r reinforced concrete construction, not been built by the Lines Company. 



148 



A CENTURY OF MERIDKN. 



Some of the most important are : 
First Congregational church, St. Jo- 
seph's church, High school, the plant 
of the Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co., 
nearly all the buildings of the Aleri- 
den Britannia Co., Woolen mill, Wil- 
cox & White Organ Co., Journal 
Publishing Co., Meriden iMorning 



and the new Town Hall building now 
in process of erection. Also many of 
the better class of private residences 
were built by them. 

A few of the buildings erected by 
them outside of Meriden, are : Resi- ' 
deuces of J. H. Whittemore at Nauga-i 
tuck and Middlebury, Conn. ; factories' 





n niiv 
I BIl 



COXXECTICUT BUILDTXG, ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION, 1904. 



Record building, Connecticut Brew- 
eries Co., City Mission block, Win- 
throp hotel, Wilcox block, Palace 
block. Swift & Co., Armour & Co., Y. 
M. C. A. building. State School for 
Boys, Curtis Home, Meriden National 
Bank, Meriden Savings Bank, Meri- 
den Hospital, Curtis Memorial Librarv 



of the United States Rubber Co., Nau- 
gatuck ; plant of the Excelsior Needle 
Co., Torrington : chimney stacks and 
portion of plant of the Coe Brass Co., 
Torrington ; H. L. Judd Co., Walling- 
ford ; plant of the Malleable Iron Fit- 
tings Co., Branford ; National Folding 
Box & Paper Co., New Haven : part 



MANUFACTORIES. 



149 



of Vale & Towne Co.'s plant, Stam- 
ford ; part of the plant of the Union 
.Metallic Cartridge Co., Bridgeport; 
Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New- 
Haven ; silk mill for Joseph Loth & 
Co., Norwalk ; American Grapho- 
phone Co., Bridgeport ; Mystic Indus- 
trial Co., Mystic. 

Salem High school, Xangatuck ; 
Whig & Clio Halls, Princeton Univer- 
sity ; residence of C. Oliver Iselin, New 
Rochelle, N. Y. ; Centenary Colleg- 
iate Institute, Hackettstown, N. J. ; 
Montefiore Home, Bedford, N. Y. ; 
Overton Hall, Moody's School Mt. 
Hernion, ^lass. ; Turner Library, Tor- 
rington. Conn. ; Skull & Bones and 
Book & Snake Society Buildings ; Ives 
Cheeney Memorial gateway at Yale 
Cniversity, New Haven ; State Nor- 
Imal schools, Willimantic and Danbury ; 
[Connecticut House, St. Louis Expo- 
|sition, 1904; St. Bernard's church. 
jRockville, Conn. ; Connecticut Agri- 
ultural college dormitory, Storrs, 
onn. ; New London City National 
jank building. New London, Conn. ; 
jiffices and car house of the Hartford 
htreet Railway Co., Hartford, Conn. ; 
Mants of the Hall Railway Sig- 
I'.al Co., and the Aeolian-Weber 
nano Co., at Garwood, N. J. ; Stand- 
Id Paint Co., at Bound Brook, N. J. ; 
iichs & Lang Mfg. Co., at Ruther- 
)rd. N. T. : Weber Piano Co., New 
ork City ; fourteen power or trans- 
)rmer stations for the United Gas & 
mprovement Co.. of Philadelphia: 
tven power stations for W^estchester 
Ighting Co., of Mt. Vernon, N. Y. ; 
Ictorv buildings for the Max Ams 



Machine Co., and the Mauser Mfg. 
Co., at Mt. Vernon, N. Y. ; factory of 
the Sanborn Map Co., at Pelham, 
X. Y. 



HENRY E. FAIRCHILD. 



Henry E. Fairchild, one of the 
most respected residents of AEeriden 




Photo by H. T. Shaw. 

H. E. FAIRCHILD. 

and who has for forty years 
been as.sociated with its progress, 
was born at Woodbridge, Conn. 
After learning the the trade of a 
mason in the employ of Smith & 
Spcrry of New Haven, in 1865, he 
came to ISFeriden where he con- 
tinued to work at his trade for the 
firm of Perkins & Lines. His services 



ISO 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



were so valuable that a short time 
later he was given an interest in the 
business, and upon the retirement of 
Mr. Perkins, Mr. Fairchild became 
Mr. Lines' only partner, the busi- 
ness continuing under the name of 
H. Wales Lines & Co. When the 
business was merged into a corpora- 
tion, Mr. Fairchild became its vice- 
president, which office he now holds. 
Many of the principal buildings ot 
Meriden have been constructed un- 
der his personal supervision. Mr. 
Fairchild is a member of Meridian 
Lodge, jj. A. F. & A. M., and St. 
Elmo Commandery, 9, K. T. 

He has been twice married, first 
to Mary Elizabeth Clark, and to that 
union two sons were born : George 
W., and Frederick L., and through 
his first marriage Mr. Fairchild has 
also two grandchildren, Ralph H. 
and Ralph E. Fairchild. On Sep- 
tember 25. 1891 he was again mar- 
ried to Mary Elizabeth Bliss of 
Springfield, Mass. Mr. Fairchild 
resides in his own comfortable home 
on Chestnut street, and is justly 
known as one of the most loyal citi- 
zens of the town. 



LEWIS ALBERT MILLER. 



Lewis Albert Miller was born in 
Meriden June 29, 1866, the son of 
George W. and Lydia M. Miller. 

He received his education in the 
public schools, studying but a short 
time in the High school. 

After working about five months 



with the late Amos Ives in his coal 
office, in May, 1883, he entered the 
employ of H. Wales Lines & Co. He 
utilized the opportunities ofifered to 
learn every detail of the building bus- 
iness so that in 1889 when The H. 
Wales Lines Co. was incorporated he 
became a stockholder and was short- 
ly after made secretary of the com- 
pany, a position he now holds. 




Photo by Akers & Pigeon 

L. A. MILLER. 

Mr. Miller has been a participant 
in the great growth of this contracting 
firm, whose yearly business now ex- 
ceeds one million dollars and his en- 
ergetic efforts have contributed in no 
small part to its expansion. 

Mr. Miller is a member of St. Elmo 
Commandery, K. T. ; the Mystic 
Shrine ; Pilgrims' Harbor Council, 



MANUFACTORIES. 



Royal Arcanum : also the Home, Col- 
onial and Wheel Clubs of Meriden. 

When the old high wheel was in 
vogue Mr. Miller was prominent in 
the sport and did considerable ama- 
teur racing. He won several cham- 
pionships and held for a short period 
the amateur records of the world for 
one mile. He was also a member of 
the National Racing Board for a few 
years. 

Mr. Miller although always interest- 
(.'(1 in the politics of the city, has held 
but one ofifice, serving as councilman 
from the Second ward during the 
years of 1893 and 1894. 

In 1892 he married Lena Sevelia 
Mcrriam. Their home is at 68 Wil- 
cox avenue. 



HOLT & STEVENS. 



Although the present partnership 
[existing between Irving L. Holt and 
Frank A. Stevens, dates back to 
.March i, 1892 only-, it was in Febru- 
ary. 1872, that the business of the 
l-Meriden Fire Insurance Agency was 
t»egun, the first policv being issued 
" the late Isaac C. Lewis. This 
i.vas the beginning of the long and 
lonorably conducted business of the 
nrance agency, which has since 
Town to one of the largest in the 
tate. In later y-ears real estate was 
dded and now the firm are exten- 
ively engaged in the sale, rental 
nd care of property. 

rving L. Holt, senior member of 
present firm and of whom a bio- 



graphical sketch appears elsewhere 
in this volume, first became con- 
nected with this agency in 1874. 
Mr. Stevens first came into the 
office as clerk in 1881. 

The firm, who occupy large of- 
fices in the Wilcox block, represent 
the following named insurance com- 
panies. Agricultural Company of 
W^atertown, N. Y. ; American Com- 
pany of Newark, N. J. ; American 
Company of Boston, Mass.; Ameri- 
can Company of New York; British- 
American Assurance Company of 
Toronto, Can. : Capital Company of 
Concord. N. H. : Continental Com- 
panv of New York ; Fire Associa- 
tion of Philadelphia; Firemen's 
Company of Newark, N. J. ; Fire- 
men's Fund Company of San Fran- 
cisco, Cal. : Franklin Comi)any of 
Philadelphia ; The German-.Vmeri- 
can Company of New York : Girard 
Company of Philadcl])hia : Granite 
State Company. Portsmouth, N. H. ; 
Greenwich Company of New^ York; 
Hamburg-Bremen Comi)any of Ger- 
manv: Holyoke Mutual Company of 
Salem, ^lass. : London and Lan- 
cashire Company of luigland : Liv- 
erpool and London and (il()l)e 
Company of England: .Magdenburg 
Fire Cnm])any of Germany: Man- 
chester Assurance Com])any of I'Jig- 
land : Merchants' Company of 
Newark, N. j.: New London Comity 
Mutual of Norwich. Conn.; New 
^'ork I'nderwriters" Agency of Xcw 
York ; Niagara Company of Xew 
York, Northern .\ssurance Com- 



152 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



pany of England ; North British 
Mercantile Company of England ; 
Norwalk Company of Norwalk, 
Conn. ; Phoenix Company of Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. ; Royal Company of 
Liverpool, Eng. ; Security Company 
of New Haven, Conn. ; Springfield 
F. & M. Company of Springfield, 
Mass. ; Western Assurance Com- 
pany of Toronto, Can. ; Westchester 
Company of New^ York, and the 
Fire Company, County of Philadel- 
phia. The following companies are 
also represented by Holt & Stevens. 
North Western Life of Alilwaukee ; 
the Aetna Life and Accident Com- 
panies of Hartford, Conn. ; United 
States Fidelity and Guarantee Com- 
pany of Baltimore, and the New 
York Plate Glass Company of New 
York. 

The members of this firm are 
counted among the more progres- 
sive men of Meriden, Mr. Holt 
being prominent in public life and 
possessing a creditable career as tax 
collector, in which capacity he now 
serves. Frank A. Stevens, although 
a younger man has proven his value 
as a resident of the town in many 
ways. He is the present secretary 
of the Meriden Board of Trade, 
which organization has been treated 
at length in these pages. Both 
Messrs. Holt and Stevens have dem- 
onstrated their local pride also in 
taking a prominent part in the Cen- 
tennial celebration, both gentlemen 
serving on the important Finance 
Committee. 



A. GREENBACKER & SONS. 



Adolf Greenbacker, of A. Green- 
backer & Sons, born in Steinmauern 
Baden, Germany, came to this coun- 
try and to Meriden in 1879. After 
being employed one year on a farm, 
he removed to Stonington, Illinois, 
where he rented a farm which he car- 
ried on five years. While there he 
began married life, and his first 
two children were born, as fol- 
lows: Josephine, now Mrs. Fred Hem- 
stead of New Haven, born March 9, 
1883, and Joseph, born July 12, 1884. 
He then took up 240 acres of govern- 
ment land at Wichita, Kan., which he 
stocked with all farming implements 
and machinery and improved the land 
to a high state of cultivation and was 
succeeding admirably when he found 
the climate did not agree with him and 
he returned east. Making his way 
back to Meriden with his wife and 
four children, for his second sor, 
Charles, was born at Wichita, Kaif., 
September 3, 1886, and also his son, 
Robert, November 29, 1889, and re- 
entered the Meriden Britannia Com- 
pany in 1890 where he remained ten 
years. , 

Five years later he selected his per- 
manent residence location on Old Col- 
ony road, opposite the Walnut Grove 
cemetery, and built his house on the 
lot which then comprised but three 
acres of land. He afterwards added 
to the land three acres purchased from 
Mrs. Cecelia Yale, the adjoining prop- 
erty of thirteen acres, of Mrs. Peck, 
including two houses ; and five acres 



MANUFACTORIES. 



^53 



of lames Hall, all of which land has 
since been highl}* cultivated. Still 
continuing at the Britannia shop, Air. 
Greenbacker, with his sons, first started 
a small milk route and, later, after his 
son. Joseph, who when he became six- 
teen years of age, went to Bridgeport 
where he remained two years, learn- 
ing the florist business, a greenhouse 
was built and the florist firm of A. 
Grecnl)acker & Sons was formed. 
Since then the business has grown 
steadily and rapidl}' and noticeable en- 



nie, born in Aleriden, October 2"], 1896. 
Mr. Greenbacker is an active mem- 
ber of the Meriden Grange and of the 
official board of Trinity M. E. church, 
of which church the members of his 
family are active members. 



CHURCH & MORSE. 



Meriden's leading hardware con- 
cern, Church & Morse, whose store 
is located directly opposite Colony 
street, in the Palace Block, has been 




Photo by R. S. Godfrey. 



GREENHOUSES OF A. GREENP.ACKEK .S: SONS. 



largements have been made. 

The fimi also grow garden truck 
and supply to the market much in that 
line. From the fifteen cows now pas- 
tured Mr. Greenbacker conducts a 
milk route of no small but limited pro- 
portions. 

Mr. Greenbacker takes pardonable 
;iride in his sons, who are trustwor- 
thy, conscientious and industrious 
>oung men, and besides the children 
above mentioned are the following : 
Rosic. born March 13, 1893. and An- 



in existence under its present name 
since 1879. and previous to that, 
back to 1872, the firm was known as 
Church & Sprague. The first loca- 
tion occupied was a small store on East 
Main street, near the railroad cross- 
ing, but the business .soon outgrew 
those quarters, and was removed to 
the present location, where the busi- 
ness has continued to grow and 
prosper. 

This hardware store has always 
kept abreast of the times and every- 



154 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



thing, usually found in a general 
hardware store, it contains. This 
reputable hardware store extends 
ninety feet to the rear and has 
a frontage of about twenty-five feet, 
and both the main floor and base- 
ment are stocked as full with goods 
as the commodious quarters allow. In 
addition to this the firm have a two 
and a half story brick storehouse 
fifty by eighty-eight feet in dimen- 
sions which for several years has 
been necessary to their business. 
The firm enjoys an enviable reputa- 
tion for reliability and does a large 
business in general hardware, tools, 
cutlery, builders' hardware, agricul- 
tural implements, skates, bicycles, etc. 

The reputation of the firm has 
been built up by treating every cus- 
tomer with the same degree of fair- 
ness, making the name of Church & 
Morse synonymous with honest 
goods and prices. George A. 
Church, who was a leading spirit of 
the firm for many years and was 
alwavs known as one of the most 
energetic, able and personally pop- 
ular men of the town, died Septem- 
ber 13, 1896, and since his death 
his son, Robert G. Church, a young 
man who inherits much of his 
father's business ability has taken 
his place in the store representing 
the interests of the estate. 

Charles P. Morse, who about 1879 
bought a half interest in the firm, 
one year after Mr. Church had pur- 
chased the share owned by Mr. 
Sprague, his first partner, is also 
known as one of the valued business 



men of the town. Mr. Morse, like 
his deceased partner, has ever shown 
a bona fide regard for the welfare 
of Meriden, and his long experience 
as a hardware merchant has made 
him thoroughly familiar with the 
wants of the community in his line. 
He is a member of Meriden Center 
Lodge, I. O. O. F., the Red Men and 
Royal Arcanum. The store also fur- 
nishes employment for several men 
who have become useful residents of 
the communitv. 



THE LA\\X HOTEL. 



One of the most picturesque sit- 
uations perhaps of any Connecticut 
hostelry is taht enjoyed by the 
Lawn Hotel, with spacious grounds 
facing Hanover St., adjoining Han- 
over Park, and possessing a wide 
water frontage on the lake of that 
name. The property comprising two 
acres of land, was originally the 1 
family residence of the late J. C. 
Breckenridge, for many years su- 
perintendent of the Meriden Cut- 
lery Compan}', and was converted 
into a hotel in 1889 by the late John 
Cassidy. At a large expense he 
rebuilt the house which has since 
been conducted as a hotel, being 
largely patronized in the summer 
months, but open all the year round. 
After achieving a reputation as a 
hotel man, Mr. Cassidy died in 1897 
and since that time the hotel has 
been conducted by his son, Joseph M 
Cassidv, a native of Meriden. who 



MANUFACTORIES. 



155 



I possesses the desirable qualifica- 
j tions of a successful boniface. The 
property is leased by him from his 
I mother. :\Irs. Mary Cassidy, who 
I became the owner of the land and 



THE BESSE-BOYNTOX CO. 



As Meriden celebrates her first cen- 
tennial as an incorporated town, its 
citizens have reason to feel justly 




:m-: lawx hotkl 



Ibuildmg^s at her husband's death, proud of her achievements. While the 

Hie Lawn Hotel is a popular resort product of the busy factories have 

^or both transient and permanent brought fame to the locality of .some 

Lniests and will be appreciated by of her mercantile establishments Mer- 

|>atrons during the Centennial week, iden has good reason to be proud, per- 



156 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



haps especially so, of the store of the 
Besse-Boyntoii Company, a benefit to 
the community and an ornament to 
the town and city since 1902 when it 
was established. 

The store occupies the whole build- 
ing at 19 Colony street, in the very 
heart of the business center, and its 
attractive show windows vie with the 
interior in point of attractiveness. 
The building now occupied by them 
presents itself in more pleasing con- 
trast since transformed from the 
boarding house for which purpose the 
building was formerly used. It was 
at no small expense that the companv 
altered the building which was en- 
tirely remodeled. A whole new front 
was put in and like the whole of the 
ground floor, extends to what was 
originally the top of the second story. 
In order to accomplish this one floor 
was taken out. The store since being 
under the present regime also has be- 
come possessed not only of pressed 
steel walls and ceilings of artistic pat- 
tern, but elaborate fittings, fixtures and 
equipments bringing about a most rad- 
ical change and making the store one 
of the most attractive in the state and 
wholly on a par with the other eight- 
een stores in as many cities now con- 
trolled by the Besse system, of which 
the Besse-Boynton Co. is a part. 
These stores are as follows : Besse- 
Boynton Co., Meriden, Conn. ; Besse- 
Mills Co., Holyoke. Mass. ; Besse- 
Rolfe Co., Lynn, Mass. ; Besse-Eld- 
ridge Co., Manchester, N. H. ; Besse- 
Bryant Co., Worcester, Mass. : Besse- 
Baker Co., Brockton, Mass. ; Besse- 



Boeker Co., Providence, R. I. ; Besse- 
Richey Co., New Haven, Conn.; 
Besse-Russell Co., Fall River, Mass.; 
Besse-Leland Co., New Britain, 
Conn. ; Besse-Carpenter Co., Spring- 
field, Mass. ; Besse-Bryant Co., Nash- 
ua, N. H. ; Besse-Sprague Co., Syra- 
cuse, N. Y. ; Besse-Fox Co., Bangor, 
Me. ; Besse-Avery Co., Kansas Cit\ , 
jMo. ; Bryant-Besse Co., Norwalk, 
Conn. ; Foster-Avery Co., Portland, 
Me. ; Foster-Besse Co., Bridgeport, 
Conn., and A. L. Foster Co., Hart- 
ford, Conn. This system is also as- 
sociated with the Foster system, com- 
prising twenty-three other stores, all 
of which have sprung from that es- 
tablished in Bridgeport by Foster- 
Besse & Co., in 1877, and the mother 
store has by no means any cause to be 
ashamed of her healthy offsprings, nor 
is the Meriden store any exception, 
for not only is it comely in appearance 
but the goods and prices are among 
its drawing qualities. There is a 
main floor where clothing, hats and 
men's furnishings are found in large 
quantities, and infinite variety. In 
the rear of the store is a balcony 
reached by an attractive staircase, 
where the office is located and also a 
large department containing boys' 
clothing. The basement is also an 
important part of this popular trading 
place for men and boys and there also 
is a large and most desirable stock of 
trunks and bags. The store is kept 
scrupulously neat and clean, and old 
stales are an unknown quantity there. 
The large number of clerks kept busy, 
and the larsre volume of business done 



MANUFACTORIES. 



.■>/ 



sliuw > that not only is the store attrac- 
tive to the buying pubHc, but that the 
goods meet with favor among: the 
well dressed men and boys of the Sil- 
ver City and surrounding territory. 

The store as first opened was known 
as liesse-Boeker Co., but February, 
1904, was changed to the present style. 
Mr. Boeker, who had managed the 
store up to that time, resigned to take 
charge of another of the Besse sys- 
tem stores at Providence, R. I. The 
company as now incorporated, consists 
of L. W". Besse. president and A. E. 
IJoynton, secretary and treasurer, the 
latter being the resident manager. 
Mr. Boynton came to ^^leriden to take 
charge of the store which now bears 
his name, after having been associated 
with the IJesse system for a number 
of year^. and having formerly beei"". 
employed at the Springfield store of 
the Besse-Carpenter Co. He has at- 
tained his present position in the com- 
pany from the bottom round of the 
business ladder. Since coming to this 
city he has fully upheld the ideals of 
his predecessor, and continued to in- 
crease the trade and popularity of the 
store, and incidentally to make many 
staunch friends in both local business 
and social circles. ]\Ir. Boynton re- 
'^ides on Linslev avenue. 



AKERS & PIGEON. 



Akers & Pigeon, a firm of good 
repute, engaged in portrait ])hotog- 
raphy at 35VS West Main street. 
consists of a partnership formed in 
March 1903. between John Akers 
and Ernest W. Pigeon. The quartern 



are admirable for the extensive busi- 
ness carried on in the production of 
high grade portraiture. The entire 
second floor of the large double 
building is occupied and this is pro- 
vided with a convenient entrance. The 
studio is one of the largest and hand- 
somest in the state and contains 
excellent specimens of photography. 
The establishment is fitted with all 
the latest and best facilities, includ- 
ing an artisto electric lighting ma- 
chine used for both printing and 
making sittings in the absence of sun- 
light. 

The nucleus of the present busi- 
ness was formed in 1894 when Mr. 
Akers made his debut in the photo- 
graphic circles of Meriden as a mem- 
ber of the firm of Haley & Akers. 
the location being in the Hall <!<: 
Lewis building at the corner of Col- 
ony and \'\'est .Main street, with au 
entrance at 6 East Main street. The 
work of his first studio gave Mr. 
Akers a high standing in his chosen 
calling, which he has since main- 
tained, and the partnership of Haley 
& Akers was continued until July, 
1899 when it was dissolved. Haley 
& .Akers removed to the i)resent lo- 
cation in September. 181/'). the pres- 
ent ])artnership forming as above 
stated. On November 1. 1903. Mr. 
Akers purchased the DeLamater 
studio at Hartford, which he ha>^ 
since conducted with marked suc- 
cess, catering in the Capitol City to 
a trade which comprises a most ex- 
clusive portion of the population. T<1 
the Hartford <tu<1io be has ever 



158 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 




JOHN AKERS. 



MANUFACTORIES. 



159 




ERNEST \V. Pir.EON. 



i6o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



since devoted the major portion of 
his time. 

John Akers was born in Philadel- 
phia, November 29, 1868, and has 
been a resident of Meriden con- 
tinuously since he took a place in 
the ranks of the local business men. 
The work of the studios bearing his 
name has been such as to reflect 
credit upon both ^leriden and Hart- 
ford, and due to his skill as an oper- 
ator and his extended experience 
of several years, during which time 
he has always been a close student 
of his business. He is a member of 
Alfred H. Hall Council, 1423, Royal 
Arcanum. He was married in 1899 
to Bessie, a daughter of Winfield 
R. Coe, a representative of one of 
the oldest and best known families 



Ernest W. Pigeon was born ii 
Meriden in 1880 and was educatei 
in the public schools. After takins 
a three years" course in the Meri 
den High school, he entered thcj 
studio of Haley & Akers in 189^1 
and has been associated with Mr 
Akers ever since. He proved him- 
self an apt scholar, and being pos-i 
sessed of a natural talent his ad-{ 
vancement has been rapid. Since 1903! 
he has been in charge of the studio! 
of which he is now also a part] 
owner. He is a member of Meriden! 
Lodge, 35, Benevolent and Protec- j 
tive Order of Elks, and like Mr. 
Akers is known as one of the 
younger progressive business men 
of the town. In ^lay, 1906, he made 
a tour abroad. 




FALLS AT HANOVER LAKE. 



INDEX. 



l6l 



INDEX. 



PART I. 



[ Abercrombie, General, 265. 
I .\bolition Agitation, 156. 
! Academy Hall, 363. 
i .^dam.s, Henry, 212. 
.Vetna Peat Works, 15. 
Allen, Archelaus, 270, 278, 
[ 320; Eciward C, 278, 
: 320; Etlu.n, 282; John, 
L'69, 278, 320; Levi, 238; 
-•S9, 319, 320; Norman, 387; 
I William, 320; Wm. H., 
240; Farm, 266; Museum 
Music Room, Menagerie 
and "Happy Family," 388. 
Ailing-, Roger, 320. 
l.All Saints' Church, 320. 
^•nerican Anti-Slavery So- 
iety, 253. 
iierican Revolution, 267- 



lusement, Early Places or 
:'<;7, 388. 

■ lerson, Asher, 158. 
■Irews, Aaron, 236, 237, 
.•><6; Abner, 277; Alfred, 
"t; .\lmon, 360; Amos, 284; 
\iidrew. 284; Burr, 359, 
Han, 238, 334; Denison, 
:i"»3, 306; Harvey, 337; Ira, 
342; Laban, 134, 287, 
294, 298, 299, 301, 
Mill, 216, 217, 321, 
Moses, 134, 216, 303, 
Nathan, 53, 54; Pitt, 
299; Samuel. 53, 55, 
134; 229, 230, 266, _ _ 
293, 306; Rev. Samuel, 251, 
297, 298, 302, 303, 305; 
Stephen, 301; T., 103; 
Thomas, 96, 102; Timothy, 
148; Wm., 10, 11, 133, 266, 
2S9; Andrews & Warren, 
367. 
widrias, William, 139. 
UHlrus, Laban, 264; Raehal, 
160; Samuel, 139; Thomas, 
139; Timothy, 160. 

'fithony, John, 284; Lemuel, 
'). 289. 

• I'endix. 3^:^,. 

her, It A., Place, 64, 91, 
1-9. 130, 241, 322, 323; 
Hfirriet A.. 130. 

mold's Treason, 277. 

i-ticles of -Agreement, Gold- 
en Parlor Mine, 230. 

spinwall, Eleazer, 26, 
73. 103. 

tkins. Stephen, 360. 

iwater. Abel Ward, 
Abigailf. 256; Caleb, 
223, 266. 301 : Christopher, 
^♦), 269; Elihu, 264; Fran- 



292, 
306; 
322; 
306; 
287, 
133, 
291, 



27, 



281; 

!15 



I'is, 107, 239, 392; Isaac, 
278; Jei'emiah, 228; John, 
70, 72; Jonathan, 107; 
Joshua, 224; Moses, 301; 
Reuben, 301; Stephen, 86, 
107, 128, 133, 276; Titus, 
284; William, 219; Wm. J., 
281. 

Austin, Amos, 270, 286; Asa, 
301, 302; Benjamin, 276, 
286; David, 220; John, 286; 
Noah, 273; Samuel, 149, 
228. 

Author's Conclusion, 393. 

Avered, Abner, Jr., 270. 

Avery, Hannah, 125. 

Bacon, Nathaniel, 229. 

Bailey, Daniel, 270; Stephen. 
99, 100, 337, 358 

Balding, Dan, 143; Daniel, 
91. 

Baldwin, Charles, 323; Col- 
onel, 276, 277; Daniel, 79, 
105. 110, 111, 236, 242, 330; 
Daniel Farm, 110, 111, 
113; Elias, 360; Families, 
137; James, 136, 137, 214, 
215, 277, 314; Jehiel, 330; 
Lois, 110; Mill, 137, 234; 
262, 314; Moses, 137, 269, 
313, 348; Mrs. N. S., 137; 
Mrs. Nathan, 276: Nathan 
S., 137 313, 314; Pond, 58, 
77, 78,' 149. 219: R., 347; 
Ransom. 137. 325: Samuel, 
308: Samuel, Jr., 238; 

Bangall, Origin of Name, 
308, 357. 

Barclay, Robt., 44. 45, 48. 

Barker, Edward, 252; Jno., 
252. 

Barlow, Gardner, 240. 

Barnes, Asa. 320. 321: Capt, 
277: Eli. 216. 321, 337, 338 
346; Family, 84; Samuel, 
269. 

Barns, John, 279: Moses, 
284. 338, 342, 354. 

Barrett. John, 220. 

Bartholomew, Joseph, 270. 

Bartlett, James, 16. 

Basett, H. D., 365. 

Bassett Block. 346. 

Bates, Dan'l, 264. 

Battles of Brandvwine, 277, 
282; Bunker Hill, 271, 
296: Concord, 270; Ger- 
mnntown, 282: Greenwich, 
289, 299; Long Island, 
273. 275, 282, 283; Mon- 
mouth. 282; Princeton, 
281; Stillwater, 281; Tren- 



ton. 281; White Plains, 275, 
281'. 

Baumann, Fred A., 111. 

Beach, Asa, 284; John, 56: 
John, Sr., 261; Joseph P.. 
56, 74; Moses, 264; Roswell, 
284; Samuel, 301; Stephen, 
281; Thomas, 54. 

Beardsley, Erwin, 58. 

Beaver, Dam, Brook and 
Pond, 59, 80, 216. 

Beckett Homestead, 342. 

Becklev, Evelyn, 367; Orin, 
349; R. H., 359. 

Beck with. Reynolds, 151. 

Beech, John, 53: Thos. 160. 

Beetle, Nathaniel, 263. 

Belcher, Andrew, 17, 19, 22, 
23, 26, 27, 28, 41, 43; An- 
drew, Capt., 20, 21, 24; An- 
drew, Jr., 41; Andrew, Sr., 
20, 30; Farm, 14, 16, 20, 
28. 29, 42, 72, 73, 93, 99, 
102, 138, 225, 228, 316, 
317, 336, 337; Jonathan, 
20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 
28, 72, 100, 228; Johna- 
than. Jr., 27; Mines, 233; 
Sarah (Gilbert), 84; Tav- 
ern. 225. 

Belden. Aziel, 349; House, 
342, 344. 

Bell. George, 231. 

Bellamy. Asa, 284; Farm, 
228: Matthew, 220. 

Benham, Asahel, 224; Da- \ 
rius. lis, 289: Henry W, 
118; Jared, 271, 280, 28'^. 
337, 342; John, 254; Jo- 
seph, 53, 54, 254, 255, 256; 
Joseph, Jr., 262, 263; Sam- 
uel, 270; Winifred and 
Daughter. 256, 257, 258. 

Bergen Heights, 275. 

Berry, Diamond. 265; Divan, 
116, 118. 234. 269. 276, 315; 
Divan, Jr., 116: Ensign Di- 
van. 301; Ephraim, 117. 
266; Farm, 116, 117: John, 
151; Lots, 117; Mary, 315; 
Thos. Jan., 163. 

Beseck Mountain, 6. 7, 79. 

Beset Mountain, 313, 326, 
330. 331. 332. 

Birdsev. Alanson, 365; Ed- 
win," 216. 360: Eli <^., 149, 
220. 365: Linus, 339, 365; 
Birdsev & Miles. 365; Bird- 
sev & Raven, 365. 

Bishop, Elisha. 284; Farm, 
76. 77, 81, 82: J:imes. 75, 
76, 78, 91: Samuel, Jr., 220; 
Sarah, 160; Wyllys, 280; 



1 62 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Yale, 151, 226, 279; Sarah 
(Yale), 161. 

Black Boss (Negro), 27S. 

Black Pond, 58, 79, 215, 216, 
310. 311, 331. 

Blake, Johnson & Curtis, 
359. 

Blakeslee, Abraham, 302; 
Esther, 246; Samuel, 284. 

Boarding- Schools, 224. 

Boar Hills, 44. 

Booth. Capt., Place of, 312; 
Cyrenus. 101; John. 270; 
Loval. Pla'ce of, 313; Pond. 
123; Walter, 95. 96, 354. 
355; Wm. H., 312. 

Botsford, Isaac, 317. 337. 

Bounty for Service in Revo- 
lutionary War, 283. 

Bowen. Fred F., 229. 

Bowing Hill, 332. 

"Bovs^l," The. 122. 

Bradley, Battalion, 275, 276 
Col., 275: Daniel, 126, 284 
Hiram, 359; John B., 289 
Wm., Place of, 135; Brad- 
lev & Hubbard Mfg-. Co., 
253, 346, 355, 356. 

Bray. Asa. 322. 

Briggs, Samuel, 269. 

Brinton, William, 284. 

Bristol, Beniamin, 284; Gid- 
eon. 270; Timothy. 265. 

British Invasion of New Ha- 
ven. 152; Prison on Long 
Island. 276, 278 

Broad St. Cemetery, 102. 
153. 163. 288, 310. 

Brocket, Hezekiah, 265; Ja- 
bez, 261, 262. 263; Samuel 
262, 263; Ebenezer, 284 
Elisha, 252; James. 76 
John, 11. 53; John. Sr.. 54 
Mary, 295; Mill, 214; Sam- 
uel. 261; Titus, 214, 247, 294, 
295. 29 6. 

Brockitt, John. 10. 

Bronson, Titus, 337. 

Brooks, David, 301. 302; 
Enos. 265; James S., 349, 
361, 362. 

Brown, Asa. 280; James, 
284; Samuel, 54. 

Browne, Samuel, 53. 

Bryant, Hillard, 293. 

Bucknum, John, 349. 

Buckwheat Hill. 59. 

Buel. Affrica. 285; Benjamin, 
353. 

Bull, Caleb. 96; Geo., 355; 
Isaac, 222, 301; Lyman & 
Couch, 359. 

Bunnel, Ebenezer, 265; Levi, 
284; Nathaniel, 281, 282, 
283. 

Burdick's Hall, 363. 

Burgoyne, General, 278. 

Burns, David. 284. 

Burnt Swamp, 115. 

Burr. Aaron, 28. 

Burroughs, Eden. 102; Ed- 
ward, 99, 228; Farm, 228; 
John, 70, 72, 99, 100. 

Bush, Fanner, 154, 253, 355, 
356. 

Butler, Agnes C. .130; Com- 
fort, 280; Place of. 314, 
316; Eli. 99; Eli C, 316; 
Henry C. 240, 316, 361, 
363. 367; Hiram. 316; Joel 
I., 316, 363; John, 269. 289. 



315, 341, 359, 361; Lemuel, 
289, 316; Samuel, 98. 139, 
233; Butler & Olds, 338, 361. 

Button Factories, 353, 354; 

Button, Jedediah. 281. 

Bvxbee Bros. Block, Rebuilt. 
387; Hotel of John C. & 
Theodore and Railroad 
Station, 386. 

Cabon, James, 279. 

Cadv. Daniel. 284 

Calkins, Israel. 265. 

Camp, Abiathar. 300: Amos. 

73. 115, 139, 143. 148. 149, 

151; Amos. Jr., 151; Elah. 

2nd, 96. 115. 289; Ichabod. 

293; Job, 330; John. 115. 
Carrington, James, 224. 
Carter, John. 220; Maria, 

130; Thad's, 265; Good- 
rich & Bishop, 356. 
Castle Craig-. 6. 
Cathole. 59. 72 .73: Mountain. 

98. 337; Pass. 23, 316. 31S. 
Catlin, Benjamin, 240: Mrs. 

Benj., Extracts of Diarv. 

of. 387. 
Cat Swamp, 59, 217. 
Cedar Tree Boundary, 327. 
Cemetery Inscriptions, 163. 
Census of 1860 and 1870. 389 
Center Congregational Ch'ch 

79, 124, 154. 155, 253. 346; 

District School, Built, 389. 
Central Tavern, 107, 108, 

149. 239, 240. 339, 353, 367. 
Chamberlain, Ephraim, 282, 

283. 286. 
Chambers. Ephraim, 270. 
Chapin, J. H. 350. 
Chauncev. Elihu, 264. 
Cherry Hill, 326. 
Cheshire, Set Off as a Sepa- 
rate Town. 333: Parish of. 

234, 237. 301. 
Ohester, Leonard, 331. 
riTimnev Hill. 79. 
rhittenden. Beniamin. 270. 
Churchill, Asa H.. 241; Benl.. 

70. 
Church & Morse. 81. 
City Clerks, 399. 
City Reservoir and Charter 

Amendment. 389. 
Clanboard Hill. 90. 
Clnrk. .4aron, 284; Abel, 284; 

Daniel, 39, 40. 41. 218. 258, 

266; Divan. 284: Ebenezer, 

258. 259: Georare, 342: Jen- 

nett. 314; Joseph. 284 

Lamberton. 277; Lvman 

Factory of. 385; Partrick. 

97, 217. 238. 349: Partrick. 

Jr. 3 49; P. P. 288: Samuel 

349: Place of. 96. 102, 310. 
Clarke. John, 36. 
Coan. Wm. D., 360; Wm. L., 

359. 
Coburn. .Tames, 284; Joseph. 

277, 284. 
Coe. Andrew. Farm of. 63: 

Andrew J.. 320; Calvin. 

320. 321; Calvin. Place. 

217. 321. 353: Castle. 320. 

321; Farm. 321: John, 233: 

John W.. 86: Russell, 365; 

T^'infleld R., 320. 
roE^srswell. Robert. 36. 88. 
Cold Harbor. 44. 45. 46. 47: 

Spring, 6, 12, 13, 16, 17, 24, 



37, 38, 40. 41, 47; Home, 6. 

Cole, Ebenezer, 278; Estate, 
101; Eunice, 143; Family, 
128; Farm, 76, 90, 93. 94; 
Hannah. 90; Henry, 18, 60, 
66, 69, 70, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 
94, 98; James, 90, 92; Joel 
278; John, 98, 142, 267; Jo- 
seph, 73, 139, 142; Rebeknh, 
90; Samuel, 90; William, 
65, 90, 115, 139 

Collins. Benj. W., 109; Dan., 
98, 109, 151, 277, 279, 333, 
334; Edward, 98, 151, 267, 
280, 286, 354; Edward, 
House of, 98, 99; Farm, 99; 
Giles, 319; John, 289; John 
B., 354; Jonathan. 96, 97, 
102, 148, 149, 214, 229, 318, 
349; Farm of, 102; Jona- 
than, Jr , 97; Lament, 
310; Lemuel, 265; Robert, 
97. 98. 142, 149, 214, 229, 
233; Robert. Jr., 98; Sam- 
uel, 269, 278, 284; Uriah. 
301; Collins & Merriam, 
354. 

Congregational Church. 303. 
353: First Church, 82; 
Center, 154, 155. 

Conklin Hall, 363; Conk- 
lin's Hotel. 362. 363. 365. 

Connecticut School for Boys, 
93, 216. 

Cook, Ambrose, 269; Benja- 
min, 266; Coe, 281; Isaac, 
237; David. 218, 249, 250, 
251, 267; Elihu, 284; Em- 
ma L., 86; Ephraim. 336; 
George, 284; Giles, 270; 
Henry, 265; Isaac, 265, 

- 269, '270, 271. 276. 282; 
Jared R.. 300. 360: Joel. 44, 
284, 323: Johnson, 284, 
Nathaniel, 265; Phinehas, 
249, 250; Reuben T., lOfi; 
Samuel, 5 3, 216. 3fiO; 
Thomas B.. 224; Warren, 
284; William, 284; Samuel, 
54. 

Cooley, Asael, 269. 

Cooper. Ebenezer, 98, 117. 
139. 234; John, 11; Thank- 
ful. 234: Thomas, 98. 

Corner District School- 
house, 82, 366. 

Corrigan's Corner, 23, 316, 
317. 337. 

Couch, James, 161; John, 
279, 325, 326, 333, 334. 
149, 150. 269. 270, 271, 276, 
279. 325. 326, 333, 334. 

Cowles, Ebenezer, 128, 14."). 
163, 236; Ebenezer. Jr.. 
128, 163: Elisha A, 81, 102, 

128, 253. 289, 343. 344, 353, 
354, 356, 361, 362; Mrs. 
Elisha A., 368; Joseph, 128, 

129, 160, 161. 163. 
Cowls, Mindwell, 160. 161; 

Moses. 238; Roswell. 102, 

239. 240. 343: Roswell. 

Sabbath Dav House. 311: 

Timothy. 163: Cowles & 

Butler. 361. 
Towner. John. 10. 
Crocker. Orsamus. 357, 360; 

Place of. 58. 
Crow Hollow, 65. 355. 356. 
Culver. Beni., 265, 266: Chas., 

270; Ebenezer. 263; Joshua, 



Index. 



163 



70, 72; Samuel, 269; Sam- 
uel, 283; Stephen, 265. 

Cumber, Lemon (Negro), 
285. 

Curtis, Aaron, 160, 162; Abel, 
107, 122, 123, 247, 264, 278, 
:;79, 315; Abner, 266; Al- 
fred P., 122, 126; Alfred P. 
Homestead, 127; Alfred W., 
126; Amasa, 221, 340, 361; 
.\mos, 221, 341, 354; Amos, 
House of, 221; Asahel, 
289, 314, 354; Place of, 3l4, 
315, 342; Asahel, Jr., 314; 
Benjamin, 118, 122, 123, 
126, 143, 152, 160, 265, 266, 
314, 340; house of, 123; 
Benjamin, Jr., 340; Edwin 
E., 122, 325, 359; Elisha, 
280; Enos, 122, 123, 143, 
144, 234, 354, 359; Farm, 
12z; George Munson, 5; 
George R., 122, 314, 368; 
Mrs. George K., 82; Har- 
rison W., 359, 365; Home, 
44, 128, 135, 291, 356; Hom- 
er, 122, 253, 355, 368; Isaac, 
58; Isbell Co., 356; Ivah, 
115, 152, 238; Jesse, 35-3; 
John, 122; Juliette Y., 126; 
340; Lemuel J., 122, 359; 
Levi, 107, 217, 342; Lucy 
Maria, 221; Memorial Li- 
brary, 128; Moses, 122, 265; 
Nathaniel, 72, 122, 248; 
Samuel, 126, 289; Samuel 
Ives, 114, 115; Sylvester J. 
221; Thomas, 53, 54, 55; 
Thomas, Ensign, 122; Wil- 
liam A., 221; Wintield S, 
266; Curtis & Lewis, 338.' 

purtiss, Giles, 270; Morgan 

\ & Co., 356. 

L'utlery Manufacturers, 356. 



ana, James, 124, 146, 151, 
232, 268, 294, 297, 305, 306. 

pavenport, Deodate, 147; 
John, 7, 9, 10, 11. 12, 13, 
31. 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 46, 
47, 53, 75, 320. 

pavidson, John, 280, 360. 

(Javies, Amos, 270. 

pavis. John ,264; Thomas, 

I 289; Timothy P., 240 

jlJay of Doom, The," M'ichael 

i Wigglesworth, 210. 

feeds and Patents to Lands, 

Jeer Hill, 59, 63, 139. 
■•eming Asael. 269; Joseph. 
249. 

e Mink, Joseph, 249, 251. 
ennie, John, 9 9. 
|e Rouville, M., 113. 

Ileshon, Giles H., 287; John, 
1287. 
*>tention of Prisoners in 
W:illingford, 304. 

Wolf, Seth, 96, 226. 
' kerman. Rebecca, 151; 
.lohn. i;38. 

sonifying and Seating 
First Meeting House, 145, 
! :.(>. 

:^iiity Committee, 151. 
I^e, Israel, 284. 

Misery Swamp, 58, 59, 
63, 64, 65, 81, 139, 140, 



Domestic Makeshifts, 212. 

Doolittle, Abraham, 53; Dan- 
iel, 26o; E. J., 94, 96; Giles, 
265; Insign, 261; Isaac, 269, 
liSl; John, 262, 263. 281; 
Joseph, 281; Martha, 252; 
Mary, 96; Moses, 266; Oli- 
ver, 2.^1; Samuel, 265; 
Sergt, 261; Solomon, 280. 

Dorchester Heights, 272. 

Douglas, Nathaniel, 2 78. 

Douglass, John B., 102. 

Dowlittle, Abraham, Sr., 54. 

Dragoons, 2 62. 

Driggs, Joseph, 216. 

Drunkenness, 243. 

Dudley, Thomas, 270. 284. 

Duignan, W. H., 51. 

Dunham, John, 2nd, 349. 

Dutton, Jesse, 263. 

Dwelling Houses Erected in 
1868-1870, 389. 

Dwight, Samuel, 229. 

Eagle Cottage. 387. 

Earle, Alice M., 227. 

Early Game, 211; Industries, 
346; Medical Practitioners, 
233; Roads, 11; Stoves, 
244. 

Ebnatha, Wm., 261. 

Eaton, Hannah, 75; James, 
54, 56; Theophilus, 7, 8, 9, 
11, 31, 32, 34, 36, 38, 75, 
118, 320. 

Edwards, Capt., 278; Family, 
102; Jonathan, lol; Joseph, 
140, 280, 317; House, 101; 
Nathaniel, 28; Pierpont, 
220. 

Fives, John, 55, 56; Joseph, 
5li. 

Elliott, John, 112. 

Elmor, Edward, 20; Samuel, 
19. 

Emancipation of Slaves, 252. 

Engine House and Police 
Station Built, 389. 

Episcopal Church, 152; in 
Wallingford, 134; Clergy- 
men, 342. 

Evelyn, John, 45, 50. 

Everest, Charles H., 158. 

Everitt, E. B., 343. 

Parmington, Jeremiah, 280. 

Parrington, Jeremiah, 340; 
Joseph, 342. 

Pay, Prank S., 126; George 
A., 126, 385; Diary of, 
386; Mrs. Geo. A., 126. 

Fenn, Benjamin, 264; Ed- 
ward, 252; Nathan, Mill, 
216. 

Fernow, Berthold, 309. 

Fires, 1864, 385; 1862, 1863, 
1870, 386; 1860, 1865, 1869, 
387. 

First: Burying Ground, 159; 
Call for Troops, 271; City 
Government, 389; Congre- 
gational Society, 137, 140, 
156; Church, 320; 175th 
-Anniversary, 145; Original 
Meeting Mouse. 159: First 
Contested Will. 19; Cy- 
clometer. 227; Manufactur- 
er, 346; Permanent Wliite 
Resident, 17; Ir*lanters, 
122; Pleasure Carriage in 



Wallingford, 292; Public 
Condemnation of Slavery, 
251; Physician, 98, 233; 
Railroad Station and 
Train, 362; Selectmen, 
397. 398; Settlement. 6; 
Settlers of Meriden. I60; 
Society of Meriden. 278; 
Stove in Meriden, 220, 342; 
Town Meeting, in Meet- 
ing House, 336, 337. 
Field, Edmund, 284. 
Pitch, Capt., 266; Jonathan, 

226. 
Flood of 1792. 322. 
Foot, Isaac, 264. 

Ford, Benjamin, 284; Jo- 
tham, 284; Sanborn, 279. 

Forts: George, 286; Jeffer- 
son, 288; Lee, 275, 281; 
MifHin, 282; Montgomery, 
277; Ticonderoga, 265; 
Washington, 275, 276, 277, 
278, 283;; William Henry, 
265. 

Foster: Albert, 354, 355; B, 
103; Bartholomew, 93, 95'. 
96, 120, 139, 142; Farm of, 
233; George A., 114; Giles, 
96, 216, 280; H. M., 364; 
Henry M., 359, 363; Hiram, 
88, 355; Joel, 114; Jona- 
than, 149; Levi, 114, 337; 
Matthew, 238, 289; Mer- 
riam & Co., 93, 355, 359; 
Ozius, 280; Pond, 58, 114; 
Thomas, 93 103, 229, 280; 
Timothy, 93, 103, 139, 163, 
267, 280. 

Francis: Amos, 347; Asa, 265; 
Jacob, 252,. 264; John, 115, 
245, 284. 

Franklin Hall, 365. 

Frary, James A., 359. 

Fraze.r, Jas., 287. 

Freeman: Cato (Negro), 
115, 245; Charles (Negro), 
247; Chatham (Negro), 
115. 128, 245, 247, 248, 277, 
285. 

French and Indian Wars, 
260-263. 

Fowler, Amos, 270. 

Fox, Ebenezer, 284. 

Fugitive Slaves, 253. 

Puller, Margaret, 156. 

Gage, General, 291; Thomas, 
291. 

Gale, Francis A., 136, 359. 

Gates, Gen., 275, 276, 281. 

Gay, Henry L., 155. 

Gaylord John 155; Jotham, 
280; W. L., 158. 

Gilbert, Ebenezer, 39, 41; 
Hannah, 256: Jonathan, 
13, 15. 16, 19, 30, 40, 41, 42, 
48, 67, 68, 226; Jonathan, 
Jr., 19; Jonathan, Mar- 
shall, 16; Meriden Farm. 
13, 17, 19, 40. 44, 67, 69. 
88: Mary. 18; Nathaniel, 
19, 39; Samuel. 349; Sarah, 
43; Tavern, 225. 

Gin Distillery, 216, 217. 

Gold Mining, 228; in Wooded 
Island at Merimere, 232 

Golden Parlor Mine, 135, 229] 
230, 236; .\ssociation. 230. 
232; Company, 130, 232. 



164 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEIsr. 



Goffe, Aaron, 90, 94, 96; Sol- 
omon, 96, 97; Farm, 98. 

Goodale, Richard, 9U. 

Goodrich, Charles A., 332; 
David, 327; John, Jun., 
349; Goodrich & Rutty, 359. 

Goodsill, Anthony, 2 84. 

Goodwin, Thomas, 230. 

Goodyear, Stephen, 38. 

Granger, Arthur, 156. 

Grannis, E)nos, 354. 

Grant, Ebenezer, 300; Wil- 
liam, 284. 

Gravestones, Meeting House 
Hill, 159, 162; at Broad St. 
Cemetery, 163-208. 

Great: Awakening, 290; 
Plague, 54; Road, Boston 
to New York, 226; Swamp, 
(Kensington, 266; Swamp 
Parish, 39, 41; Society of, 
73. 

Green, S. S., 360. 

Gregson, Thomas, 38. 

Grimes House, 99. 

Griswold, Abner 338; Fred- 
erick P., 341; Giles O., 289, 
337, 343; Harry, 360; Jo- 
siah, 230, 231; Place, 320. 

Guy, Abigail (Branford), 
310; Esther, 120; George 
W., 120; Joel H., 120; Or- 
chard, 120; Orchard, Place 
of, 120, 121. 

Hackbarth, Charles, 97. 

Hackley, Aaron, 22 3. 

Hale, William, 362. 

Hall: Aaron, 284; Abigail, 
311; Abraham, 113, 264, 
265, 266, 311; Alfred H., 
158; Amos, 73, 231, 252; 
Asahel, 301; Augustus, 311, 
312; Avery, 354; Benajah, 
284; Benj., 287, 301, 308; 
Benj. A, 311, 312, 352; 
Brenton, 79, 80, 151, 216, 
226, 338, 279, 310; Caleb, 
298; Caspar, 310; Place of, 
79; Chas., 286; Chester, 270; 
Clayton F., 312; Collins, 
310; Place of, 311; Daniel, 
63, 113, 114, 120, 139, 151, 
242, 266, 280, 312, 330; 
Daniel Farm, 114; Daniel 
Johnson, 284; David, 58, 
252, 278, 284, 301; Eliah, 
287; Eliakim, 267, 301; Eli- 
hu, 248; Elijah, 274; Elisha, 
284; Enos, 280; 311; Enos, 
2nd, 337; Farms, 309; Geo., 
288; Geo. A., 312; Geo. L,., 
312; Hannah, 163, 213; Ira, 
238; Isaac, 116, 151, 235, 
236, 237, 276, 280, 286; 
Place of, 235; Isaac, 3rd, 
151; Isaac, Jr., 276; Israel, 
136, 139, 271, 280, 311, 312. 
330 337; Israel. Jr , 269; 
Joash, 278; Joel, 269, 278; 
John, 53, 54, 113, 114, 124 
151, 236; John P., 114; 
Johnathan, 235, 237, 238 
276, 277; Joseph, 114, 337; 
Jotham,, 277, 284; Julius. 
114, 238; Julius, Home- 
stead of, 63, 242; Lee 
227; Levi, 215, 337; Love, 
124; Lyman, 310; Mehit- 
able, 160, 162; Moses, 



163, 269, 271, 276, 277, 280, 
284; House of 313; Moses, 
Jr., 280; Nelson, Home- 
stead, 312; Phineas, 280, 
311, 312; Phineas, 2nd, 
216; Rufus, 277, 284; Sal- 
mon, 289; Samuel, 53, 54, 
70, 71, 100, 107, 115, 124, 
2Z7, 239, 269, 271, 279, 284, 
330, 341, 342, 344; Samuel, 
3rd, 270; Capt. Samuel, 
2o-i; hev. Samuel, 78, 80, 
124, 247, 310, 330; Capt. 
Street, 278, 282; Col. 
Street, 287, 310, 334; Lieut. 
coi atreet, 281; Thaddeus, 
2Si; Theophilus, 78, 92, 98, 
107, liS, 120, 123, 124, 125, 
126, 128, 131, 141, 142, 143, 
147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 159, 
160, 162, 163, 213, 227, 238, 
242, 244, 248, 330, 340, 341; 
House, 108 (also see Illus- 
trations; Thomas, 53, 55, 
58, 70, 71 114, 252, 312, 
330; Timothy, 280; Titus, 
264, 270, 284; Walter, 311, 
315; House of, 106; Walter 
B., 217, 342; Willard, 123, 
249; House of, 107; Wil- 
liam B., 238. 

Ha 11am, Mrs. Robert A., 314. 

Hamilton, Alexander, 290. 

Hanging Hills, 122. 

Hanover, Origin of Name, 
233. 

Harri'man, John, 53, 54. 

Harris, Daniel, 142; Farm, 
107, 124. 

Hart: Benjamin, 126, 154, 
221, 269, 278, 279, 284, 340; 
Ellen, 36; Hawkins, 70, 71, 
264, 265; Hawkins, 283; 
Hezekiah, 328; Ives W., 236; 
Nathaniel, 301; Nathaniel 
J., 270; Timothy, 284; Tim- 
othy, Jr., 270; Titus, 284. 

Hastings, John, 284. 

Hatch, Edward W , 240. 

Hathaway, Keyes S., 96. 

Hawley, Abel, 163. 

Hayden, Hiram C., 157. 

Hazard. James, 218. 

Heart, Capt., 277. 

Heaton, Francis, 53. 

Hecock, John, 142. 

Hendei-son, Walter, 229, 230. 

Hendrie, Benjamin, 284. 

Heydon, Charles. 284 

Higbee: Daniel, 229 ; Edward, 
13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 47, 48, 
67, 69, 88, 90, 91, 93, 99, 
229, 230; Farm 88, 90; 
John, 17. 

Higbey, Aaron, 118; Place of, 
117; John, 48. 

Higginson, E H., 23, 29, 228; 
Edward, 99; Farm of, 100. 

Hill, Josiah, 337. 

Hills, Jonathan, 337. 

Hine, Ambrose, 282, 284. 

Hinsdale. Chas. J., 154. 

Hitchcock: Amos, 266; Dan- 
iel, 281; David, 283; Icha- 
bod, 284; John, 80, 147, 
264; Lemuel, 282; Levi, 
284; Oliver, Jr , 270- 
Thomas, 263, 284. ' 

Hogge, Daniel, 53. 

Holcolm, Joel,, 265. 



Holt, Daniel, 132, 135; Elea- 
zer, 53, 56; Elias, 350; 
House, 352; Hill, 135, 291; 
Joseph, 58; Samuel, 222, 
284; Thomas, 263; Thomas 
R., 359. 

Home National Bank, 82. 

Homespun Clothing, 212. 

Hoofman, Caspar, 233 

Hooker, John, 220', 346; 
Thomas, 47. 

Hopkins, Edward, 8; Joseph, 
24. 

Hopp Lots, 59. 

Hopper, Daniel, 55. 

Hopson, Calvin, 270; Linus, 
283; Rice, 270. 

Hosford, Amos, 265. 

Hotchkiss, Prince (Negro), 
285: Samuel S. B, 284. 

Hough: Ambrose, 216, 217, 
337, 338; Place of, 311, 
342; Avery, 102; Capt's 
Company, 280; Daniel, 126, 
130, 147, 160, 212, 213, 226, 

234, 239, 265; Homestead 
of, 127; Daniel, 161; Place 
of, 340; Ephraim, 149, 217, 
218, 235; Ephraim, Jr., 
218; Ephraim's, Mill, 215, 

218; Farm, 137, 229; Insign, 
280, 337; Dr. Insign, 126, 
130, 227, 238, 239, 286, 339, 
367; Isaac I., 81, 107, 233, 

235, 238, 239, 240, 350, 361; 
James, 137, 214, 215, 234. 
262, 279, 301: James A., 
101; James, Homestead of, 
136, 137, 214; Joel, 281; 
John, 252, 276, 280; John 
(Ensign), 149; John, 

^ Lieut., 269, 271, 277; Jo- 
seph, 234; Farm of, 137; 
Lemuel, 244; Lent. 281; 
Mary, 143; Mills, 149, 214. 
217, 314, 346; Mindwell, 
126; Phineas, 149, 153. 214, 
227, 238, 269, 278; Dwelling 
of, 137; Samuel. 137, 148, 
214, 262, 263; Lieut, 282: 
Tavern, 39; Thomas. 163; 
William, 131, 139, 142, 213, 
231; Wm Jr., 212, 213, 232; 
Dr. Wm.,' 130, 131, 137, 212. 
213, 229, 231, 232, 234; 
Place of, 131; Yale L, 342. 

How, Jerimiah, 53, 55, 261; 
Nathaniel, 53. 54, 58, 263: 
Sarah, 256; Zachariah, 53, 
55. 

Howard, Thomas, 355; Pratt 
& Co., 355 

Howlt, Daniel, 163. 

Hoyt. Abigail. 112, 173; Da- 
vid, 113; Deacon David, 
112; Samuel, 284. 

Hubbard, Ebenezer, 237; 
John, 147, 148, 151, 152, 
275; Samuel, 24. 

Hubbell, Richard. 99. 

Hulbert, John, 284. 

Hull, Aaron, 163, 269; -An- 
drew, 215; Caleb, 270; 
Charles. 280; Cornelius, 
84, 131, 152; Ebenezer, 
281: Job (Negro), 28.''); 
Miles, 283; Samuel, 265, 270. 

Hummiston, Daniel, 284. 

Hungerford. Edward. 124 

Hutchinson. Gov., 28. 



INDEX. 



i6= 



Imprisonment for Debt. 344. 
Indian: Children, 242; Deeds, 
31, 75; Depredations. 9; 
Houses Fortified Against, 
261; Tliose in Meriden, 
242; Names. 332; Paths, 
10; Rum Tom, 243; Trail, 
8. 242; Troublesome, 23; 
Wars. 288. 
Ingham. North. 228. 
Innoculation Hospital, 325. 
IiispeL-tion Committee. 29S, 

300, 301. 302. 303. 
Invincible Swamp, 122. 
Isbell. Harlow, 253, 356; Is- 

bell & Curtis. 359. 
Ives. Aaron. 270; Abijah. 2S1, 
284; Abijah, Jr., 264; Abra- 
ham, 287; Ambrose. 270, 
287; Amos, 279, 324; Ben- 
jamin, 139. 234; Bezaleel, 

115, 116, 149. 153. 163. 227, 
277, 279; Butler. 287; 
Charles, 287; David. 116. 
143 144. 234, 269; Elna- 
than, 151, 265. 267. 269; 
Enos. 269; Ezra, 360; 
Franklin T.. 154; Fred'k 
W, 340; Gideon. 70, 72, 

116, 151, 276; Gideon. Jr.. 
151; Hannah, 115, 160 161; 
Jesse 324, 354; John, 53, 
116. 126. 139, 143. 144. 151, 
249, 265, 274, 365; Farm, 
115; John. Jr.. 216; John, 
3rd, 270; Joseph. 53; Josh- 
ua, 216. 265; Julius. 324, 
354; House. 323; Lazarus, 
126. 236. 244; Levi, 115, 
116, 117; Lewis & Co., 357; 
Moses. 264; N. P. & Co., 
305; Noel, 219; Othniel, 
115, 238; Samuel, 115, 120, 
139. 143. 281; Timothy, 
151, 280, 314; Titus, 267 
337; William J.. 357. 360," 
365. 

James. Daniel, 279; Thomas, 
284. 

.launcev, James, 226, 291. 

.If'nnings & Griffin Co., 356. 

.It-rome, Chauncev, 107; Es- 
tate. 110: Farm. 315; 
Homestead. 342; Samuel. 
107; Samuel, House, 21, 
106. 217; Timothy, 102, 
106. 143. 160: Wm. Trav- 
ers. 106: Timothy, 103, 139. 

Johnson. Aaron, 150, 151; 
Amanda. 319; Benjamin, 
284; Caleb, 302; Dan. 14if, 
232, 270, 318; David. 280, 
284: Eliakim. 284: Heze- 
kiah. 222, 277. 299, 301; 
Huldah. 319; Israel. 278, 
285. 318: Jacob, 318; John. 
285: Jonathan. 281; Luther, 
285; Miles, 252. 301; Ra- 
chel, 252: Samuel, 149; 
160, 163, 269. 279; William, 
53, 319. 355; T\nillam. 
Place. 79. 104, 318; Wil- 
liam S., 291. 
Johnsons. A. R., 360. 

■lones. Charles, 285; Dio- 
date. 2 63; Farm. 78, 82, 
91. 105. 106, 107, 109, 112; 
Nicholas. 281; Samuel, 
2S.. ; Thomas. 285; Wil- 



liam. 75, 76, 77, 78, 113, 
Jordan Pond, 217. 

Kellogg, Justus, 264. 

Kelsey. James H. 347; Sam- 
uel, 249. 

Kendrick. Benjamin, 285. 

Kennard, Mrs. Benj., 137.' 

Kerns, Luke. 285. 

Kilbpurn, Samuel, 270. 

Kimberly, Charles, 285; De 
Witt, 359. 

King, Hezekiah, 285; Phil- 
ips War, 260, 262, 263; Ru- 
fus, 290; Winifred, 254. 

Kirtland, Bilious, 237; Is- 
aac, 306; Jared, 223. 

Knapp, Roger. 36, SS 

Knight, Mrs. Julia. 118. 

Knott. Epaphras, 2 69. 

Lane. Arthur S., 94. 
Lathrop. Elizabeth. 258. 
Laurence. Asahel. 360. 

Lawrence, Sherman, 212; 

William, 353. 
Lawyers, Early of Meriden, 
392, 393. 

Leavit. Samuel. 163. 

Lee, General Chas., 296, 297; 
Mrs. Melvin C, l2o. 

Leet, Andrew. 257. 

Leonard, Eugene, 355: Jon- 
athan, 355, 360; Spicer, 
353. 

Levit, Benjamin, 139; Sam- 
uel, 143. 144. 

Levitt, David. 120, 142, 143, 
144; Farm. 124. 

Lewis, Abel, 285; Benjamin, 
53, 54, 55, 262; Chauncey. 
285; Dana. 355: EiJjenezer. 
285; Isaac, 126. 221. 314, 
340, 342, 343, 354; Isaac C. 
126. 221, 314, 350, 357 359, 
Jesse, 266; John, " 281, 
285; Partrick, 350, 351, 
365. 367; Lewis & Curtis. 
314; Lewis & Holt, 365; 
Lewis & Hough. 360. 

Lindsay. Daniel. 270. 

Lines. John. 56. 

Linsley. Randolph. 301. 

Livingston, Isaac. 269. 271; 
John, 143. 

Lockwood, James, 270 

London, Ambrose, 265, 266; 
Charles. 285. 

Loomis. R. B.. 368. 

Lord, Albert J.. 158. 

Louisburg Expedition. 2 63. 

Lounsburv Place. 325. 

Love. James, 36, 88. 

Lvman, Aaron, 78, 98, 109, 
111. 149. 150. 153. 163. 226, 
227, 326; Col's Regiment. 
265; Ensign. 272; Old 
Home. 98; Phineas, 269. 
271. 280; Rebekah, 160, 161; 
Susannah, 98. 

Lyon. George W.. 85. 

Madison. James, 290. 

Main St. Baptist Church, 77. 

79, 343, 344. 389. 
Malleable Iron Co., 23. 
Malorv, Cull. 213. 
Malthus. Thomas. Robert. 

45; Daniel, 45. 



Manning, Bowman & Co., 

217. 
Mansfield, Chas J., 241; 
John, 282,- 283; 'Moses, 257, 
258. 
Manufactories in 1845, 359. 
Manvil, Cyrus. 217. 
Marriages. Birth.s, Baptisms, 
and Deaths to 1806, 400- 
4 34. 
Martin. John. 303. 
Matoesse. Sunksqua, 68. 
Matoon, Joel, 270. 
Mattabesitt River, 40, 41. 
Mattabeseck River, 40. 
Mattabesick River, 39. 
Matthews, Eliada, 285 
Matthewson, Rufus W., 238. 
Mattoon, Ebenezer, 265; 

Samuel, 270. 
May, Nehemiah. 139. 
Mayors of Meriden, 398- 

390. 
McCleave, John. 22 3. 
McGlynn, Kate, 86. 
McKenzie, George, 215. 
x\IcLean, Archable. 287. 
McMullen, Daniel, 269. 
Mecar. John, 2 70. 
Mecorney, John. 343. 
Meeting House Hill. 59, 63, 
82, 110, 112, 118, 119, 122. 
123, 125. 139, 140, 145, 147. 
234, 248, 315: House Hill 
Cemeterv. 123, 226. 
Meg's Well. 44. 45. 
Meigs. Jonathan, 291. 
Mekv, Banabas, 14 6. 
Mekve, Daniel. 280; Wyllys, 

280. 
Men and Women Separated 

in Church Service. 150. 
Merchant. Thomas, 163 
Meriam, Ruth, 161. 342. 
Meriden. a City, 389: Acad- 
emy, 353; Anti-Slavery 
Society, 353; "Meriden As- 
sociation for the Detec- 
tion of Thieves and Re- 
coverv of Stolen Proper- 
ty." 345; Biink. 358, 368: 
Britannia Co., 76, 386, 
Center, 323, 353; Curtain 
Fixture Co.. 341: Cutlery 
Co., 65. 257, 322, 356; 
Electric Light Co.. 86; 
Electric R. R.. 323: Farm, 
14, 15, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25. 
26, 27. 28, 29, 39, 41. 43, 
44 45. 46. 47. 48. 52, 67, 73, 
88. 99, 103, 106, 138. 139. 
149. 226, 316, 336; Fire- 
arms Co., 23, 98: First 
Land Owner. 16; First 
Phvsician. 233: First 

AVhite Resident. 17; Golf 
Club. 98, 135; High School. 
106: Hotel, 364; House, 47, 
S2. 145, 148. 149. 150, 220. 
238. 354. 361. 367: Hunting 
Ijy Indians in. 12: Incor- 
porated as a Town. 335; 
"Manor." 27; Men in the 
Revolution, 284; Mines. 
228. 231: Origin of the 
Name. 42: Original Settle- 
ment. H',; Piirish. 73. '133. 
138. 139. 226. 235. 242, 26T; 
301. 310. 316: Savings 
Bank. 349: Silver Plate 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Co., 94; Waterbury & 
Conn. River R. R., 38, 98, 
99; Water Cure Company, 
241. 

Merimere, Reservoir, 316; 
Built 390. 

Merriam, Aaron, 337; Abi- 
gail, 82; Amasa, 280, 354; 
Arba, 353; Asahel, 337, 
344; Place, 86; Asaph, 85, 
226, 276, 285, 355; Benja- 
min, 47, 279, 337; Bethia, 
238; Deborah, 160, 161; 
Dinah, 160; Edward M., 
85; Edmund, 277, 285; 
Bllsha, 280, 337; Eliza- 
beth, 160; Ephraim, 269, 
278, 285; Eunice, 160; 
Farm, 133; George C, 350; 
Howell, 358, 363, 365; 
Jesse, 279, 280; John, 71, 
76, 82, 85, 126, 128, 139, 244, 
269, 279; John, Sr , 216; 
John, Jr., 86, 103, 14'2, 143; 
John, Farm, 80, 81; Jo- 
seph, 139. 143, 148, 161, 265, 
279; Joseph House, 82, 85, 
86 Joseph, Jr., 86; Josiah, 
163, 278; L. T., 359; Lau- 
ren, 85, 354; Marshall, 
280; Matthew, 125; Na- 
thaniel, 82, 84, 105, 125, 
144; House. 84; Nathaniel, 
Jr., 54, 103; Place, 354; 
Nelson, 85, 355, 363; Noah, 
85, 354; Phebe, 160; Rebec- 
ca, 82; Ruth, 82, 153, 160, 
252; Samuel. 270, 280, 287; 
Saw Mill, 216; Selden, 29, 
85; Sidney, 29, 85, 226, 353; 
Susana, 82; Titus, 160, 279, 
319; William, 82, 85, 102, 
143, 236. 279, 287, 289, 342; 

Merriman, Caleb, Jr., 146, 
280, 281; Chas., 285; Enoch. 
285; George 11; Howell, 
356; Ira, 289; Joel. 361; 
John. 71; Josiah. 285; Mary, 
122; Munson, 301; Nathan- 
iel. 11, 53, 54, 60, 82, 89, 103, 
122, 138, 139, 143, 148, 228, 
261, 262, 263, 280. 343, 354; 
Nathaniel, Jr., 11, 262, 263. 

"Merry-den," 42; Wench, 50. 

Merwin. Thomas, 264. 

Methodi-st Church, 341, 346; 
Meeting House, 323. 

Mexican War, 289. 

Michaelis L., 16, 29. 

Mid-Centurv Phvsicians, 241. 

Miles, Almeron. 350, 359; 
James, 285; John, 53. 55, 
280; John. Jr., 163; Jo- 
seph. 265; Samuel. 53; 
Thomas M.. 158; Thomas. 
70. 72. 101. 

Miller, Bros. Cutlery Co.. 
356; Clothier's Shop. 216; 
Constant. 216; Edward. 
152; John Christian. 233; 
Joseph, 216; Stephen, 216. 

Milling. 214, 215, 216, 217. 
218, 219. 

Mills, Samuel, 270. 

Mines, 228, 229. 232; Golden 
Parlor. 229; in Meriden. 
231; Granby. 233; Sims- 
bury. 233; in Wallingford. 
230, 321. 

Mining, Copper. 130; Hill. 
232. 



Ministers Island, 305 

Minutes of the First Town 
Meeting, 337. 

Misery Bar Road, 58, 63, 113, 
115, 116, 235; Brook, 61; 
Highway, 1^2; Swamp, 113. 

Mitcnell, Alfred, 44; Barna- 
bas, 285; Jotham, 96; Mi- 
chael, 116, 139, 266; Moses. 
159, 315. 

Mix, Amos, 270, 285; Daniel, 
58; Enos, 269, 285; Jarius, 
342; Joel, 214; John, 55; 
Theophilus, 139, 160; Thos. 
Jr., 285. 

Mohawk Indians, 31. 

Momaugin, Indian Sachem, 
11, 31. 

Monroe, Col., 265. 

Monument, Memorial of 
First Setlers, 160. 

Moor, Andrew, 285; John, 40. 

Morgan, John, 280. 

Morris, Robert, 290. 

Morse, Mrs Joseph, 310. 

Mosher, W. ' W., 363. 

Moss, Benoni, 285; Ebene- 
zer. 281; Isiah. 285; Joel, 
258, 259, 270; John, 70, 71. 
72; John, Jr., 262, 263; Jos., 
264; Joseph, 70, 71; Titus, 
282; Mary, 235; Reuben, 
285. 

Mosse, John, 53, 54, 76. 

Mott, Samuel, 263. 

Mount, Carmel. 122, 159; 
Liamentation, Derivation 
of Name, 6, 313, 331, 332. 

Munson, Almond, 285; Elea- 
saph, 263; Lent., 218, 285; 
Levi, 265, 282; Lucy M. 
(Curtis), 221; Orange, 285; 
Samuel, 53, 54. 

Murdock. Chas. Z., 110, 117. 
128. 245; Geo. B.. 114, 115; 
Zina K., 115, 253. 

Murray. W. H. H.. 157. 

"My Meriden Manor," 22. 

Mymesque Accanent, 68. 

Negro Slaves, 244-253. 

Nelson, William, 100. 

Nestors, Old Political, 339. 

New Haven, Invasion of, by 
British, 301; Post Boy, 
297. 

Newell, Samuel, 27. 

Newgate Prison, 228. 

Newspapers and Publishers, 
390-392. 

Nichols, Silvanus, 216. 

Nicholson, Jonathan, 217. 

Nickerson. N.. 241. 

North. Curtis L.. 356. 361, 
368; Farmers' Petition, 
138; Society. 138; Society 
in Wallingford, 142. 

Norton, Albert, 15, 16, 23. 
73; Andrew . 336; Gould 
Gift. 252; J. S. Senior, 
House of. 386; Jedediah, 
26, 28. 267. 376; Junius S.. 
98. 99. 228; Samuel, 336. 

Notch Meadow. 72, 124_ 

Nott. John. 32-i. 

Nova Scotia Campaign, 143. 

Oldest Highway, 8. 
Old Stone Fort. 225; Stone 
House, 225; Wooden 



Bridge over Harbor Br'k, 

365. 
Olds, William, 217, 315, 337. 
Osborn, John, 282; Samuel, 

305; Stephen, 282. 

Paddock, Homestead, 116; 
S. C. 120. 

Page, Timothy, 285. 
Pagon, Chaumischang, 39, 
41. 

Palace Block, Built, 387. 

Parse, Moses. Jr.. 231. 

Parker, Abram, 285; Amos, 
285; Benjamin, 285; Box 
Shop. 218; Charles. 241. 
350, 355, 356, 359, 360; 
Clock Co, 80. 353, 354; 
Daniel. 280; Dexter W., 
110; Edmund, 241; Elia- 
kim, 281; Elijah, 285; 
Goody, 256; Jared P., 390; 
John, 241, 285; Joseph, 
256; Joshua, 281; Julius. 
Foundry, 355; Levi, 281; 
Timothy, 285; William, 
256, 285; Snow & Co., 385. 

Parsons. Aaron. 337; Bri- 
gade. 277; Harvey. 337; 
J.. 102, 103. 337; Samuel, 
285. 

Partridge. Governor. 27; 
Mary. 27; William, 228. 
Paterson, Samuel, 349 

Patterson, Shubael. 349. 

Pearce. John, 269. 

Pease & Niles, 358. 

Peat Works Pond, 15. 

Peck, Abel, 289; Charles. 
265, 285; Ebenezer. 321; 
Eleazer, 53. 54, 107, 261; 
Eleizer, 139; H., 283; 
Henry. 354; James, 269, 
283; Jehiel, 285; Jesse, 
285; John, 261; Joseph. 55; 
Peter. 270; Samuel, 24. 28, 
337; Susannah. 98; Zebu- 
Ion, 28. 

Penalty for Non-attendance 
I at Public Worship, 144. 

Penfleld, Elizabeth. 160; 
Farm. 242; House, 151; 
Nathaniel. 112. 151. 242: 
Peter, 151; Samuel. 151. 
236. 264. 

Perkins. Geo. W.. 154, 156, 
157. 355; John. 285; Lib- 
erty, 118; Samuel. 285; 
Sherlock, 343. Simeon. 
280. 286. 343; Stephen. 118. 
151. 236, 279. 337. 

Persons. Jacob, 139. 

Peters, Samuel, 300. 

Phillips. George, 247. 

Pierce, John, 230. 271. 276. 

Pitkin. Joseph. 26. 

Piatt, O. H., 385. 

Plum, Archibald, 342; Farm. 
135; Seth D., 152, 337. 340, 
341. 346. 353; William W., 
136; Mrs. Wm. W , 136. 

Plvmert. John, 238. 

Puit. Adam, 69, 70, 72, ..'. 
78, 101. 

Police Force Enlarged and 
Objections to, 390. 

Pomerov. Noah. 308, 311. 
312. 352. 359; Noah. Pl!i('<* 
of. 312; Tin Shop, 308. 

Porter, Bdgerton, Killed 
386; Eldad. 285. 



INDEX. 



167 



Potter, Jared, 222, 223, 253, 

283, 299, 300; Medad, 285; 

Samuel, 53, 54; McCleave 

& Whittlesey, 223. 
Powder House, Wallingford, 

304. 
Pratt. A. H. M., 390; Jared, 

359: Julius, 253, 355, 357; 

Julius & Co.. 356, 3o7, 359; 

Llewellyn, 158; Nehemiah, 

246; Pond, 356; Philo & 

Co., 356; Ropes & Webb 

Co.', 357. 
Preston. Benjamin, 280 

Eliasaph, 53, 56, 89, 261 

Ephraim, 265; Ira, 359 

Jehiel, 53, 220, 337. 
Prince. John, 285. 
Prindle. Ebenezer, 113, 143, 

151, 226, 265, 330. 
Pring-le, Ebenezer, 139. 
Prinn. Joe and Daffy 

(Slaves), 128, 247. 
Probate Judges, 398. 
Prout. James. 281, 285; 

William, 285. 
Public Sign Post, 336. 
Purchase L/ands. 329. 
Putnam, Gen., 277. 

Quartz Found, 229. 

Quesaquauch (Indian), 31. 

Quinnipiac, 8, 11, 31, 32, 35, 
38. 65, 67; Indians, 33, 34, 
35, 242; River, 7, 8, 10, 56, 
59. 63, 76, 149, 214, 218, 
326, 332. 

Railroad, Freight Station 
Erected, 389; Railroad 
Opened, 367; "Railroad 
Refectorv," 364. 

Rand. Philip C., 365. 

Rasmersson. J.ames. 100. 

Recanter, (Capt. Camp), 301. 

Record of Conn. Men in 
Revolution, 270; of Real 
Estate Transactions in 
Wallingford, 333. 

Redfleld & Butler. 360. 

Regicides, The. 47. 

Reid. George, 355. 

Representatives to Legis- 
lature from Meriden, 395, 
396. 

Rexford, Arthur, 135, 229, 
230. 231; Benjamin. 265, 
266, 277, 285; Benjamin, 
Jr. 285; Farm, 291. 

Reynolds, Gardiner, 214; 
Gardner ^V., 137. 

Rice. Abel. 136; Abigail. 
163; Abner. 252. 278. 280, 
324; Amasa. 163; Amos, 
324; Anna C, 133; Asahel, 
154. 325; Benj., 163, 269; 
Chester, 325; Place. 322; 
E. and E. A., 360; Emma 
L., 325; Ezekiel, 132. 133, 
149. 150, 160, 162, 163, 216, 
246, 269, 271. 272. 273, 274. 
320, 337, 338; Ezekiel, Jr , 
133; Ezra, 163. 246, 279; 
Farms. 129. 131, 149. 150. 
213. 219. 321; Gideon, 269, 
271, 276; Hezekiah, 240; 
Isaac. 130, 279; James. 
222; Jehiel, J., 281; Joel, 
146. 281, 324; Joseph, 273; 
Jotham, 279, 285; Justus, 



278, 322; House, 322; Jus- 
tus, Jr., 322; Lizzie S., 
325; Mindwell, 160; Moses, 
324, 325; Nathaniel, 129, 
132; Oliver, 144, 246, 273; 
Farm, 132, 133, 135, 162, 
217. 237, 271, 320; Mrs. 
Oliver, 133; Reuben, 149; 
Robert. 130 131, 323, 324, 
325; Farm, 322; Samuel, 
130, 133, 136, 149, 150, 269, 
276, 278 ,280, 320; Silas, 
117, 154, 228, 229; Farm, 
116; Solomon 36, 163, 278; 
Titus, 163; Wait, 163; Wil- 
liam B , 116. 117, 122, 125, 
228, 234; William T., 133; 
Yale & Co., 346. 

Rich, Charles, 156; D, 103; 
David, 112, 142. 

Richards, Timothy, 343. 354. 

Richardson, Stanton, 270. 

Richmond, Mrs. Hiram, 29. 

Ripley. Erastus, 154. 

Robbins, Joshua, 70. 

Roberds, Elick, 139 

Roberts, David, 277. 

Robeson, Josiah, 139. 

Robinson, Christopher, 160. 
161; Inn, 95; J., 103, 143; 
John. 280; Josiah, 94, 95, 
96, 102, 150, 160, 277; 
House, 94; Tavern, 220, 
226, 267; Josiah, Jr., 96, 
315; L W., 155; Levi, 277, 
285. 

Rodgers, John C , 355. 

Rogers. Fight of, 266; Her- 
vey, 361, 363; Joseph, 219. 

Roice. Evan, 264. 

Ropes, David W., 357. 

Rossetter, Byran and John, 
18. 

Royce, Abel, 135. 142; Abi- 
gail. 128; Benjamin, 91, 
143, 147; Ensign, 63; Eze- 
kiel, 142, 144, 147, 263 
Farms, 129, 243; Hannah 
160; Isaac, 58, 129. 243 
Joseph, 65, 143; Nathaniel 
55, 58, 93, 124, 129, 142 
244; Nehemiah, 55. 58 
129; Notch, 331; Robert 
91, 92, 129. 141, 142, 147 
Place of. 130, 241; Sam- 
uel, 55, 128. 129. 142, 143, 
146. 160, 263, 266; Timo- 
thy, 230. 

Rovs, Abell, 139; Allen, 301; 
Benjamin, 113, 116, 160, 
162, 229, 231, 246; Farm, 
112; Ebenezer, 160, 162; 
Evan, 264; Ezekiel, 139; 
Isaac, 139, 265; J.ames, 
264; Joseph, 259; Josiah, 
139; Nathaniel, 112, 113, 
116. 139: Oliver. 161; 
Phebe, 160; Robert, 105, 
139: Samuel. 120, 129; 
Timothv, 229, 231, 232. 
265; Timothy, Jr., 232. 

Roy.se. Benjamin, 230; Jo- 
seph. 258: Nathaniel. 90. 

Russell. Capt.. 278; Elmer. 
285: J. W.. 360; Mary. 152. 

Sabbath Dav House, 140, 

145. 149. 153. 220. 
Sachem. Sowheag (Indian). 

6. 



Sacred Heart Cemetery, 128 

Saltonstall, Lake, 38. 

Sanderson, Job, 285. 

Sandstone Quarry, 321. 

Sanford, Abel, 324, 354; 
Ebenezer, 244; Elihu. 289; 
Nathaniel, 154, 356; N. C 
& Co., 356; Newton & Co.! 
360. 

School, of Good Manners, 
The. 210; Houses, 153; 
Taxes, 150. 

Schovill. James, 139. 

Schuyler, General, 271, 281, 
283. 

Scofel, Elijah, 151; Elisha, 
151 

Scofell, J., 103. 

Scovel, Eleazer, 238; Elijah, 
265; Samuel, 151. 

Scovil, David, 280; Elijah. 
280; Elisha, 280; Samuel. 
271, 272. 

Scovill, Elisha, 236; Farm, 
137; Houses, 137; James, 
102, 137 

Seele.v. Mr.s. George S., 120. 

Seemer, Jonathan, 139. 

Seymour, Thomas, 251, 327; 
Thomas, Jr., 250. 

Shailer, Joseph, 24 6, 274, 
275. 

Shaler, Joseph, 269 

Shaylor, Joseph, lal, 214, 
242. 277, 283. 286. 288. 

Sheldon's Light Dragoons, 
278. 

Shelly, Florence W., 86. 

Shelton. Hannah. 294. 

Shepard, Thomas, 282 

Shepherd, Hull, 285. 

Sherman, Daniel, 53, 54, 56. 

Shipman. Potter & Lewis! 
365. 

Siege of Boston .271. 

Silk Worm Culture in Wal- 
lingford, 29 7, 300. 

.Simsbury Mines. 233. 

Sizer, Amasa, 359. 

Slade .John, 270 

Slave. Hill of Sale of, 246; 
Earliest Record of 244; 
Importing of. 249; I^iw.s 
Relating to, 247; Remem- 
bered in Wills of Own- 
ers, 247 

Slead, Daniel, 270; Jona- 
than. 270, 283. 

Sled. John, 285. 

Sleeping Giant, 159. 

Smallpox, Old Remedy for. 
Rendering Person Im- 
mune, 237, 238. 

Smelting Works. 233. 

Smith, Daniel, 270. 285; E. 
W and Mrs.. 133: Horace 
T.. 85; Hotel. 367: Major. 
276; Seth. 269, 285. 

Snow, Alfred, 86; Oliver & 
Co.. 360. 

Societv for Propagation of 
the Gospel, 305. 306: in 
Foreign Part.s. 290. 293. 

Sodom Brook. 59. 80. 216. 

Southeast District School- 
house. 116. 122 

Southwick. D. F., 385. 

South Farms, 91, 12S, 129. 
241. 

Snellman. Samuel, 2S.i. 

Spencer. George. 355; Sam- 



i68 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



uel, 285; Thomas, 278, 280. 

Sperry, Miles, 269. 

Spruce, Glen, 13/, 214; Gut- 
ter, 137 

Stage Coaches, 339. 

Stamp Act, 2t)7, 288. 

Stanley, Abraham, 265, 280; 
Geo. W., 224, 292, 336, 
337; John, 286; Capt's 
Company, 280; Salmon, 
286. 

Stanly, Nathaniel, 92. 

Stanton, Thomas, 31, 34. 

Stark, ichabod, 144, z65, 266. 

Starkey, Alpheus, 355. 

State, School for Boys, 93, 
216, 24u; Senators trom 
Meriden, 396; War De- 
partment, 283. 

Stedman, Chas.. 359; Selah, 
285: Stedman <fe Clark, 
349, 359. 

Steele, Elisha, 264. 

Stevens, John, 90; Stevens 
& Peck, 360. 

Stevenson. W. H., 51. 

Stickney, Walter, 362. 

Stiles, Ezra, 46, 148, 149, 
151, 152; Isaac, 125; Kezia, 
152; Polly, 152; Ruth, 152. 

Stillman & Eastmann, 360; 

St. John. Silas, 246. 

Stocking, Reuben, 98; Weav- 
ing, 220. 

Stokes, Anson Phelps. 122. 

Stone. David, 285; House, 
103; House Farm, 103, 
291; Sidney M., 155; War- 
ren P., 348. 

Street, Jesse, 270; Samuel, 
53, 54, 110, 252, 261, 330. 

Streets, Named, 390; Widen- 
ed and Graded in 1869, 390. 

Sunksqua, Matoesse (In- 
dian), 68. 

Sutliff. John, 264, 355; Sut- 
liff & Foster, 355. 

Swamp Fort Fight. 262. 

Sydervelt, John, 233. 



Tait. John, 241. 342. 
Talcot. Dorothv, 68; John, 

67, 68. 69, 71. 72; Samuel, 

68; Major, 75 
Taylor. Samuel, 68, 90, 93, 

94, 97. 
Tanning Industry. 31.". 
.'axes. Worked Out, 343. 
Thatcher, Geo., 157. 
Third Church, 155. 
Thomas, John, 37; Thomas, 

229, 230. 231. 
Thorp, Abel, 286; Amasa, 

286; Amos, 286; Joseph, 

265; Samuel, 55. 
Tibba:ls, Ida C, 239; Samuel, 

342. 343; Samuel. Jr.. 344; 
Tibbels. James, 286; Peter, 

286; Tin Shop, 353. 
Tinware Manufacturers, 347, 

348, 349, 350, 352. 
Todd, Thaddeus. 286. 
Tomlinson. Isaac, 306. 
Tory Farm Confiscated. 226. 
Town Clerks of Meriden, 

397. 
"Towns and Lands" in State 

Library, 331. 
Town Rock, 129; Tax Laid, 

337. 



Trashen, George (Negro), 
246. 

Treat, Robert, 68, 257, 258. 

Trench, Dean ,4». 

Trial tor Reproaching Se- 
lectmen, 256; for Witch 
Craft, 257, 258. 

Trowbridge, Thomas, 257. 

'irumbull, Benjamin ,293; 
Governor, 299, 300. 

Tryon, Gardner, 342; Gen- 
eral, 2 79; His Invasion of 
New Haven, 282, 283, 310. 

Tunxis Valley, 242. 

Turnpike (The New), 340, 
Hartford to New Haven, 
240; Meriden and Middle- 
town, 240. 

Tuthill, Charles, 270 

Tuttle, Daniel, 70, 72; Da- 
vid, 55, 56; Simon, 53, 55. 

Twiss, Benjamin, 356; Hiram, 
356; Ira, 367; Joseph, 98, 
213, 214. 

Tvler, Levi, 285; Lothrop, 
"218; Mills, 218. 223. 224, 
298; Nathaniel, 285; Roger, 
262, 263; Samuel, 218, 223. 
265; Samuel. Jr., 218. 

Tyrrell, Job, 2 86. 

"Underground Railroad ' 

Movement. 253. 
Upham, Chas. L, 289, 365. 
Upson, Benjamin, 107; Place, 

10 6. 

Vaccination. Introduction of 

in Meriden, 238. 
Vallev Forge, 282, 283. 
Van Nostrand, Geo. 390. 
Vantie, James, 219. 
Vigilance Committee, 302, 

345 
VitalStatistics, 1729 to 1806. 

of First Cong. Church, 400- 

434. 
Vorse, Jesse. 270. 
Vose, Jesse, 286. 

"U'addams. Noah. 250. 

Wadswortli, James. 215, 275; 
Hull, Atwater, 215. 

AVakeman, Samuel, 68 

Wallingford, First Society of, 
280; Line, 137; Men in the 
Revolution, 284; Mines, 
228, 231; North Society, 
142; Purchase Lands, 13, 
72, 73, 138; Records of 
Some Vital Statistics, 263; 
Shops and Mills, 218; 
W'est Society, 73, 138. 

Ward, Andrew, 292; Con- 
tent. 292; David, 270; Ma- 
cock. 292, 294, 306. 336. 

Warner. Bela, 269; Ebenez- 
er, 270. 

Warnock. Wm. H., 316. 

"Washington, George, 95; 
Heights. 47. 

Way, Abigail, 160; Abner, 
280; Eli, 102; Eli, Farm 
of, 100, 101. 102. 228; Ely. 
Place of, 29; John, 111, 
143, 229, 231; Moses 280. 

Wave. Joseph, 2 64 

Webb, Chas., 281; Gideon, 
286; John. 153. 226; John. 
Capt., 126. 128. 153. 227. 
247. 340; Luther, 368; 



W'alter, 253, 354; Walter 
& Co., 354, 356, 3o7, 369. 

Weoster, XMoah, 296. , 

Wells. Robt., /O 

Westneld Parish, 313. 

West Peak, 6, 4 7. 

W etmore, Josiah, 229; Seth, 

229. 

Wharton's Brook, 54, 59. 

White, Amos, 336, 337, 338, 
341, 350, 361; Amos & Co., 
338. 

W'hitehead, Samuel, 53. 

Whitfield, Henry, 45, 47. 

Whiting, Benjamin, 114, 
139, 143, 147, 149; Joseph, 
114; Lucy, 114; Nathan, 
266; Samuel, 114, 163, 333, 
334; Sarah, 114. 

Whittlesey, Chauncey, 151; 
Farm, 114, 115, 323; Kath- 
arine, 232; Samuel, 26, 63, 
129, 228, 232. 

Wilcox, Albert H, 137; Ca- 
leb, 130; Edmund Place, 
342; Francis, 281; Henry 
S., 29 88, 137; Henry T., 
357, 3o9; H. T. & Co., 385; 
Jarius, 282; S. S., 390; Sil- 
ver Plate Co. Factory 
Burned, 387 

Wildman, J. E., 55. 

Willard, House, 342; John, 
152, 153. 

W'illcox, Benj'm, 349; Lem- 
uel, 286. 

Williams, Charles H., 158; 
Ebenezer, 26; Elisha, 26; 
Henry, 70, 72; Williams & 
Smith, Store Burned, 387. 

Willmot, Geo. R . Furniture 
Store Burned, '387; Geo. R. 
Place of, 239, 343. 

Wilmot, Joel, 286. 

Wilson. Grove H., 241; O. G., 
390. 

Winthrop, Adam, 26, 228; 
John. Jr., 37. 

AVolcott. Alexander, 111, 
112, 234, 242; Joseph, 270; 
Joseph, Jr., 286; Lydia. 
112. 

Wolf Swamp, 59, 315. 

Wood, Chas. H., 229; Icha- 
bod, 131. 238. 354; Norman 
B.. Place of. 131; Norman 
S., 131. 229. 

W^oodward, Wyllys, 240. 

AVooster, Gen., 281. 

W'rexham. W'ales, 118. 

Wright, Abraham, 336; Jas.. 
289; Mrs. Moses, Board- 
ing House Burned, 387; 
Samuel. 286; Selden, 343. 

Wvlie, James, 241. 

Wvllvs, Samuel. 336. 

Yale. Aaron. 2 64; A. R., 225; 
Abel, 119, 120, 149, 151. 
153; Abel, Place of, 121, 
159; Amasa. 270 Amerton. 
280. 343; Ann. 118; Asa. 102. 
119; Asael. 337; Benj.. 143. 
144; Burrage. 342; Chas.. 
265; College, 26, 28, 46, 
118, 124, 148, 151. 152, 156. 
293; Daniel. 280. 337; Ed- 
win R.. 349; Elihu. 56, 
118, 120, 263, 280; E. H., 
19; Mrs. E. H., 16, 29; 
Farms. 10. 137. 159, 234; 
Mrs. Hiram A, 344; Ira, 



INDEX. 



169 



98; Joel, 314, 342; John, 
28, 70, 71, 100, 101, 139, 
142. 149. 226, 280, 316; Jon- 
athan, 112, 120, 146, 220, 
269, 280; Julius, 120, 159, 
245, 298; J. Hobart, 90, 
119, 120, 325; Levi, 120, 
129, 151; Mary, 136; Mat- 
thew, House of, 238; 
Moses. 119, 120; Nash, 226, 
2S6; Nathaniel. 70. 71, 112, 

119. 266. 269. 276, 280, 337; 
Noah, 119. 120. 128, 143, 144, 
151. 153. 163, 227, 245, 277, 
325; Samuel 102, 214. 337, 
338. 340. 341. 342, 344, 347, 
348, 353, 359; Samuel, Jr., 
341. 346; Sarah, 153, 227; 
Sharp (Negro), 285; Sol- 
omon, 264; Theophilus. 
105. 327; Thomas, 11, 53, 
55. 70, 71, 77, 117, 118, 119, 

120, 139. 142. 212. 264, 325, 
Capt. Thomas, 63. 71. 91, 
92, 105. 113 118; Thomas. 
Jr.. 119; Waitstill. 266, 286; 
William. 136. 214. 341, 344, 
346, 347; William H., Ill, 
112. 219. 

Yeamans, John. 79, 110 
Yeomans. Elijah. 280. 
Yorktown, Siege of. 277, 278. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

.Allen, Levi, House of, 319. 
\ndrews, Moses, House of, 

134. 
Andrews. Samuel. Portrait, 

293. 

Bailey, Stephen, House of, 

100. 
Baldwin. Daniel. House of, 

110. 
Baldwin. Nathan. House of, 

314. 
Belcher. Andrew. Autog'raph. 

22; Book Plate. 30. 
Belcher. Johnathan, 25; Au- 
tograph. 24. 
Belcher. Old Farm. Site of, 

225. 
Berry. Ephraim. House, 117. 
Bray, Asa, Hou.se of, 322. 
Butler, Comfort, House of, 

316. 



Cemetery. Old. 208. 
Central Tavern, Old, 108, 339. 
Coe, Calvin, House of, 321. 
Coe, Mrs. Russell, House of, 

352. 
Collins, Jonathan, House of, 

95; Edward, House of, 99. 
Corner, Old Schoolhouse, 366. 
Cowles, Elisha A., Portrait,' 

362. 
Curtis, Amos, House of, 221. 
Curtis, Asahel, House of. 315. 
Curtis, Benjamin, House of, 

123. 

Dog-s' Misery Lots, 62. 

Edwards, Joseph, House of. 
101. 

Falls Plain, New Hanover 

and So. Meriden in 1690, 

Plan of, 66, 
Fifth Congregational Church 

Edifice, 158. 
Fourth Congregational Ch'ch 

Edifice, 157. 

Gilbert, Johnathan, Auto- 
graph, 16. 

Granite Bowlder & Tablet, 
Unveiling- of, 141. 

Guy, Orchard, Place of, 121. 

Hall, Benj A., House of, 312. 
Hall. Brenton, House of, 309. 
Hall. Collins, House of, 311. 
Hall, Daniel, House of, 114. 
Hall, Page of Dr 's Account 

Book, 236. 
Hall, Isaac, House of, 235. 
Hall, Moses, House of. 313. 
Hall Theophilus, Autograph, 

12S. 
Hemlock Grove. Old Poster, 

380. 
Holt. Blias, House of, 352. 
Hough, Daniel, Homestead, 

127. 
Hough, Isaac I. .House of, 

239. 
Hough. James, Homestead, 

136. 
Hough's Mill. 215. 
Hough. William. House of 

131. 



Indian Marks, 34. 36. 

Ives, Julius, House of. 323. 

Johnson, William, House of, 

;:i8; Porch. 104. 
Johnson, William, Porch of 

Old House, 104. 

Lewis, Par trick, or Eli i". 

Birdsey. House of, 351. 
Lyman. Aaron, House of, 109. 

Meeting House Hill from 

West, 140. 
Meriden. Bird's Eye View in 

1857; In 1865. 385. 
Meriden Center in 1834. 353. 
Meriden Hoted and Railroad 

Station in 1S42. 364 
Meriden. Map of in I806. 343; 

in 1851. 361; Pierson's of 

1770. 209. 
Merriam. Joseph. House 

Lots in 1753. 83. 
Merriam. Nathaniel. House 

of, S4; Josepli. House of. 

85; John, Jr. House of. 86. 

North, Curtis L., Residence, 

366. 
North, Curtis L, Store, 367. 

Rice, Chester. House of, 324. 
Rice, Oliver. House of. 132. 
Rice. Silas. House of. 116. 
Robinson, Josiah. House of. 

from N. W.. 94; from S. 

W.. 95. 
Royal Coat of Arms. 295. 
Royce. Abel, House of, 135. 
Royce, Robert. House of. 130. 

Slave Girl. Bill of Sale of. 
246. 

Third Congregational Church 

Edifice. 155. 
Town Hall. Old. 382. 

Wallingford. Original Plan 

of. 55. 
West Meriden. Plan of in 

1723. 74. 
Wolcott. Alexander. House 

of. 111. 

Y'ale. Abel. House of, 121. 
Yale. John. House of. 317. 
Yale. Noah. House of. 119. 
Yale. Thomas. House of. 325. 



PART II. 



Abel. Albert, 198. 

.\braham. Meyer. 205. 

Adams. B. M.. 173; Express 
Co.. 581. 

Alain. A. S.. 184. 

Alderman. Nellie G. (Fran- 
cis). 523; Walter Arthur. 
5 23. 

•Mexander, Daniel, 81. 

Allemeyer, Chas., 125. 

Allen. Archelaus. 557; Mrs. 
E. C. 59; Edward Chaun- 
<-ey. 557: E. K., 68, 70; 
Electa (Hall), 557; Ed- 
ward Linsley, 558; Geo. 
W.. 588: Jerusha Temper- 
ance (Piatt). 558; John 



Piatt. 558; Levi. 557: Lew. 
80. 126. 500; Prudence 
(Merriam). 557; Roger. 
557: Mrs. Sarah (Ijinsley), 
557; Sarah Hillard (Lins- 
lev). 558; Walter, 132. 

All Saints' Church, 167, 170. 

Amaranth Club. 101-104. 

Anderson. Asher. 137; Bar- 
bara. 236; Mrs. C. G., 204; 
Ferdinand, 202; John, 202; 
Peter. 202. 

Andreen, Alexis, 204; Philip. 
203. 

Andrews. Almon. 162, 220, 
330; Dan. 167; David. 160; 
Denison. 160, 167; H. B., 



75: James F. G.. 329: .Mar- 
vel. 167: .Moses, 159. 160, 
167: O. J.. 204. 

Anger. N.. 182. 

.\rcanum Club, 96. 

Arnold. Jared, 281; Joseph. 
284: Owen B.. 53. 56. 280; 
Susan (Brainard). 281. 

Ashlev. A. SpraKue. 166. 169. 

Ashworth. J. W.. 149: Kath- 
arine. 150: Mabele (EdK<'r- 

ton). 150; Robt. A.. 149. 

Aspinwall. E. R.. 193. 

Atkins. James. 231; Luman 
A.. 178. ^ 

Atwater. David. 426; Dor- 
ence K. 50. 440; Francis. 



170 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



119. 121, 126, 436; Helena J. 

(Sellew), 440; Isaac, 160. 
Atvveli. Geo. B., 149. 
Aubrey, Alfred B., 575. 
Augur, Ag-nes, 139; Agnes F., 

bS5; Fannie A., 142; Frank 

M., 5S5; Julius, 584; Julius 

S., 584; Julius Smith, 584; 

Levinia D. (Merriam), 584; 

Kettie E. (Smith), 585; 

Augur & Gardner, 584. 
Austin. Mrs. A. E., 59; Ab- 

ner, i.6t); Joseph, 266; Mary 

Gilbert, 267; Ruth B. 

(Coe), 266. 

B Company, Third Regt, 4; 
9th Kegt, 8. 

Babb, Albert, 170; Mrs. Al- 
bert, 58, 59. 

Bacon, Francis, 253; Wm. A., 
68. 

Bailey, Gordon, 76; Jerome, 
82; Wm. R., 79. 

Baker, William, 179. 

Balch, Geo. O., 66. 

Baldwin, Ashbel, 163; Chas., 
171; Dan'l, 146; Elias, 171; 
James, 146; James and 
Bethia (Goodsell), 396; 
Jesse G.. 171; Mary (Hall), 
398; Ransom, Jr., 397, 
Ransom, Leland, 398; Ran- 
som, Sr., 396; Sam'l, 146; 
Sarah (Twiss), 397; Sey- 
mour, 171; S. W., 113. 

Ballou, M. F., 123. 

Barber, Ethleen and Susan, 
259; Lewis Wijis 259; Me- 
lissa (Beckley), 259; Nor- 
man Buell, 257; Norman 
Geo. 259; Susan Beach 
(Wood), 257; Wauneita 
Ruth, 259; Willis N., 256, 
257. 

Barker, Alfred, 170. 

Barnes, Geo. M., 80; Mrs. H. 
H., 237; Monroe, 193. 

Barrelle, Almonde, 149. 

Barrett, Butler and Polly 
(Converse), 430. 

Barry, John F., 106. 

Bartholomew & Coe, 351. 

Bartlett, A. L., 125. 

Bartrani. Howard H., 74, 75. 

Baum, Jacob, 594; Baum & 
Bernstein, 596. 

Beach, Burroughs, 284; 
Charlotte (Leavenworth), 
286; E. W., 286; George, 
251; Harriet M. (Weller), 
284; Harry B., 286; Henry 
B., 284; I. E., 581; J. C, 
484; Joseph B., 286; Robert 
J., 70, 179: Sheldon B., 286; 
Wm. N., 71. 

Beadle, James, 75. 

Beckett, Joseph and Lenora 
(Pomeroy), 433; W., 144. 

Beckley, George H., 259; 
Maria (Lewis), 259. 

Beebe. H. Dwight, 138, 236; 
Harriet L. (Woodley), 599. 

Beecher. Sara, 236. 

Bemis. Pred'k E. and Bertha 
C. (Carter), 432. 

Bemont, W. H., 79. 

Benedict, Sarah N., 236. 

Bengtson, C. J., 202. 

Benham, lone, 237; Martha 



(Street, 462; Mary J.. 463; 
Thos. A., 209; Welcome E., 
70, 75, 221, 462. 
Bennett. W. D., 66. 
Bentz, Henry, 156. 
Benziger, Wm., 81; Wm., Jr., 

81. 
Berger, Emil, 15 6. 
Bernstein. Algernon J., 596; 
Daisy, 596; Frances, 596; 
Heights, 595; Jacqueline, 
596; Jacob and Jennete, 
594; Jennie (Baum), 595; 
596; Louisa, 596; Melville, 
596; Sigmund, 594, 595. 
Berry, Chas. A., 79; E. S., Mr. 
and Mrs., 68. 

Bevins, Alvin, 337; Edith L., 
236, 340; Jane L. (Stiles), 
340; Le Grand, 337; Mrs. 
Le Grand, 58; Walter L., 
50, 70, 339. 

Bibeau, Chas. E., 128, 261; 
Henry C, 121, 581. 

Bicknell, Charles, 458; Cor- 
inna, 458; Eleanor D. 
(Stanley), 458; Geo. E., 97, 
457; James M., 457; Ros- 
coe, 458; Sarah (Stevens), 
457. 

Bigelow, Benson and Char- 
lotte (Rice), 376; W. H., 
374-376. 

Billard, Emeline E. (Spen- 
cer), 324; Fred H., 90, 324; 
Herbert M., 324; John D., 
115, lis, 322, 323, 324; John 
L., 50, 62, 64, 70, 110 111, 
136 324; Mary E. 324; Wal- 
ter S., 48, 70, 117, 118, 324. 

Birdsev, Alanson, 147, 471; 
Catherine (Butler), 303; 
Clarissa (Wilcox), 471; 
Edwin. 303; Eli C, Jr., 119, 
121, 299, 303; Eli C, Sr., 
121, 146, 299; Julia (Da- 
vis), 299; L . G., 93; Linus, 
107, 110, 123, 231, 299; 
Lucy (Coe), 471; Lucy E., 
236; Rebecca Cook (Wil- 
cox), 299; Vincey Ann 
(Miller), 299; Birdsey & 
Raven, 302. 

Bishop, Chas. E., 580; D. L., 
121, 143; Emilv, 580. 

Blackwell, C. M., 80. 

Blake, John, 144; John S., 
193. 

Blakeslee, Silas and Esther 
(Buel), 381. 

Blanchard, Chas., 148; Wm. 
B., 139. 

Blatz, Henry, Jr., 175. 

Bliss, P. S., Jr., 193. 

Bloomfleld, Clara R. (Rich- 
ards), 418; David, 82, 416; 
Garry C. 15 3; Nathan and 
Elizabeth (Butler), 416. 

Bodertha. Carrie F., 236. 

Bolles, Franklin G., 72. 

Boole, Wm. H., 173. 

Boone, Augusta J., 236. 

Booth. A. S.. Mrs., 231; Paul 
C, 68, 229; Walter, 107, 
111 121, 229. 231. 

Borst, F. C, 91. 

Boswell, Geo. C, 173. 

Botsford, H.. 75. 

Bottome. Francis, 173. 

Bowen. C. B., 30, 71, 73, 74, 



75; Nettie L., 236. 

Bowker, George H.. 608; J. 
H., 93, 96, 97, 608. 

Bowman, M. Eudocia, 237. 

Boyce, J. Howe, 207. 
Bradley, Abigail Ann (Atka- 
ter), 515; Clarence P., 118; 
Emeline Amelia (Curtis), 
515; Florence M. (Coe), 
422; Mrs. H. E., 57; Hiram, 
171, 172; Lemuel, 167, 
Levi; 512; Nathaniel L., 
59, 62, 66, 117, 118, 136, 516; 
Peter B. Robert S. and Ab- 
by A., 419; Samuel A., 515; 
Silas, 179; Tryphena, 172; 
Walter L., 50; Wm. L., 418, 
515; The Wm. L. Estate, 
421, 422, 600. 

Bradstreet, Alice E. (Pierce, 
248; Alice P., 248; Amanda 
(Thomas), 247; Edward 
Dudley, 248; Edward T., 
64, 86, 247; Mary (Thom- 
as), 248; Thomas J., 247. 

Brady, Katherine, 237; Rose- 
mary, 236. 

Brainard, Belle Perkins, 
459; J. E., 90, 91; James O., 
80. 

Brandenberger, Mrs. C. M., 
66. 

Brasee, Anna (Dickinson), 
503; John S., 503. 

Breekenridge, Alice H.. 236; 
Mrs. J. H., 57; James H., 
68, 70; J. S., 173; R. Moss, 
75, 83. 

Breese, Mrs. T. F., 59, 64. 

Brewster Chauncey B, 165. 

Briggs, Rhoda A., 236; 
Sarah, 397. 

Bristol, Geo., 178; W. P., 121. 
•^Xj; '.^ae^auiao ^aaj^g puoja; 

Brockett. Mrs. Harlow, 57; 
Zena, 144. 

Brooks James S., Ill, 113. 

Brookside Park, 43, 45. 

Brown, A. J., 457; Egbert, 
482; Frederick, 173; L. C, 
81, 83. 

Bruce. Nathaniel, 163. 

Bruycker, F. de 184. 

Bucket Brigade. 76. 

Bull. Carrie E., 236; Norris, 
76; Wallace, 75, 124. 

Burgdorf, C. A., 198, 232. 

Burk. Anna T. L. ,236. 

Burke, Jas. H., 74, 75. 

Burleigh. F. L., 70. 

Burns, Edward, 52. 

Bush, Eunice K., 555; Fen- 
ner, 13, 555. 

Bushnell, E. L.. 589; Henry 
E.. 121, 589; Lizzie (Ray), 
591; Lydia O., 589. 

Butler. A. B., 83; A. S., 80; 
Catherine (Neary) 589; 
Eli, 68, 113; Faith M.. 
589; H. C 113; Joel I., 
Ill; John F., 82, 189, 587, 
588; Mrs. L. P., 58; Mary. 
58; Mary F. (Conlon), 589; 
William O., 589: The John 
F. Co., 588; Butler & Lar- 
kin, 588; Butler & Lyman 
Land Co., 346. 

Byrne, Patrick, 186; W E., 
81. 

Byxbee. Hose House, 77; Ida, 



INDF.X. 



171 



59; John C, 59, 62, 64, 66, 
75, 81, 82, 83, 117, 118, 
Tneodore, 3, 4, 5. 

Cady, Chas. E. and Clemen- 
tine (Cheney), 333; Edwin, 
333, 334, 335; Roselia M. 
(Lathe), 335. 

Cahill. C. W., 64, 104, 110, 
117, 119, 348; John W., 
104, 106; Joseph, 351; 
George, 351; Margaret, 
351; Patrick J.. 104; Simon 
J., 104, 106; Walter, 351; 
Wm. J., 351. 

Camier, John H., 526; Ndlie 
S. (Warner), 527. 

Camp, A. E., 75; Alfred E., 
68; F. A., 170; David N., 
216, 226 385; Elah 107,386; 
Sarah Adaline (Howd), 
3S8: Wm. P., 237. 

Carlin. Michael, 82. 

Carlson. Linus B,, 204. 

Carnegie, Andrew, 176. 

Carpenter, E. C, 175; Orrin, 
267; Wilson, 76, 237. 

Carroll, M. B., 106. 

Carter, Annie Z., 432; M. B., 
432; Bela, 75, 430; Elmer 
B., 430; Mary A., 59; Mary 
J. (Barrett), 430; Robert 
W., 73, 90. 138, 432; Silas 
J. and Ruth (Vining), 430. 

Case, W. C, 80. 

Cashen, Henry, 189; Wm. B., 
189. 

Casper, Mrs. Chas., 59. 

Cassidy, J. J., 81. 

Castle Craig Tower, 36. 

Castelow, E. D., 75. 

Cateract Engine Co., 75, 76. 

Cathole Pass. 40, 43. 

Catlin, Amelia Deborah 
(Spencer). 394; Benj. H., 
107, 393; Benj. and Rhoda 
Catlin). 393; Benjamin 

Spencer, 394; Helen M. (Bai- 
ley, 396; Jane (Winslow), 
397; W. H., 109, 110, 188, 
394. 

Center Congregational 
Church. 140. 144. 

Center Ecclesiastical Socie- 
ty, 142. 

Center School District, 214. 

Center Schools. North and 
South, 215 

Central Grammar School, 225. 

Chalifoux, Joseph, 182; R. 
T., 182. 

Chamberlain, Abiram. 52, 59, 
62. 64, 110, 113, 115, 442; 
-Albert R.. 444; Charlotte 
K. (Roberts) 59, 62, 64, 
444: Harold B., 444; Par- 
melee. 173; Sophronia 
(Burt), 444. 

Chapin. Ellie M. (Lines, 545; 

James H., 59, 195, 227, 234; 
Kate A. L., 57, 58, 356; 
Chapman, Owen, 240; 
Charter Oak Hose Co. 76; 
Ensine Co.. 76. 

Cheney. Horace B., 266; 
Mary C. O. (Pierson), 266. 

Church. Abner, 465: Annie 
L.. 408: Elizabeth, 405; 
Elizabeth A., 408; F. H., 



168; George A., 465; 
Grace H., 408; Henry J. 
4U3, 406; Howard W., 467; 
Jas. and Huldah (Barnes) 
404; Louis H., 405-408; 
Lucy, 465; Lucy R. (Good- 
ell), 467; Maude L. (Mar- 
shall), 408; Robert G., 467; 
Streec School, 216; W. T. 
81; Wm. B., 467; Church & 
Morse; Church & Sprague, 
330. 

Churchill, Asa H., 167. 

City, Market, 348; Park, 33, 
34, 42; Savings Bank, 117, 
118. 

Clafford. T.. 158. 

Clark, Alden, 6S; Carrie Ca- 
pen), 487; E. B., 179; Eliz- 
abeth L. (Wood worth), 
4 85; Elizabeth Louise, 487; 
Eunice Kirtland (Bush), 
556; Geo. M. ,111, 113, 485; 
Geo.S., 487; James A., 207; 
Lovisa Maria (Holly), 487; 
Mariette R., 172; May H., 
236; M. F., 132; N. D., 93; 
Peter F., 506; P. J., 109; 
Robert. 179; Roland B, 
487; Silas Fuller. 485; 
Watson W., 58; William, 
485: Wm. P., 75; W. W., 
167. 

Clarke, Alida B.. 66. 

Coan, Geo. C, 79. 

Coe, Andrew J., 317, 318, 320, 
322. 600; Calvin, 193, 317. 
422, 600; Castle; 600; Eben 
J., 266; Eli. 463; Farm, 317, 
600; Harriet (Rice), 317, 
422; Henry. 600; John W., 
53. 58, 64, 66. 86. 117, 118, 
119. 167; Joseph E. 463; 
Kate Foote, 320, 321, 322, 
602; Laura L. (Miller), 
464; Levi E., 53. 59, 86, 
108. 109, 110, 223, 360; Levi 
and Sarah (Ward), 360; 
Orpha R. (Root), 464; Rus- 
sell. 231; Sophia F. (Hall). 
57, 58. 362; T. J.. 76; Ward, 
107; Winfield R., 600; Coe 
& Austin, 267. 

Cold Spring Home, 385. 

Coleman, John L., 80, 104. 

Collins. Aaron L., 50, 274; 
B. W.. 115, 276; Betsey, 
280; Charles L., 276; Dan- 
iel, 278; Edward J, 276; 
Elizabeth (Carter), 274; 
Elizabeth J. (Mahon). 278; 
Lvman, 170, 274; Sophia 
Lovell (Northrop), 280; 
Svlvia (White), 274; Wil- 
liam. 90. 

Colonial Club, 92-97. 

Columbia Street School. 218. 

Comstock. Cornelia A., 236; 
D. B., 76; William C, 110. 

Conklin. F. J., 106. 

Conlon. John A., 182. 

Conn. School for Boy.s, 64-68; 
Trap Rock Quarries, 292. 

Connolly. C. P.. 66. 

Converse. Ada. 59. 

Coogan, John J., 78. 

Cook, Alfred J.. 104; Arthur 
E., 288: Emma L. (Fay). 
288; Geo. A., 106; Jas., 286; 



J. R., 62, 71, 118; John H.. 
104, 106; Porter, 311. 

Cooke, Joseph A.. 253; Susan 
Josephine (Stanford), 254. 

Cooley, Emily J. (Parmelee), 
470; George, 470; Irving 
G., 470; Mira (Snow), 470; 
Rowe, 470. 

Cooney, John, 181. 

Cope, A. B., 104. 

Corbin, Hezekiah H., 512; 
Maria B. (Ryder), 512. 

Corcoran, P. F., 78. 

Cordo, C. E., 152; H. A., 149. 

Corner School District, 215, 
216. 

Corrigan, E. J., 78. 

Couch, Ira, 298. 

Couch & Blakesley, 329. 

Cowing, F. L., 82. 

Cowles, E. B., 86; Ebenezer, 
46; Elisha A., Ill; Moses, 
167. 

Crane. E. B., 207; Geo. P., 66. 

Creevey, Geo. C, 173. 

Crocker, O., 14S. 

Crombie, P. C, 142. 

Cronan, Thomas, \SG. 

Crough, Roger. 189. 

Crowley, Hannah, 68. 

Cullen. M. J., 79. 

Cunningham, James W., 186, 
187. 

(^urrier, Issacher, 68. 

Curtis, Ada F., 537; Ada 
(Hulse), 536; Alfred P.. 
107, 515, 564; Mrs. Alfred 
W., 57; Amos, 532; Ashahel 
H., 109, 110. 123, 415; Au- 
gusta (Munson), 49, 50, 52, 
58. 170, 306; Bedotha P. 
(Button), 55, 59; Celia, 329; 
Celia J., 57; Clara H. (Fur- 
niss). 117; Edwin E.. 53, 
107, 108, 165, 167; Eliza- 
beth, 305; Elisha. 167; 
Enos H., 107, 415; Family. 
305, 308; Floyd, 115, 117; 

Frederick E., 50; Geo. M., 
title page. 48. 58, 70, 110. 
115, 137. 167. 308, 309, 310; 
Geo. R., 53, 59. 118, 165, 
167. 305. 306. 307, 308; Har- 
riet A. (Hulse), 534; Har- 
riet L., 534. 537; Harrison 
W.. 117; Home, 53. 59; 
John. 305; Juliet (Yale), 
415; Lemuel J., 53. 54. 165, 
167, 298: Memorial Libra- 
ry, 46-53; Nathaniel, 305; 
Robt H, 56. 59, 64; Mrs. 
R. H. 57. 59: Sophie P. 
(Mansfield). 310; Sylvester 
J.. 532; Sylvia Johnson. 
537; Thomas. 305: Thomas 
E. H., 534; William. 172, 
305. 

Curtiss. Bertha E., 553; Ellen 
(Mathews). 550; Hester A. 
(Morgan). 550; Homer. 
110. 402; Homer A., 119. 
139. 209: James A.. 550; 
John L.. 550; Julia A. (Up- 
son). 403. 
Gushing. John T.. 163. 

Dahl. David. 15S. 
Da I v. Thomas H.. 237. 
Danaher. C J.. 189. 190. 209. 
Daniels, Ella, 236. 



1/2 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Dann, Mary (Foster), 236. 

Davidson, John, 178. 

Davis, Adelaide L. (Stev- 
ens), 138, 568; C. H. S., 57, 
209, 226, 234; Mrs. C. H. S., 
48, 57, 58; Lilla F., 68; 
Robert S., 56«; Moriva 
(Hatch), 566; T. F., 194; 
•Timothv Fisher, 566; Wil- 
Bur F., Jr., 568; Wilbur 
Fisk, 566; Davis & Green- 
field, 257. 

Dayton, Edwin, 193. 

De Bussy, Clara B. (Lines), 
545. 

De Crosby, Norman W., 451; 

Ruth Ann (Norwood), 451. 

Denison, Arline, 236. 

Derby, Alice, 59. 

Deshon, Corinne A., 49; Giles 
H., 160, 164. 

De Simone, Antonio, 188. 

Dessureau, R., 182. 

Devereux, S. K., 566. 

De Wolf, Seth, 160, 167. 

Dodd, Catherine, 545; Chas. 
T., 58, 118, 545; Etta C. 
(Smith), 547; Samuel, 53, 
58, 113, 115, 119, 167. 

Dolbec, D., 182. 

Dom'inick, Geo. Francis, 2 66; 
Lucy W. (Pierson), 2 66. 

Dolan. John L., 48. 

Donahue, Robt. J., 78. 

Donohue, John F., 191. 

Donovan, James J., 78; Jolin 

Dooiittle, Dorothy, 294; Ed- 
gar J., 59, 62, 79, 80, 86, 
93, 110. 115, 119, 121, 292, 
293; Martha W. (Couch) 
294. 

Doran, Joseph B., 74, 75. 

Dorsey, May L. (Lewis), 455; 
William L., 455. 

Douglass, John B., 160; Levi, 
167; Sarah A., 526. 

Dow, Nellie W., 236. 

Dowd, R. N., 121. 

Dowling-, Wm. J., 81. 

Downs, H. T., 104. 

Drach, G., 201; W. 201. 

Draper, Luke T. and Eliza- 
beth (Foster), 405. 

Dryhurst, Eleanor (Lewis), 
445; Henry, 125, 445; Hen- 
ry, Jr., 447; Margaret C. 
(Dutcher), 447; Orville J., 
447. 

Duis, Herman, 72, 74, 75; 
Marie L., 66. 

Dumackowski, Ida M. (Sa- 
leski), 476. 

Duncan, Thomas, 246. 

Dunne, Elizabeth T., 236. 

Durand, Geo. A. and Eunice, 
343; John E.. 342; Roxana 
Sophia (Root), 342. 

Dutton, C. N. & Co., 582. 

Eastman, B. C, 207. 

East School District, 212; 
Side Social Club, 104-106. 

Eaton. Jacob. 13, 207. 

Edgerton, Frank C, 150, 
525; Harriet Eliza (Flow- 
er), 525; Justin P., 523; L. 
P.. 523; Mary (Barrows), 
523. 

Edlemann, Samuel, 205. 



Eggleston, Arthur J., 246; 

Elizabeth C. (Duncan). 

246; Jeannette L., 246; Jere 

D., 64, 244; Jere Dudley, 

246; Louisa (Carew), 244; 

Ralph B., 246; Robt. D., 

246. 
Eginton, Fred. 104. 
Ekdahl, Fritz. 204. 
Eldridge, Lillie. 237. 
Bllsbree, Geo. L., 119. 
Elm Tree Inn, Farmington, 

271. 
Evans. John, 177, 178. 
Evening Schools, 228, 229. 
230. 
Everest, Chas. H., 538; C. W., 

163; Chas. H., 137; Hall, 

539. 
Everitt, Abraham and Sarah 

C. (Stone), 351; Edwin B., 

68, lis, 351; Mary A. 

(Thompson), 352. 
Ever Ready, H. & L. Co., 80. 



Fagan, L. P., 104. 

Fairchild, Henry E., 540. 

Falco de, Antonio, 188. 

Fales, Martha B., 356. 

Falk, Olof, 158. 

Falls Plain School, 220. 

Falvey, Agnes. 236; Jeanette 
A., 236. 

Farms School District, 220. 

Farnsworth, J. H., 195, 228; 
James S.. 66. 

Farrow, Mrs. Geo. (Daisy 
Perkins), 459. 

Fay, Amanda (Ward), 562; 
Elizabeth B. (Ham), 571; 
Frank S., 5 69; George A., 
562; George W., 562; Jen- 
nie M. (Curtis, 57, 58, 59, 
564. 

Fenn, Benjamin, 436. 

Pennell, W. G., 149. 

Fern, O. W.. 202. 

Fire Department, 75-83. 

First Baptist Church, 

144-150 Congregational, 

Church, 137-139; Infantrv, 
Conn. Vols, 30; Methodist 
Church. 170-174; National 
Bank, 115-117. 

Fischer. Augusta A., 23C. 

Fisherdick, Florence M., 236. 

Fisk. Florence Cornwall 
(Wilcox). 532; Louis, 87, 
88, 115. 

Fiske, C. H., 58, 167. 

Fitzgerald, Anna, 236 Jas., 
237; Josephine F., 236; M. 
F., 104. 189. 

Fitzpatrick, John, 81. 

Flanagan, Emmett B., 106. 

Flansburgh. D., 81; David 
and Carrie F. (Pomeroy), 
433. 

Fletcher, Almina (Tandv) 
527; Almon J., 121, 527 
Charles, 173; John. 527 
Tama (Davis), Warner, 
528. 

Floto. Charles L., Frederick, 
Marie and Marie (Usch- 
nig), 428. 

Flynn, C. E.. 104. 

Fohlin, Peter. 202. 

Foote. B. P.. 330; Eliza 



(Spencer), 320; Hattie 
(Pomeroy), 271. 

Forbes, Henry, 402; Mar- 
shall Lee, 401; Mrs. M. L, 
57; May O. (Ward, 402; Or- 
rin and Mary, 401; Susan 
C. (Hall), 401. 

Forcier, Napoleon P., 209. 

Ford, James, 78; Roger M., 
71, 72. 

Foskett, Anna P., 236; Mr.s. 
Chas. C, 57; Emma K., 236. 

Foss, C. N., 178. 

Foster, Charlotte (Preston). 
471; Francis S, 471; Frank 
S., 302; Frederick, 194; 
Harriet F. (Kelsev), 471; 
Harriet I., 237; Hattie C, 
236; Hiram, 68; Ira. 471; 
J. U., 193; Mary J. (Bird- 
sey), 471; Mathew, 471; 
Richard H., 3. 

Fox, Andrew F., 592; Chris- 
tian F., 591; Emma R. 
(Dason), 592; Frederick, 
591; Maude (Graham). 592. 

Francis, Bessie, 523; Elias, 
521; Emily (Fine) and Geo. 
^V., 521; Howard, 523; 
Sarah (Griswold, 521; W. 
D., 77. 

Franklin St. School, 218. 

Frary, James, 298; James A., 
107, 113, 495. 

Fredericks, Wm. L., 81. 

Fridlund, David, 204. 

Frisbie, C. B., 66; F. W., 170. 

Frost, Simeon T., 234. 

Fuller, L. T., 97. 

Fulton, M. Mabelle, 236. 

Furbish, Harriet, 66. 

Gaffney, Mary, 237. 

Gagnier, L. Gr., 184. 

Gaines, Annie M., 236; O. W., 
142. 

Gallager, James, 193. 

Gardner, A. H., 491; Aaron, 
193; Annie L. (Potter), 
491; B. R.. 70, 110, 138; 
Edwin F.. 541; Elliott and 
Esther, 242; Emily Ho- 
garth (Covert). 242; Etta 
P., 242; I. I., 70. 153, 491; 
Inez B. (Upson), 493; 
Isaac J., 491; Julia P. 
(Small), 49'2; Le Roy, 153; 
Pauline and Alan, 242; 
Stephen and Warren. 491; 
Wm. E.. 236, 241. 242. 

Garlick, Arthur S., 476: Ma- 
bel S., 476: Nellie M. (Stev- 
ens, 476: William, 475. 476. 

Garton, Florence, 236; J. V., 
143. 

Gaskell, Mrs. G. E . 346. 

Gav. Emma, 59; George, 75, 
267, 515, 517. 

Gearv. J. Richard, 106. 

Gehring, John, Jr., 106; Paul, 
153. 

Gehrman. G., 81. 

Gerard. Joseph, 236, 239. 243: 
Martha J. (Chapman), 240; 
Owen S., 240; Ruth W., 
240; Wm. and Susan (An- 
thony), 239. 

German American School 
Asso., 225, 231. 

Gibson. Jennie H., 236. 

Gilbert, W. R., 132. 



INDEX. 



^72> 



Gill. Emma A., 491; Emma 
(Mitton), 490: Flora E., 
491; Georg-e, 490; James F., 
490; Margaret M., 491; 
Mary E. (Hitchcock), 491. 

Giltespie, C. Bancroft, title 
page. 

<lilmartin. May, 236. 

Ginsberg, Lewis, 206. 

Gladwin, G. A., 153; Jere- 
miah, 322; S., 144, 193, 194. 

Glantz, Charles M., 153. 

Glaser. S. F.. 197, 232. 

Gleason, M F., 104. 

Olock. Chas C, 110. 

Glynn. Ella G, 236. 

Godfrey, R. S., Walter and 
Ruth L. (Sims), 604. 

Crtilden, Wm. H., 193. 

<}oldstein, Heiman, 205. 

(Soodale. G. Frank, 237. 

(Joodrich, Geo. A., 577; Geo. 
\V., 577; Helen E., 577; 
Milo. 76; N. F., 147, 148; 
Ralph S.. 577. 

<;oodsell. Dan'l A., 173; Zal- 
mon. 66. 

(Goodwill, Willia-m, 76. 

tJrady, James F.. 74, 75. 

Graeber, C. A., 197, 22S, 479; 
Carolina (Reissner), 479; 
Christina E. (Haeppler), 
4S0; Crescentia (Wilhelm), 
480. 

<;raham, Wm. E., 92; Wm. 
F.. 59. 

Grant. Alfred Hall. 144; H. 
L, 143 ;John H., 141, 143, 
337; Margaret K. (Hall), 
144. 

Oreenwood. C. J., 152. 

<;riffln, D. N., 175; James, 237. 

tJriswold. Ashbel. 107, 111; 
Caroline P. (Hull), 252; 
D. S.. 130; Eliza (Wil- 
liams). 383; F P., 64, 143; 
Frederick Pratt, 251; 
Frederick Prescott, 252; G. 
J., 81; Harold Hull, 252; 
J. G.. 207; L.. 207; Lewis 
F.. 381; Martin and Sally 
(Fowler), 381; Mira 

(Rockwell), 64. 383; N. F., 
271. 381; Samuel, 251; Sus- 
an (Pratt, 251; Griswold 
& Couch, 298; Griswold & 
Lewis. 271. 

' Juenther, John. 156. 

iluerieke. G.. 197. 

I'.iiernsev Mrs. Jas. H., 305. 

Guerrieri, Biagio, 75. 

'luinan, L. A.. 182. 

"luion. John M, 163. 

I'.uy. Joel H., 107, 108, 11], 
115, 124. 

'frtckett, Ella. 236. 

Hagadon. Wm., 71. 

Ilagertv, Eleanor M.. 236: T. 
J.. 104. 

Ilaggerty. T. L., 81; Tho.':. H., 
'<1: Wm.. 79, 80. 

Hall. .\aron. 557; Alida 
(Baker). 381; Anna G, 433: 
Arthur E.. 70. 138: Alfred 
H.. 141, 144; Brenton. 433, 
•'19; Casper A., 519; Daniel. 
46, 146; Ebenezer. 146: Edna 
A (Mix). 371; Edward B.. 
««; Elizabeth (Cook), 557: 



Esther Asenath (Grover), 
370; Erwin D.. 123, 124; 
Eugene A., 110, 121, 370, 
373: Eugene Mix, 371; Eze- 
kiel, 207; Fanny, 371; 
Gertrude B. (Wetmore, 
435; Grace, 46; Harley and 
Martha (Cone), 369; Hir- 
am, 121; Howard Baldwin, 
43o; Isaac, 144: John, 369, 
433; Mrs. John B. (Yale), 
326; John Blakeslee, 381; 
John P.. 46; Judson Syl- 
vester, 381; Lois Blakeslee. 
381; Lon R.. 123; Mary, 
397; Mary E. (Baldwin), 
397, 435; Noah, 171; Rufus. 
369; Russell, 433; Samuel, 
433, 519; Seth J., 59, 62, 64, 
111, lis. 379: Silas B., 381; 
Sylvester and Rosetta 
(Johnson), 379; Theophi- 
lus, 140; W. A., 70; W. B., 
121; Wm. F., 123 

Hallam, Pheobe A., 165. 169; 

. Robt A., 160, 169. 

Ham, Allen J., 571; Martha 
(Cutter), 571. 

Hannan, F. W., 173. 

Hamilton. Sarah (Lines), 
5 45. 

Hanks. Ruth M., 68. 

Hanley. Matt F., 106. 

Hanover School, 215. 

Hanson, Hans, 157, 158. 

Harmon .Hazel, 236. 

Harris, Abraham. 205; Anna 
L. (Meredith). 154; Arthur 
Emerson, 152, 153; Edna 
M., 236. 

Hart. Samuel I., 14 6. 

Harvev. A. W., 82: Nathan- 
iel, 149. 

Hastings, A. Louise, 2 36. 

Hatch, E. W., 70. 

Havens, Mary A., 236; Ter- 
esa B., 233. 

Hawlev, Harriet Ward 
(Poote), 321; Joe. ,321. 

Havden. Harry, 111. 

Hazen, F. W., 137, 138. 

Heineman. C. J.. 81; Heine- 
mann, Chas., 231. 

Helin. Otto E., 202, 204; Pat- 
rick, 237. 

Henreaux. W. L., 184. 

Hess. Eugenia (De Crosby). 
451; Frederick, 449; Her- 
man, 110, 111. 113, 121, 449; 
Johanna (Yooke), 449; 
Raymond P., 451; Ruth 
Imogene. 451. 

Hicks. Charles R., 366; Liz- 
zie C. 369; Ratcliffe, 118, 
342, 365. 

Higby, Frederick A., 426; 
Geo. O.. 77, 83; Joseph, 172; 
Marv A.. 426. 

Hi Hard, Kenneth, 104; Mar- 
tha, 471. 

Hills. Simon S., 72, 73, 75. 

Hiney. J. W., 82. 

Hinman. Mrs. F. E.. 139; 
Hinman"s Private School. 
230. 

Hinsdale. C. J., 96. 

Hirschfield. H. W., 48; Hen- 
rv and August, 231; Wm. 
H., 92. 

Hirst. Harrv and James, s]. 



Hitchcock, .A.. W.. 96; Caro- 
line J., 236; E. H., 132; 
Ella L.. 236 F. S., 66; 
Louisa, 59; Louise A., 236; 
Lucy E., 491. 

Hoadley, Robt., 194. 

Hobson, John, 80; Samuel, 
80. 

Holden, Charlotte, Grace 
(Lucas). J Harry, Kath- 
ryn and Kenneth \V , 195. 

HoUister, C. A., 179. 

Holly, Lois (Fenton), 487; 
Perry, 487. 

Holmes, Ludwig, 202. 

Holmgren, -Albert. 204. 

Holt. Elijah. 451; Ella M. 
(Rice), 453; Harry H., 
453; Irving L., 66, 87, 115, 
119, 121, 451, 453; Nancv 
L. (Harwood), 451 Ralph 
G., 453. 

Holtz. H., 205. 

Holy Angels, Church of the, 
185. 

Home, Club, 85, 90; Realty 
Corp., 87; National Bank, 
113-115. 

Hopkins, Margaret, 132. 

Horan, Owen, 82. 

Horgan, Dennis, 104; Den- 
nis J., 81. 

Hotchkiss, Bryant, 167. 

Hough. Ephraim, 144; Yale 
I., 167. 

Howard, H. N., 66; Leland, 
149. 

Howe, E. G., 113; Mrs. Geo. 
E., 5 7. 

Hoyt. Melancthon, 163. 

Hubbard. Abbie Ann ( Brad- 
lev). 515; Erastus, 68, 139; 
Walter, 41, 43. 59, 62. 64, 
71. 110, 115, 118, 234. 605; 
Park. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. 
41. 43. 

Hubbell, George A., 173. 

Huber, J. C. 156; Sophia, 132. 

Hughes, Arthur J., 82. 

Hull. C. J.. 75; Caroline Par- 
melee, 252; Mary, 144: P. 
E.. 81; Wm. S., 252; Wol- 
cott A.. 115. 

Hungerford, Edw., 141. 

Hupfer. O. C, 142. 

Hurd. William W.. 17.8. 

Hurley. John A., 101. 104. 
119. 189. 

Husted. E. W.. 152. 

Hutchins. Joseph. 66. 

Hvatt, Allen R., 5Sii: .\nnie 
E. (Chalmer). 580; Blanche 
M.. 580; Elizabeth (Curtis*. 
578; Helen E., 580; Isaac 
B., 80-82, 577: Isaac R.. 
580; Jennie M. ( Bishop ». 
580; Roswell. 578. 580: 
Roswell B., 580; Willard 
C, 580. 

Hyde, Joseph, 90. 

Hynes, Marion G.. 236. 

lannetti. Pasqwale. 188. 
Tmmanuel German Lutheran 

(^hurch. 199. 
Immich, .Adelaide L. (DnuK- 

lass). 526; Ethel Corinin*. 

5''6; Fave M.. 526: Henry 

L.. 525: Hollis D.. .".26: 

Walter Lewis. 526. 



1/4 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Ingersoll, Edw., 163. 

Inglish, John, 81. 

Isbell, Harlow, 402; R. Lee, 
81. 

Island, Howard, 104. 

Ives, Alfred E. and Harriet 
P (Stone), 414; Allna 
(Birdsey), 299, 390; Amasa 
and Rebecca, 391; Amos, 
43; Angelina (Pomeroy), 
271; Anne E., 415; Annie, 
139; Charles, 144; Charles 
Jr., 144; Dwight S., 415; 
Eli, 3, 59; Elizabeth and 
Carrie, 39 3; EUena Lucy, 
393; Emma S. (Butler), 
415; Eva (Kay), 577; Fan- 
nie R., 236; Frederick W., 
388; George W., 393; Mrs. 
I. O., 236; Joel, 144; Joel 
B.. 415; Joel S., 414; John, 
113, 123, 299, 388; Mrs. 
John, 57, 58; L., 144J^; L. 
H., 93; Leland Howard, 390; 
Lucy J. (Birdsey), 393; 
Othniel, 146, 388; Phineas 
T., 577; Reuben, 160; Ros- 
etta (Yale). 388; Sarah, 
144; Sarah (Yale), 388; 
Titus. 146; Watrous and 
Pollv Yale). 391; "Wealthy 
Sage (Merwin), 390; Wil- 
liam B., 110, 393; William 
J., 71, 391; Worcester, 
144; School District, 219. 

Jennings, Caroline J. (Al- 
len). 558; Russell, 148. 

Jerome, E. M., 152. 

Jewish Synagogue, 205. 

Joel, Ed., 153. 

Johnson, Chauncey G., 125; 
E. G., 97; Emily H., 139; 
Gustav H., 204; J. Adolph, 
204; Martin, 204. 

Johnston, John Wesley, 173. 

Journal Pub. Co., 126-133. 

Judge, William J., 191. 

Kane, John, 237. 
Kaschubey, Albert, 77. 
Kates, James, 237. 
Katt, John W., 198. 
Kavanaugh, W. E., 104. 
Kav, Frank E., 153, 577: Jas. 

f., 153, 576; Mary A. 

(Goodrich), 577. 
Kearney, Richard B., 83. 
Kearns, Thos., 83. 
Keating. Alice and Annie, 

596; Annie (MoUoy), 597; 

Michael, 189, 596; Richard 

and Alice, 596; Keating & 

Hurley, 596. 
Keegan, David T., 106. 
Keeler, James, 163. 
Keena, Nellie, 236. 
Keenan, Arthur, 132. 
Kellogg, S. W., 113. 
Kelly, David, 238; Lillian M. 

(Lee), 238; Wm. P., 208, 

209, 237; Wm. P., Jr.. 238. 
Kelsev, Charles, 173; Fannie 

W., 236; William A., 133, 

135, 136. 
Kennard. Justina C. 397. 
Kenworthy. James 81. 
Keohane, Dennis, 68. 
Kettelhut. Herman, 198. 
Kibbe, Annie E. (Webb), 



586; Frank M., 585; F. M. 

& Co., 586; H W., Mr. and 

Mrs., 6b 
Kiernan, M S., 132. 
Kilbourne, Mrs. Frederick 

W., 296. 
Kimball, Charles, 72, 74, 75. 
King. Ada F. (Wright), 574; 

King, C. W., 90, 346; Chas. 

A., 1 3, 110, 344; E. M., 572; 

Emma M., 237; Francis, 

111; Geo. L., 573; Henry T., 

43, 91, 571; Joseph, 237; 

Josephine (Morse), 573; P. 

J., 572; Selena J., 237; 

Street School, 216, 217; 

Thomas, 209; Walter A., 

346. 
Kingsiev, C. L., 6S; Horace 

W., 153. 
Kirtland, W. J., 76. 
Kiser, Gustave, 81. 
Kjall, G., 157. 
Knapp, Lena, 201. 
Knickerbocker, C A., 195. 
Knorr, F., 156. 
Koepchen, William, 197. 
Kohier, W., 158. 
Kooreman, Cornelius J., 62. 
Kopske, John, Jr., 187. 
Kost, Ignacious, 187. 
Krafft, A., 197, 232. 
Kreft, Meta, 200. 
Kruezberger, B., 66. 
Kugge, Mrs. Andrew, 204; 

Gustav, 204. 
Kuntze, August, 604; Carl, 

602, 604; Eliza, 604; Eliz- 
abeth (Schwab), 604; Geo., 

«04; Harold, 604; Helen, 

604; Herman, 604; Julius, 

602; Ludwig, 604; Theresa 

(Weiss), 602. 

Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society, 

24. 25. 
Lajoie, F. A., 104; Joseph N,. 

75. 
Lally, Minnie, 237. 
Lamb, D. T., 132. 
Landfear, Miss, School 230; 

Miss A. E., 57. 
Landrigan, James J., 73, 74, 

75, 104; Margaret, 237. 
Lane, Arthur S., 110, 138, 

292, 496; B. B., 348; Carrie 

E. (Shove), 139, 497; Dan- 
iel P.. 290; E. H., 153; E. 
Le Roy, 292; Gertrude 
i^^mma, 497; Grace Louise 
497; Harrv C. and Bessie 

F. (Curtis), 117: Harry C, 
272; Howard, 153; John S., 
119, 289, 290; John S. & 
Son, 91, 496; John S. & 
Son, Incorp, 290, 292; John, 
W., 90; Mary B., 236; 
Quarry Co., 292; Samuel 
v., 497. 

Lansing, I. J., 173. 

Larson, Anna S. (Mattson), 

159; Chas. Edwin, 159; 

Robert, 158; Rolf Osmund. 

159. 
Lathe, Levi L. and Francis 

(Marble), 335. 
Lawlor, Marfin P., 180. 
Learned. Charles A., 70, 110. 
Lee. George, 79; Mary J. 

(Carrington), 594; Melvin 



C. and Esther (Guy), 305; 
William .Wallace, 593, 594; 

Lego, Julius A., 80. 

Leiberman, S., 206. 

Leonard, G. E., 193; R. C, 
Mr and Mrs., 68. 

Lester, H. H, 153. 

Levi, Nancy, 59. 

Lewis, Ave. School, 217; 
Catherine T., 455; Chas. D., 
74, 75; E. R., 153; Frank 
B., 165; Harriet A., 455; 
Harriet (Pomeroy), 271; 
Henry J., 271, 273; Isaac 
C, 59, 86, 107, 118, 144, 
192, 193, 194, 234, 271, 
354; Esther (Beaumont), 
354; Island, 271; Jared, 71, 
311; J. P., 193; John 1'., 
455; Margaret (Flynn), 
455; Nancy M., 356; Par- 
trick, 121; Mrs. Partrick, 

172; William, 118, 189, 453. 

Liberty Street School, 218, 
219. 

Library Whist Club, 49. 

Liddy, M. J., 78. 

Lincoln. Julius, 203. 

Lindh O., 157. 

Lines, Edwin Stevens, 538; 

H. Wales, 57, 59, 64, 110. 
119, 121, 539, 545; Harriet 
(Bunnell), 539; Henry W.. 
539; Sarah C. (Munger), 
545; The H. Wales Co., 
540. 

Linsley, Chas. F., 86. IT?' 
Mrs. C. F., 59, 139. 517; 
Jessie, 557; Mark M., 75; 
Noah, 216; Noah A., 124; 
Nellie, 57; Randolph, 118, 
175. 556; S. F.. 75; Tem- 
perance J. (Bush), 556; 
Thos. and Wm. B., 557. 

Lissee, N., 182. 

Little, Alice L. (Brown), 
482; Ann (Warren), 481; 
Burton Elbert, 483; Clay- 
ton E. :, 482; Clinton E., 
482; Edna M., 482: Flora 
L.. 482; Harold S., 482: 
Harriet N. (Palmer), 481: 
Hubert, 70, 481; Martha 
L. (Williams), 482: Sax- 
ton B., 234; Thomas, 481: 
Thomas S., 482; Williams 
B., 481; somers & Hyatt, 
481, 578. 

Litlejohn, Abram L.. 164. 

Lockwood, Lewis E.^ 141, 

Logan, John W., 137. 

Loomis. Avaline E. (Brown) 
457; Daniel. 455; Edw. H.. 
68: Emilv A., 457: Freder- 
ick B., 457; Frederick P., 
455; Joseph, 455: Mary A. 
(Porter). 455: Mary E., 
457: William C, 455; Wil- 
liam E., 457. 

Lord. Albert J., 137, 139; 
Maude E. (Phillips), 139; 
Phillips H, 139. 

Lounsburv. Cook, 331. 

Loveland. C. D., 75. 

Lubv, John, 78. 

Lucas, Geo. M.. 70. 11». 
Grace, 195; Wallace R.. "7: 
Wm. C, 82. ^ .., 

Lucchini, Arthur C, S"- 
Edith (Coe), John R., Ma- 



INDEX. 



'/:> 



rie Paul and Peter. 593, 
60-1: Victor E., 600, 602. 

huft, John. 156. 

Lundstrum, C. J., 204. 

Lyman, Andrew and Anna 
(Hall). 298; Fruit Jar, 
298; Roxanna G. (Frary), 
298; William W., 296, 297, 
"98. 

Lynch. Daniel. 104; Jere- 
miah. 104; John T., 189, 
192; Mary A., 236. 

Lvon. C. L., Mrs.. 139; Caro 
'\ 49; D. T, 81; Elizabeth, 
132; G W.. 76, 322; W. H. 
86. 117. 118, 119, 136. 317; 
Mrs. W. H., 59; Lyon & Bil- 
lard, 322 



V, Edith P., 236. 

■ urer. Peter, 231. 

.: .^iiire. T. H., Mr. and Mrs., 

(>6. 
Mahon, Katherine E.. 236; 

Thomas, 278. 
Main St. Baptist Church, 

150-154. 
\i(nlev. May. 237. 
:.riiiiK. E. B., 64. 
1 sfieUl. Mrs. C. J.. 59. 

■ ion, John C. 193. 
kwick. W. F., 175. 
onde, Albert, 198. 

.>i,iriiuardt, John J.. 79. 
Marshall. Wm., 80; W. H.. 
132. 
i Martin. K. A., 202. 
Marvin. E Lyman, 256, 258; 
Susan B. (Barber), 256. 
iMaschmever. August, 73, 

3.^8: Edward, 358. 
jMa.son. A. F., 149. 
Mather. A. B.. 48. 58, 167, 
' 209. 227. 233, 263. 
jMatoon, Jerusha, 144. 
iMatteson. E. B., 92. 
iMatthews, Anson, 311. 
May. Albert A., 83; Hustin 
and Nufflet (Dupheney), 

L *^'^- 

wavnard, Daniel H., 90; W. 

I H. A.. 89. 90. 

Mr-Alenney. Paul F.. 181, 185. 



74, 



IMcAlllster, Wm.. 173. 
McCarthy. Jeremiah J 
I 7.^; Oliver. 81. 
M.Cauley, Kate, 66. 
McGivney, J. J., 182. 
Mi(;overn. John J.. 74, 75. 
MfGrath, Patrick, 80. 
He-Grew. G. H.. 173. 
K<-Gulre, Charles, 189. 
.!• Hugh. John A.. 209. 

'ntee. Katherine A., 

Kenzie. T. E.. 92. 

'-onphlin. John T., 
ilHan J.. 236. 

■lahon, J. J., 189; 

•■•It. 1S2; Thomas. 237. 

Ma.sfers. Wells. 90. 

I'arthind. Frank. 77. 

\\epnev. John, 189, 190 

K_ Society, Hanover Dist. 

"I. Nathaniel, 173. 
kes. .Amelia C. 68. 

• K«. ^Vrthur D., 88; Flor- 
j-iire (Austin). 253 266 
JHarold A.. 64. 66, 252, 266 
*tklem, John, 81. 



236. 
189; 
Lau- 



Meriden; Academical Asso., 
231; Bank, 110; Club, 85; 
Daily Journal 126, 133; 
Fire Arms Co., 121; Fur- 
niture Co., 58o; Grain & 
Feed Co.. 280; Grays, 5; 
Golf Club Course, 421; 
High School, 225, 226; 
Hospital. 59-64; Institute, 
216, 230; Lig-ht Guards, 3; 
Morning Record, 133-136; 
National Bank, 110; Opera 
House. 83, 103; Republican, 
133; Savings Bank. 107- 
110; Trust & Safe Deposit 
Co.. IS; Wheel Club, 90-92. 
Merimere, Lake, 43. 
Merriam, Amasa, 167; Asaph, 
167, 172; C. A.. 79; E. R.. 
75; Geo. C , 362; Helen R. 
(Bradley), 57, 58, 59, 364; 
Joseph, 162, 167; Nelson 
and Rosetta, 362; Robt. J., 
70, 365; Mrs. Rufus. 59; 
Ruth K.. 365. 
Merriman, Mrs. E. A., 58; Eli 
I., 68; Howell, 107. 113; 
Ira and Elizabeth, 330. 

Messner, J., 81. 

Meyers, Henry. 156. 

Miles. Almeron. 121. 459; 
Caroline (Lawrence), 459; 
Thos. A., 137; W^allace A., 
121, 223, 302, 459. 

Miller, A.. 232; Arthur E.. 70; 
Arthur H.. 581; Bros. Cut- 
lery Co., 580; C. A., 81; D. 
Henry, 3, 149; Edw., 110, 
115, 119, 155; Edw. Jr., 
118; Geo. W., 50, 383, 580; 
H. H., 71, 110; Harvey, 
149, 231, 411; Horace, 90; 
Horace G.. 385; I. Burton, 
90; Ida L., 124, 581; Jane 
A. (Havens), 580; Joel, 
147; Lewis A.. 90, 110, 385; 
Lydia M. (Tucker). 385; 
Max E.. 90. 385; Samuel, 
148, 149, 411; Sarah R. 
(Ives). 412; William H., 
118, 123, 125. 144, 385, 580. 

Mills. R. E.. 153. 

Milner, Chas.. 81. 

Minchin, Wm. H, 125 

Minkwitz. Henrv 132. 

Mitchell Asaph. 144. 

Mix. Ethel H.. 236; Helen S.. 
236; John W^. 371; Samuel. 
144; Silas, 110. 

Moelman. Henrv, 155. 

Moffatt, John E., 80. 

Molloy. Richard J. and Nel- 
lie J. (Pomeroy), 433. 

Monroe. C. F., 86. 87; John 
A.. 173. 

Montgomery, E. L, 97. 236. 

Moody. Emma Jen'nette (Al- 
len). 55 8. 

Moonev. E. T.. 104. 

Moore, M. B.. 231 ; R. F., 186. 

Morehouse, Allison F., 268; 
Andrew C. 268; Cornelia 
rCanfield). 267; Cvrus A.. 
267; Henry L., 87, 267; 
Mattie C. and Franklin 
L.. 268; Bros. Co.. 268. 

Morgan. Alice A.. 398; Sam- 
uel B.. 107, 124; Wm. H.. 
581. 

Moriarty, Mary J., 237. 



Morris, J. Frank, 132. 

Morrisseau. L., 182. 

Morrissey, M. F., 104, 189. 

Morse. Charles P, 467; Eva 
L., 519; F. A., 92; Geo. N., 
83, 519; Harley and Har- 
riet, 57, 517; John, 110; 
John P., 53; Joseph, 53, 
517, 573; Josephine M., 
Lila E., Lucy A. (HallK 
and Lucy M., 519; Levi, 
76; Morse & Cook, 128, 
129. 

Moses, Linus, 82. 

Mosber, Anna M. (Wooster), 
494; Benjamin Weaver, 
494; Cyntliia A. (Frary , 
495; Hugh .494; Katherine 
Eugenia (Smith), 496; W. 
R., 496; William W., 53. 
56, 58, 124, 136, 167, 263, 
494. 

MOS.S. E. B.. 58, 167. 

Mossman. Mabel G., 236. 

Mueller, Agnes (Yost), 571 J 
Carl Howard, 571; W'illiam 
Carl. 571. 

Munger. Louisa (Nichols), 
545; Washington. 545. 

Munson, Cyrus, 163; Thomas, 
308. 

Murdock. Alice C. Carter, 
411; Bennet B.. 411; Chas. 
Z., 411; Family. 408 F. L.. 
87, 88, 499; George B.. lid, 
411; George P.. Harriet E. 
(Graves). Harriet J. and 
Mary E.. 411; Z. K. and 
Harriet M. (Bronson), 409. 

Murray. Charles, 104. 

Nagel, Caroline L., 236; John 
G.. 110; Miss M., 232; Mar- 
guerite, 198. 

Nash, Albert, 173. 

Nettleton. Charles H. and 
Katherine (.Arnold), 284. 

Neuman. H. F.. 92. 

Newell. Flora J.. 236; Susan 
F.. 236. 

Newton. Samuel, 539. 

Noble. J. G. .152. 

North. Curtis L.. 107, 410; 
Broad St. School. 214; Cen- 
ter School. 214; Colony 
School. 217; East School 
District. 213; West School 
District. 213. 

Norton, Anna. 236 Gen. B., 
484; J. S. Jr.. 113; Maria 
(Chalker). 484. 

Norwood. .Wirahnm. 228. 

Now;ik. John. 233. 

Oakley. F. H.. 113. 
O'Brien. Julia. 66; Mary. 

236; Maurice. 110; Patrick 

T. 574; Thos. P., 106: 

Thos. J.. 106. 
O'Connor. Tho.s. F. 80. 
Oe'ine-er. E J.. 81; Jacob. SI; 

William, 81. 
O'Donnell. Nellie T., 236. 
Ohl. George. 97. 
Old Road School Dist. 217. 
Olive Branch Mission. 149. 
OReillev, Hugh. 179; Phillip. 

179. 
Otis. Albert L.. 72; F. G., 70. 
Oughton. Robert, 7.".. SI. 82. 



176 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Our Lady of Mt. Carmel 
Church, 188. 

Owen, Alice Gary and Eliza- 
beth J. (Barlow), 261; 
Evan, 259, 260; F. P., Mr. 
and Mrs.. 66; Grace Eliza- 
beth, 261; Llewellyn, 260; 
Richard A., 128, 131, 132, 
260; Sarah (.Pryce), 260; 
Owen & Bibeau, 128. 261. 

Paddock, Blanche J.. 236; 
Julia B. (Beach), 286. 

Page, Benjamin, 53, 58, 110, 
113, 167, 223, 294, 295, 296; 
Charles, 150; Jennie, 48, 
49; Marg-aret A. (Cook), 
59, 296; Sarah E. (Mer- 
riam), 294. 

Pag-nam, Nellie A., 236. 

Palmer, Annie, 57; C. C, 
66; Charles Scranton, 493; 
Maude Elizabeth (Hendey), 
494; Ralph A. and Sarah 
A 493. 

Pardee, D. E., 237; L C, 121. 

Parish, J. H., 66, 68. 

Park Ave. Mission, 149. 

Parker, Abi Lewis (Eddy), 
316; Ave. School, 214, 215; 
Betsey, 172; Charles, o9, 
68, 107, 118, 144, 171, 172. 
178, 310, 311. 312, 314, 316; 
Charles E. ,316; Dexter W., 
118, 313, 315, 316, 317; Ed- 
mund, 144, 311; Edwin, 
171; P. H., 66; George A., 
262; Geo. W., 316; J. P., 
75; John, 144, 171, 178, 221, 

226, 231, 316; John H., 262, 
263; Laura A., 236; Laura 
Albertina, 264; Laura L. 
(Conant), 262; Mary E. 
(Balcom), 264; Rebecca 
Stone (Ray), 311; Rob- 
ert Lane, 264; Sallie 
(Twiss, 311; Wilbur, 316; 
Wilbur P.. 113; Engine 
Co , 78; Hose Co., 79. 

Parks, Alton, 204. 

Parmalee, John D., 178. 

Parmelee, Leander, 470. 

Parrv. E. C, 132. 

Patzer, Albert, 231. 

Payne, Laura L., 498. 

Pease, Elizabeth De K., 236; 
Emma S. ,236: Prank, 237. 

Peck, Ebenezer, 600; Hannah 
K., 49, 58; Harriet L. 
(Lines), 545; John L., 173; 
Leah, 144. 

Pegg, John, Jr., 173. 

Pelton, Phillip S., 193. 

Pender, Adelaide R., 210. 

Renders, John F., 132. 

Penfield. H. B.. 77. 

Pepin, Oswald D., 106. 

Perkins, Charles, 540; Chas. 
and Eunice (Smith), 413; 
Charles S., 115, 413.; Ed- 
gar J., 458: Elisha, 458; 
Ellie M. (Smith) and How- 
ard, 459: James M, 458; 
Laura (Bloodgood), 414; 
Rusell. 149; Simeon, 160, 
167; W. S., 192, 195; Per- 
kins & Line.s. 540. 

Pettee, John T., 172, 173, 

227, 233; Marietta R. 
(Clark), 57. 



Phelps ,1. Newton, 170. 

Pierce. A. C, 249; Bessie 
(Hubbard), 250; Eibridge 
W., 64, 86, 249; Hiram, 218; 
Sarah (Beers), 248. 

Pierson, Aaron, 264; Antoi- 
nette R. P., 266; D. L., 
Guy R. P. and Hannah P. 
(Latimer), 266; Mary C. 
(Ogden), 264; Mindwell 

(Hastings) (Glazier), 266; 
Stephen C. 264. 

Pinks, Beula Warren, 530; 
Charles H., 139, 528; Ed- 
win C, 528: Ida K., 528; 
Lillian B. (Smith), 530; 
Sophia C, 528; Stanley B. 
and Vera L., 530. 

Plainville Camp Ground, 179. 

Piatt, Harriet W.. 390; Jas. 
P., 53, 110, 209; Orville H., 
3, 50, 76, 81, 234, 440. 

Plumb, Private School, 230; 
Seth D., 146. 

Pomeroy, Chas., 193, 270, 
271; Charles L.. 433; Cor- 
nelia, 271; Delila F., 
(Guild), 433; Eliphalet, 
271; Hattie (Hasen), 271; 
James T., 193, 271. 432; N. 
"W.. 193: Nancy, 271; Nan- 
cy (Merriman), 271, 356; 
Noah, 107, 144, 193, 268, 
270, 356, 432; Norman, 271: 
William H, 433. 

Pooley, E. J., 90, 92. 

Porter, John B., 455. 

Post Office, 121-125. 

Potter, Hugh, 491; Potter, 
Shipman & Lewis, 299. 

Powers, C C, 97. 

Pratt, Geo. S., 70; Henry S., 
234; Julius, 68, 107, 113; 
Llewellyn, 137. 

Prattsville School District, 
214. 

Preston, Elizabeth, 547; 
Elizabeth (Clark). 550; 
Emily, 435; Ira, 435; John 
H., 547; Lucius, 547. 

Prince, M. W., 173. 

Pritchard, Roger, 303. 

Private Schools, 230-233. 

Proutv, Henrv and Parmelia 
(Roberts), 238; Jennie W., 
239; ^Willis J., 90, 93, 234, 
236, 238. 

Pryba, A., 233. 

Puffer, Edwin A. ,74, 75. 

Quested, William M.. Ill, 

498. 
Quinn, Thomas, 179. 

Raarup, Theresa C 236. 
Ragon, Ollie E., 237. 
Rahaley, Henrietta L., 236; 

John, 81; Mary M., 236. 
Railroad School District, 

217. 
Rand. Mary I., 68; Phillip, 

C, 378, 390; Mrs. Philip 

C, 50. 
Randall. A. T., 53, 56, 58, 

165, 167, 168, 169; Mrs. A. 

T., 57. 58: H. C 167; Mary 

L. (Davis), 167. 
Range, John, 172. 
Rapelye, Andrew, 581; An- 
toinette, 581: Frederick 



D., 581; Lucy (Fellows), 
581. 

Raven, John F., 302. 

Ray, B. P., 591; Ella A. 
(Griswold), 383; Eugene 
H., 383; Flora B., 236; 
Mary A., 591. 

Reama, Hugo, 66. 

Rebstock, Christopher, 81; 
Emil, 80. 

Redfleld, William, 308. 

Reed, Rose G., 64. 

Rees, Wm. H, 77. 

Reilly, Agnes, 449; Arthur, 
449; Katherine, 449; Lew- 
is, 132; Louis, 449; Marie 
E. (Rowen), 447; Mary, 
449; Robert, 449; Rose, 
449; Thomas L., 48, 96, 
104, 126, 447, 449. 

Republican Pub. Co, 133. 

Rettman, Lena, 236. 

Revnolds, Curtis W;, 170; 
Edith E., 236; G. W., 170; 
Grace C., 236; J. Edward, 
70: John M., 78; M. G., 
189; T E., 103. 

Rice, Abbie C, 249; Mrs. Al- 
bert, 436; Anna C, 236; 
Chas. P., 170; Ezekiel, 46; 
Oliver, 249; Robt. J., 90. 
W. B., 142. 

Richmond, Florence M., 237; 
John L., 271. 

Ridlev, Joseph, 170. 

Riecke, Augusta F., 236. 

Roark, Thos. J, 80. 

Roarke, Edw. 82. 

Roberge, Joseph A.. 93, 96 

Roberts, John D., 77, 81, 83 

Robertson, Harold C, 68. 

Robinson, Florence G., 237 
W. J., 58, 118, 167; Mrs. W, 
J., 58. 

Rockwell, Chas. E, 539 
Charles F., 118, 470 
Chas. L., 64, 115, 117, 118 
119, 537, 539; Curtis, 77 
Francis A., 254, 537; Geo. 
254: George, Jr., 256 
Louise (Taylor). 470 
Mary L. (Everest), 64 
539; Marv (Lee), 254, 537 
539; Minnie F. (Battles) 
256: Samuel, 383; Sher 
burne. 256; William F 
467. 

Rodier M. J, 184 

Roeth, Henry A and Wife, 
2 31; Ida S, 236.- 

Rogers, Block, 72; Burton 
C. 512: Cephas B., 115, 117, 
118, 503: Elam H., 503: 
Elizabeth (Rowland). 506: 
Elizabeth (Tryon), 503: 
Estelle Victorine, 509: Eu- 
gene C, 509; Geo. F., 96. 97 
Geo. "W., 124; Gilbert. 118- 
506: Ichabod, 506; Mabel 
E., 509: Margaret (Clark). 
506: Marv J. (Corbin). 
512; .Ralph G., 509; Wil- 
bur F. 509; Zula Eliza- 
beth, 512. 

Rohan, Jeremiah and Rich- 
ard, 104. 

Rohnstrom, A., 157, 158. 

Rollins, Frank. 179. 

Ropes, David N., 107. 

Roselius, Wm., Jr.. 80. 

Rowley. A. J., 153. 



INDEX. 



^17 



Kufletli. Herman, 198 

Kussell. Edmund and Jane, 
4''6- J. W., 144: Nellie P., 
23fi: VV. H., 104. 

Rust, T. S.. 90. ^ 

Rutherford, J. L-, lO 

Rutty, Ezra, 147. 

Kyan. Caroline A.. 236; Em- 
ma P.. 236: Helena E.. 237; 
John T., 80; Katherine E., 
:36. 

Sacred Heart Cemetery, 181. 

182. 
Sage. David, 292; Russell, 

2H2: William. 292. 
Saleski, Anne (Reichardt). 

479: .\nton A.. 476; Au- 

!<ust, 232: August B., 476; 

Charles M.. 476; Charles 

Wilhelm. 476; Eugene, 479; 

Frank, '476; Gustav W.. 

476: Henrietta, 479: Mary 

(Lietz). 476; Paul T., 187. 

476; Philip. 479. 
Saltonstall. H. W., 107. 
Sands. Alice L. (Brasee), 

503; Anna B. 503; Clara 

L., ."),t9: Frank E., 86, 87, 

126. .")00; Jesse, 132, 500, 

".59; Mary M. (Turner), 

,".00, 559. 
Sanford, Elias and N. C, 

207. 
■ ntaus. John H., 79. 

rilla. Victorio 188. 

vage, A. B., '139; E. C 

n6; Geo. E., 110. 113; H. 

S.. 93. 96; Mary H. 236. 
Sawyer. C. C, Mr. and Mrs., 

OS. 

■ienck M .B.. 110, 209. 

■ileitef, H L., 118, 170. 
imelzer, August. 62. 64. 
19. 231, 48S, 595; Edgar 

i:.. 488. 
Schmidt. G. A.. 197. 
Schneider, Nicholas F. X., 

187. 
jSchoenrock. Carl. 198. 
Schroeder. Karl, 198. 
' S' huerer, Herman F., 74, 75. 

•iwah. Andrew 156. 
>\varz. Edward. 198. 
iwink, J. J., 237. 
'field. Frank A.. 173. 
■tt, Harold, ll.T 
'Vil, Eleazer, 329: James, 
29. 

ir'.e.'s John C 173. 

■ ley, Anna G. (Lee>. 305; 

Arthur D.. 305; Frank G., 

■:o5; Geo. S.. 58. 70. 73, 121, 

'67. 303, 304. 305. 

• ry. Christopher. 78: Wm., 

"'?. 

idensticker. Georgia, 236: 

May, 237. 

•i>, H. W., Mrs.. 139 
n-lka, Chas L, 79. 
pemrau. Frank A. 106 John 
' F. 106. 

" .indaroski. Marv 68. 
iw. P.ichard. 81.' 

•pherd. Geo. N. .77. 83 
•;'iOve, Oliver P, 497. 
pills. Elias T. 497; Wino- 

gene (Pavne). 498. 
Plmons. Nellie E. 237. 
fiskind. Abraham'. 205. 



Sjoquist, J Alfred, 202. 

Slater. Alice A., 236. 

Small, Marion, 492. 

Smiley, E E, 193 

Smith, Anna M. (Hanly) 
485: David, 248, 585; Da- 
vid P., 249; Edward Wier, 
64, 248, 249, 250; Edwin 
E., 135, 136; Mrs.: Edwin 

B. (Lee), 594; Fannie E. 
(Beach), 484; Fidelia A. 
(Parker), 585; Fidelia Par- 
ker, 248; Frank D., 110; 
121; F. W., Drug Co.. 586; 
Geo. W., 118; Gershom B., 
547; H. D., 216, 231; Harry 
H., llS; Helen B. (Rice). 
249 Henry G., 239; John 

C, 113: Loyal, 484; Mar- 
ion R.. 249; N. C. 79: Rog- 
er. 178; Sereno D., 484; T. 
M., 81. 496; W. E., 142; 
^Vm. M., 530; Mrs. W. R., 
292. 

Soldiers' Thanksgiving Din- 
ner, 25. 

South. Broad St. School, 215; 
Center School, 224; East 
District School, 220, 224; 
West School District, 212, 
213; Meriden M. E. Ch'ch, 
177. 

Southwick. Daniel F.. 553; 
Emma L. (Thompson). 
554; Frank T., 553; Lau- 
rence F. C. C, 554; Sarah 
J. (Camp), 555. 

Spanish-American War. 30- 
3'^ 

Spencer, John. 79; P. A. 153. 

Sciuire. A. B.. 87; Agnes D. 
(Curtis). 52; W. H.. Mrs.. 
139: Wilbur H. 90. 91, 97. 
124, 586; W. H. & Co. and 
The W. H. Co.. 587; Wil- 
liam L., 5S7. 

St.. Andrew's Parish. 56, 159; 
Bridget's Convent. 181, 188, 
191: Cyr. N. J.. 104; Cyr 
Z. J.. 184; Jean the Bap- 
tiste Society, 82; John's 
Lutheran Church, 195-199; 
Joseph's Church and Par- 
ish, 189; Joseph's Paroch- 
ial School, 191; Laurent's 
Cemetery, 184; Laurent's 
Church, 182, 187, 188: Lau- 
rent's Parochial School, 
184: Mary's Church, 187; 
Patrick's Cemeterv, 181; 
Paul's Church, 192; Rose's 
Church, 179 182. 

Stanley. Geo.' J.. 210; Lot, 
471: Lucy. 471; Rhoda 
(Wads worth). 471. 

Starkev. H. L.. 81. 

State Reform S?hool, 64. 

States. James N.. 66. 

Steam. Mill Lumber Co.. 342; 
Power First Tntioduced. 
311. 

Steere, Martin J.. 195. 

Sternber,g, Clias. and Elise 
F.. 198. 

Stetson. Albert L.. 90; J. 
W., 237. 

Stevens. A L., 435: Ashahel 
A., 141. 231; B. F. 193: B. 
R.. 193; Eunice. 476; 
Frank A, 62, 90. 110. 121 ; 



Harry A., 90; J. B., 75; 

Jane (Morris), 568; Josh- 
ua. 568; Julia E. (Beech- 

er), 435; Philander, 476. 
Stevenson. Mrs. Francis, 59. 
Stewart, Darling, 171. 
Stickel. John, 79. 
Stiies, Truman, 75. 
Stockburger, Andrew. 154. 

156: Andrew. Jr., 156. 
Stockdale, F. B., 173; Geo., 

174; Ruth, 174; Sarah A. 

(Machin), 174. 
Stockder, C. E., 88; C. E.. 

Jr. 209; Mrs. C. H. 64. 
Stocking. Sabura S., 163. 
Stokes. Joseph S., 64. 
Stone, H. R., 66. 
Storr.s, H. W.. 9 7. 
Stow, Eugenia (Pomerov), 

271, 
Stowe Horace W.. 92. 
Stowell, Clarise, 68. 
Street, Betsey (Scott), 4 62; 

James, 462. 
Strickland, H. G., 81. 
Sullivan, M. F., 104. 
Sutliff, James A 426; James 

R., 426; Joh'n, 59, 426; 

Mary A. (Dayton). 426; 

Rebecca (Miles). 426. 
Sutterlin, L. H., 81. 
Suzio, Leonardo, 188. 
Swan Oliver, 64. 
Swedish Lutheran Church. 

201. 
Swenson, Bernard, 66. 157; 

Gustaf, 202; John E, 157. 

158. 
Swift & Co., 351. 
Sword. A. P.. 158. 

Tait. John. 117, 118. 

Tappert. C. R., 199: Ernest 
T., 201; Gustave 201. 

Taylor J. B., 23'7: Joseph, 
113; Sabra K.. 237; Ste- 
phen. 111. 

Teevens, J., 179. 

Thayer, Annie S. (Dever- 
eux), 139, 566; Augustine, 
564; Electa (Fairchild). 
564; John Q. 564; J. V.. 
193; William D.. 74. 75. 

Theime, F. L.. 153. 

Third Congregational Ch'ch, 
206. 

Thomas, Anthony S., 423; 
C. H., 79: Emma J. < Ru.«- 
sell). 426; J .J. 79; John 
W. and Mahala, 423. 

Thompson. B. I. ,77; Chas.. 
E., 262; George H.. 262; 
John Rhey, 173; Minnie 
(Edgerton), 5i5; William 
H. 261. 262. 

Thoren. Bwald. 202. 

'I'hui'sday Morning Ciub, 48. 

Tibbals. Samuel. 167. 

Tickell. A. J., 17u. 

Timms. P. H.. SI. 

Tinker. William R.. 332. 

Tolles. James M.. 75. 

Tongue. Roht. Clark.son, 170. 

Tofithe, James. 170. 

Tourgee, W. E.. 77. 

Tower, Freeman P.. 172. 173. 

Town Deposit Fund. 223. 

Town Hall. 72. 

Tracv, Andrew W., KU. 104. 



178 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



228; Dora, 237; John 77, 
82. 

Tredennick, Chas. H., 121; 
Edward, 592; Elizabeth A. 
(Hall), 592; Helvitia (Luc- 
chini), 593; Nicholas, 592. 

Trinity Methodi.st Church, 
174. 

True B. O., 149. 

Trumbull Guard, 5. 

Tucker, P. E., 66. 

Tuckey, W D., 175. 

Tufts, Sidney D., 461. 

Twiss, A A. B., Mrs.. 123; 
Cornelia, 401; Fannie L., 
57; Ira, 47, 399; Vincie 
(Andrews), 399; Joseph, 
146; Joseph and Lois 
(Austin), 397; Waldo C. 
104, 155, 399. 

Tyler, Chas. E., 80. 

ZJniversalists, First Meetingr 
of, 270. 

Upham, Charles L., 73 93, 
96, 117, 119, 209, 376,' 378, 
379; Elizabeth 379; Eliz- 
abeth H. (Hall), 379; 
Emily, 379; Emily (Clark) 
379; Francis C, 379; Wm. 
Dennis and Lucy McKen- 
zie (Spink), 376; William 
H., 379. 

"Van Nostrand, George, 71, 

72. 73, 75, 487 488; Sarah 

(Kellam), 488.' 
Van Oppen, A., 182, 184, 185, 

232. 
Veteran, Firemen's Asso., 81, 

83, 84; Guard 5. 
Vibert, Charles tC. and H. P., 

170. 
Von Tobel, A. E., 64. 
Vorra, John, 76. 

TV^adhams, Lucy B, 49. 

Wagner, Anna A. (Harper). 
Bertha A., Edna M., Grace 
V. and Elmer C. L. 177; 
John P., 175, 176, 177. 

W'aldron, Frank, 78; T. F., 
81. 

^Walker, O. T., 152. 

Wallingford Tornado, 110. 

Walsh, James J., 104, 132; 
Michael. 81; Thomas, 180. 

Warden, Edna, Henrietta N. 
(Sweet), Mildred and Ray- 
mond, 243; S. Watson, 237, 
242; Watson, 243. 

IVarner, C. H., 75. 80; Chas.. 
82; Oliver S., 77. 

Warnock Avilla M. (Tink- 
er). 332; J. C, 332; Kath- 
erine A., 333; Thos. H., 
35, 136; William G., 330, 
331. 332. 333; William G.. 
Jr., 333. 

"Warren, Alanson and Sarah 
M. (Hickox), 346; Edward 
346; Etta, 348; Henryi 
346; , Josephine G. (Ly- 
man), 298, 348; Richard. 
346, 481. 

Warriner, Edw. W., 175. 

Washington Engine Co., 76. 

Waterman Edward C, 264; 
Marion C. (Parker), 264; 
Moses, 193, 194; Reuben, 
207. 



Watrous, Edwin A.. 330. 

Watts, Wm. H., 78. 

Webb, Walter, 207. 

Webber, Fannie E., 236. 

Weed Mrs. J. B. (Cahill), 
351.' 

Weeks, Mrs. M. F., 59. 

^V^eimar. Henry, 156. 

Welch. Mrs. G. F., 236. 

Welles, John, 329. 

Wells, Nelson J., 68. 

Welten, H E., 193. 

Wessman John, 202, 204. 

West, E.' E., 81, 33; Main 
St. School, 219, 226; Peak. 
33. 35; School District, 
213. 

Wetmore A. C, 107, 113, 
118; Mattie S.. 236. 

Whalen. Annie M., 133 

Wheatley, Edward C, 229. 

Wheeler, Everett, 464; Fred- 
erick J.. 124, 464; Maude 

B. (Barber). 259. 

Wheelock, I. R., 152. 

White Edw. H., 137; Fami- 
lies, 137; Heman 311 
Mrs. Henry S.. 57; Howard 
137; James H., 70, 87, 115 
118; John H., 165; Mary 

C, 432; Myron S., 596, 598 
Nathan'l and Eliza (Peck), 
597; O. H.. 141; Stanley, 
139. 

Whiting. Samuel, 46. 

Whitman, Walt, 487. 

Whitney, E. B., 132. 

Wicklund. A. F., 202. 

Wickstrand, C. A., 202; M. 
A., 204. 

WMghtman. J. S., 118. 

Wilbur, Caroline, 236. 

Wilcox, Albert H., 138. 330. 
Anna E., 236; Charlotte 
(Smith), 532; Dennis C, 
68; Elizabeth White (Sco- 
vil), 329; Ella A., 532; El- 
len (Parker), 532; Geo. H., 
59, 64, 86, 111. lis, 119, 
121, 138, 532; Mrs. Geo. H., 
59; Georgine, 532; Henry 
S., 329; Henry T., 329;; 
Horace C 59, 86, 234, 530; 
Mrs. Horace C, 57; Hose 
Co., 79, 80, 81; Jane E. 
(Merriman), 330; L., 144; 
Samuel H., 71. 

Wiles, Minnie G., 236. 

WlUard, Daniel H., 207. 

Williams, Alfred, 115; Chas. 
H., 137; Chas. M.. 65, 66, 
209; Mrs. C. M., 66; F. H., 
70; Harry J.. 97; J. H., 81. 

Willow St. School, 216. 

Wilson. Edgar A., 64, 250; 
Grove H.. 3, 221, 250; Mrs. 
Grove H., 57; Ida M. 
(Beach), 251; J. C. 141; 
Lesley A. 251. 

Winner, Josephine, 237. 

Winslow, Carlton H., 92; 
Chas. N., 335, 336. 337, 
581; Henrietta E. (Bald- 
win), 57, 58, 59, 337. 

"Winthrop Hotel and (Com- 
pany. 605. 

Withey, Emanuel, 72. 

Wittman, Emil. 199. 

Wolcott, Henry and Mary 
W., 329. 



Wollschlager. F. M., 80 
Wood, Chas. H., 62 115, 210; 

Irving, 153; Jennie d' 

236; M. C, 207. 
Woodley, Emma L., 52 599; 

Eliza A. (Davey) " and 

William, 599, 600, 
Woodruff, Wyllis, 393. 
Woodworth, Asa 485. 
Woolley, J. J., 141, 142. 
Worcester. A. M., 152. 
Wright, Charles H.. 574; 

Dexter R., 3, 108, 231, 317; 

Frederick A. 509. 
Wuth, Edward "A., 237. 

Yale, Allen, 139; Bertrand 
L., 107, 121, 123, 325, 326, 
327; Catherine J. (Miller), 
413; Cecilia I. (Saleski), 
476; Chloe E. (Holcomb), 
326; Emma L. (Norton, 
484; Hiram A., 107, 326, 
327, 328, 553; Ira N., 121: 
Johnathan, 146; J. Hobart, 
142, 143, 483; Julius W.. 
483; L. B., 142; Laminta 
(Clark). 328; Levi, 107, 
121. 123; Levi, Jr., 68; 
Levi and Anna (Guy), 
324, 325; Mary Catherine 
(Wells), 57, 58, 329; Mary 
yv.. 329; Mary (Cooley), 
483; Noah, 483;; Mrs. Oli- 
ver, 292; S. H. W., 109, 
110; Samuel, 111, 146 147, 
231; Solomon, 160; Wm., 
110, 146. 

Yeamans, G. H., 93, 96. 

Yost. August. 571. 

Young, H. C 113; Men's 
Christian Asso.. 68-70; 
Men's German-American 
Club. 101; Men's T. A. B. 
Society, 97-101. 



ILLUSTR.\TIONS. 

All Saints' Memorial Ch'ch, 
168. 

Amaranth Club: Parlor, 102; 
Reading Room, 102; Bil- 
liard and Card Room. 103. 

Atwater, Francis, Residence 
of. 439. 

Bigelow. W. H.. Residence 
of, 375. 

Bradley, Wm. L., Estate, 
Views of, 421. 

Brookside Park and Cas- 
cades. 44. 

Bushnell Building, 590. 

Cahill Block. 350. 

Castle Craig Tower, 36. 

(^ateract. Old Engine 34. 

Cathole Pass, 40. 

Center Congregational Ch'ch, 
141. 

Center School, the Old, 211. 

Central Grammar School, 2Ki. 

Church St. School, 214. 

City Park, 42. 

Coe Castle, 602. 

Colonial Club: Wilcox Block, 
93: Parlor, 94; Assembly 
Hall, 94; Card Rooms. 9^: 



INDEX. 



1/9 



Billiard Room, 95; Social 

Room. 96. 
Columbia St. School, 224. 
Connecticut School for Boys, 

67. 
Curtis Home, Children's 

Building, 56. 
Curtis Home. Old Ladies' 

Building. 57. 
Curtis Memorial Library, 49. 
Curtiss, James A.. Residence, 

also Warehouse of, 551. 

East District School. 226. 

East Side Social Club House, 
105. 

Eggleston. Jere D., Resi- 
dence of, 246. 

Fairview. Tower and Pavil- 
lion, 37. 

First Baptist Charch, 14", 
147. 

First Congregational Ch'ch 
Building 138. 

First Methodist Church, 172. 

First Methodist Church Ed- 
ifice, 171. 

First National Bank Build- 
ing, 116. 

Franklin St. School, 220. 

German Baptist Church and 
Parsonage, 155. 

Hanover School, 22 7. 

Holy Angels' Church and 
Rectory, 185. 

Home Club: Club House. 85; 
Parlors. S6; Upper Hall 
and Billiard Rooms, 87; 
Hall and Reading Room, 
88. 

Home National Bank Build- 
ing 114. 

Hose Houses: Charter Oak, 
76; Byxbee Hose Co. and 
Doolittle Hook & Ladder 
Co.. 77; Parker Engine Co., 
78; Wilcox Hose Co.. 79; 
Volunteer Hose Co.. SO. 

Jewish Synagogue, 205. 

•Tournal Publishing Co.: 
Business Office, 127; Di- 
rectors' Room, 128; News 
Composing Room, 129; 
Book and Job Composing 
Room, 130; Press Room 
131; Bindery, 131; Electro- 
typing Room, 132. 

Katlyn Kottage. 395. 
King St. School, 219. 

Lane. John S., Residence of, 

291. 
Lewis Ave. School, 225. 
Lewis, The Late Isaac C. 

Residence of. 357. 
Liberty St. School, 218. 
Lutheran Immanuel Ch'ch, 

200. 

Main St. Baptist Church, 152. 

Main St. Baptist Parsonage, 
151. 

Meriden Bank. Old Build- 
ing. 111. 

Meriden Golf Club: Third 



Green, Bradley Ave., near 

Club House; Home Green; 

Club House, 4:;1. 
Meriden High School, 213. 
Meriden Hospital, 6u; Sick 

Ward, 61; Operating 

Room, 63. 
Meriden Institute, the Old 

209. 
Meriden. Looking North 

from Town Hall, 120. 
Meriden National Bank 

Building, 112. 
Meriden 'iown Farm House, 

607. 
Meriden Town Hall. Old, 72. 
Meriden, West Main St. from 

Corner of Colony, 122. 
Meriden Wheel Club: Parlor, 

91; Billiard and Card 

Room, 92. 
Mirror Lake, 39. 
Mirror Lake. Cascades and 

Children's Playgrounds, 38. 
Morse & Cook Block, 601. 

No. Broad St. School, 222. 
North Colony School, 217. 

Old Corner School, 208. 
Olive Branch Chapel, 148. 
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel 
Church, 138. 

Parker Block, 264. 

Parker, Dexter W., Resi- 
dence of. 315. 

Pearl Knob, 35. 

Pinks Charles H., Residence 
of, 529. 

Preston. John H., Residence 
of, 548. 

Republican Publishing Co. 
Building, 134. 

Saleski. P. T., Building, 478. 
Second Episcopal Edifice, 

The. 162. 
So. Broad St. School, 223. 
So. Center School, the Old 

212. 
Southeast District School. 

228. 
South Meriden M. E. Ch'ch, 

178. 
St. Andrew's Church. 164. 
St. John's Church. 196. 
St. Joseph's Church, 190. 
St. Laurent's Church, 183. 
St. Laurent's Parochial 

School. 230. 
St. Mary's Church and Par- 
sonage. 186. 
St. Paul's Church. 193. 
St. Rose's Church. ISO. 
St. Rose's Parochial School, 

229. 
Swedish Baptist Church and 

Parsonage 158. 
Swedish Lutheran Church. 

203. 

Thomas, A. S., Residence of, 

425. 
Trinity M. E. Church and 

Parsonage. 175. 

Wallingford from West 
Peak. 33. 



West District School, 216. 
West District School, the 

Old, 210. 
West from West Peak, 34. 
West Peak from East Peak. 

35. 
Willow St. School, 221. 
Winthrop Hotel. 608. 

Young Men's Christian Asso. 
Building, 69. 

Young Aien's T. A. B. So- 
ciety: Parlor, 98; Library, 
98; Card Room, 99; Smok- 
ing Room, 99; I'ool Room. 
lOu; Card Room, 100. 



150. 



PoKl K.Al IS. 

Abraham. Meyer, 206 
Alien, Eawaru C, 5.-)7. 
Alien, E. K., 68. 
Allen, Lew, 501. 
Arnold. O. B., 282. 
-\.shworth, K. A., 145, 
Atkins. Stephen, 6ij6. 
Atwater, Francis, 433. 
Atweil. George. 145. 
Aubrey. Alfred B., 576 
Augur, Julius, 584. 
Austin, A. E., 266. 



Baldwin, Ashbel, 161. 
Baldwin, Moses, 606. 
Baldwin, K. Leiand, 399. 
Baldwin. Ransom, Ji-., 397. 
Baldwin, Ransom, Sr., 397. 
Baldwin, S. W., 579. 
Barber. Willis N., 258. 
Barrelle. Almond, 145. 
Beach, Henry B.. 285. 
Beach. Robt J.. 177. 
Beebe. H. Dwight. 243. 
Benham. Welcome E., 462. 
Bernstein, Sig., 595. 
Bevins. Le Grand. 338, 606. 
Bevins, Walter L, 339. 
Bibeau, Henry C, 583. 
Bicknell. Geo. E., 457. 
Bigelow. W. H., 374. 
Billard. John D., 323. 
Birdsev. Alanson. 473. 
Birdsey. Eli C. Jr. 301. 
Birdsev. Eli C, Sr.. 300. 606. 
Bloomfield, David. 417. 
Booth. Walter. 579. 
Bowen. C. B., 71. 
Bowker, James H.. 60S. 
Bradley, Abigail Ann (.\t- 

water). 513. 
Bradlev, Levi, 513. 
Bradiev. William L.. 420. 
Bradstreet. E. T.. 247. 
Brooks. James S.. 579. 606. 
Bruce. Nathaniel. 161. 
Bush. Feniier, 555. 
Bushnell. H. E.. 589. 
Butler. Eli. 579. 
Butler. Henrv C. 579. 
Butler. Joel I.. 606. 
Butler. John F.. 588. 
B.vxbee.John C. 75. 
Byxbee. Theodore. IS, 29 

Cadv, Edwin 334. 
Cahill. C. W'.. 349. 
Camier. John H.. 526. 
Camp. David N.. 387. 
Carpenter. E. C 176. 
Carter. Rela. 431, 606. 
Castelow. E. D.. 6ii6. 



i8o 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Catlin, Benj. H.. 393. 

Catiin, W. H., 109. 

Chamberlain. Abii-am, 443. 

Chapin, J. H., 194. 

Church, Georg-e A., 466. 

Church. Henry J.. 406. 

Church, L.ouis H.. 407. 

Clark, Geo. M.. 486. 

Coe, Andrew J.. 318. 

Coe. Calvin, 606. 

Coe, Joseph E., 463. 

Coe, Kate Poote, 319. 

Coe, Levi E.. 361. 

Collin.s, Aaron L., 2 7.5. 

Collins, Benj. W.. 279. 

Collins, E. J., 277. 

Cook, James, 2o7. 
Cook. Jared R.. 18. 
Cooke, J. A., 253. 
Cooley, George, 470. 
Cooney. John, 181. 
Cordo, C .E., 151. 
Cordo, Henrv, 14.5. 
Curtis, Asahel H. 415. 
Curtis", Augusta (Munson), 

51. 
Curtis, Bedotha P. (Button), 

55. 
Curtis, Edwin E.. IDS. 
Curtis, Enos H., 416. 
Cui'tis, Floyd, 117. 
Curtis, Geo. R., 307.- 
Curtis, Geo. M., 309. 
Curtis. Lemuel J., 54. 
Curtis, Svlvester J.. 533. 
Curtis. Thos. E. H.. 535. 
Curtiss. Homer, 403. 
Curtiss, James A., 552. 
Gushing. John T., 161. 

Davis. Wilbur P., 567. 
Deshon. Giles H.. 161, 166. 
DeSimone, A., 189. 
Dodd, Charles T.. 546. 
Donohue, John P., 191. 
Doolittle, E. J., 293. 
Dryhurst. Henrv. 446. 
Durand. John E., 343. 

Eaton. Jacob, 13. 
Edgerton. L. P.. 524. 
Eggleston, Jere D., 245. 
Ellsbree, Geo. L., 606. 
Everest, Chas. W., 161. 
Everitt, E. B.. 333. 

Pay, Frank S., r70. 
Fay. Geo. A., 563. 
Pennell. W. G., 145. 
First Baptist Church Group 

of Pa.stors. 145. 
Fletcher. Almon J., 527. 
Ploto, Charles L., 429. 
Forbes, Henrv, 402. 
Forbes. Marshall Lee. 401. 
Ford, Roger M.. 18. 
Po.ster, Francis S., 472. 
Fox. Andrew P., 592 
Po.x. C. P.. 591. 
Francis, George W.. 522. 
Fridlund. David. 204. 

Gardner. A. H., 492. 
Gardner, I. I., 493, 
Gardner, Wm. E.. 241 
Garlick, A. S., 475. 
Garlick, Wm. 474. 
Garton, J. V., 145. 
Gay, George, 516. 606. 
Gerard, Josenh, 240. 
Gill, James P., 490. 



Gillespie C. Bancroft, Front- 
ispiece. 
Gladwin, Russell, 579. 
Glaser, S. P., 197. 
Godfrey, R. S., 605. 
Graeber, Chas. A., 480. 
Grant, John H., 143. 
Greenwood. C. J., 151. 
Griswold, P. P., 251. 
Griswold, Nat. P., 382. 
Guion. John M., 161. 
Guy, Joel H., 108. 

Hall, Eugene A., 373. 
Hall, Orrin,- 606. 
Hall, Rufus, 372. 
Hail. Russell, 434. 
Hall, Seth J., 3Sii. 
Ha. lam, Robt. A.. 161. 
Harris, A. E., 151, 153. 
Hess, Herman, 450. 
Hicks, Ratcliffe, 367. 
Holden, J. Harrv, 194. 
Holt. Irving L.. 452. 
Howard. Leland, 145. 
Hoyt, Melancthon, 161. 
Hubbard. H. E., 606. 
Huber, J. C, 156. 
Husted, E. W.. 151. 
Hyatt, Isaac B., 578. 

Immich, Henrv L., 5-^5 
Ingersoll, Edward, 161. 
Ives. Joel S., 414. 
Ives, John, 389. 
Ives, Othniel, 606. 
Ives. Reuben, 161. 
Ives. Wm. J., 392 

Jennings, Russell, 145. 
Jerome. E. M.. 151. 
Judge, Wm. J.. 192. 



Kay. James T.. 5 7 7. 
Keating. Michael, 596. 
Keeler, James, 161 
Kelly. Wm. p., 237 
Kelsey, Wm. A., 133. 
Kibbe, Prank M.. 585. 
King, Chas. A., 345. 
King-. George L., 573. 
King. Henry T., 572. 
Kinne. C. C, 606. 
Kuntze, Julius, 603. 

Lane, Arthur S., 497. 
Lane, John S., 289. 
Larson. Robert, 159. 
Lee. Wm. W., 593. 
Leigh, Ernest A., 606. 
Lewis, Henry J.. 272. 
Lewis. Isaac C, 355. 
Lewis, William, 454. 
Lines. H. Wales, 541. 
Linsley, Randolf. 556. 
Little, Hubert, 4S2. 
Littlejohn. Abram N.. 161 
Loomis, P. F\, 456. 
Lord. Albert J., 139 
Lyman, W. W. 297. 
Lynch, John T.. 191. 
Lyon, Humphrey. 606. 

Main St. Baptist Church 

Group of Pastors, 151. 
Marvin. E. Lyman, 25 6. 
Maschmever. August. 359. 
Mason. A. Prank, 145. 
Mason, H. G., 151. 
May, Albert A.. 481. 
Maynard. W. H. A., 89. 



Meeks. H. A., 252. 
Merriam, Asahel, 606. 
Merriam. Geo. C, 363. 
Miies, Walace A., 460. 
Miller, D. Heary, 145. 
Miller, Geo. W., 384, 606. 
Miller, Harvev, 145, 412. 
Miller, Joel, 606. 
MLler, William H., 579. 
Mosher. B. W.. 495. 
Mosher, W. R, 495. 
Mosher, W. W., 495. 
Mueller, Wm. C, 571. 
Munson, Cyrus, 161. 
Murdock, P. L., 499. 
Murdock, Harriet M., 409 
Murdock. Zina V., 409. 
Morse, Geo. N.. 520. 
Mor.se, Joseph, 518. 

Noble, J. G., 151. 
Norton, J. S., Jr., 115. 

Owen, Evan, 260. 
Owen, Richard A., 261. 
O'Brien, Patrick T., 575. 

Paddock, S. C, 606. 
Page, Benj., 295. 
Palmer, Charles S., 494. 
Parker, Charles, 312. 
Parker. Dexter W., 313. 
Parker, Geo. A. and John H.„ 

2 63. 
Parker, John, 5 79. 
Perkins, Chas. S., 413. 
Perkins. Edgar J., 458. 
Perkins, Geo. W., 579. 
Perkins, J. M., 459. 
Phelps, I. Newton, 169. 
Pierce, E. W., 249. 
Pierson, S. C, 265. 
Pinks, Charles H., 528. 
Piatt, Orville H., 441. 
Police Force, Group of, 74 
Pomeroy, James T., 432 
Porneroy, Noah, 269, 606 
Pratt, Julius, 579. 
Pratt, Wm. M., 18. 
Preston, J. H.. 549. 
Prouty, Willis J., 238. 

Quested, W'm. M., 498. 

Randall. Arthur T., 161, 166 
Ranelye, P. D., 581 
Peilly. Thos. L,, 448 
Rice. Oliver, 606. 
Rockwell, Charles L.. 538. 
Rockwell, George, 255. 
Rockwell. V.MIliam P., 468. 
Rogers, Cephas B., 505. 
Rogers, Gilbert, 507. 
Rogers, Wilbur P., 511. 

Saleski, Paul T., 477. 

Sands, Clara Louise, 559. 

Sands, Prank E.. 502. 

S-hnieder, N. P. X., i87. 

Schmelzer. August. 489. 

Seeiev. Geo. S.. 304. 

Selectmen, Group of First 
606. ' 

Sills, Elias T., 497. 

Siskind. Abraham, 206. 

Smith. Edwin E.. 135. 

Smith. E. ^V., 248. 

Smith. Sereno D., 484. 

Southwick. Daniel P., 554. 

Southwick, Frank T., 554 

j^'iuire. W. H., 587. 

St. Andrew's Church Rec- 
tors. 161. 



m 



i 



INDEX. 



I«I 



Stevens, A. L,., 435. 
Stockdale, F. B., 174. 
Stocking-, Subura S.. 161. 
Stow. James P., 579. 
Sutliff, John, 427. 

Tappert, C. R., 2i)l. 
Thayer, Jolin Q., 5G5. 
'Phomas, Anthony S., 424. 
Thompson, W. H., 262. 
Tredenniek, Edward, 593. 
True, B. O., 145. 
Tufts, Sidney D., 461. 
'I'wis.s, Ira, 400. 
Twiss, Waldo C, 400. 



Upham, Charles L., 18, 37 
Upson, Benj., 606. 

Van Nostrand, George, 487. 
Van Oppen, A., 184. 

Wagner, J. P., 176. 
Walker, O. T., 151. 
Warden, S. Watson, 242. 
Warnock, Thos. H., 135. 
Warnock, W. G., 331. 
Warren, Henry, 347. 
Wheeler. P. J., 465. 
Wheelock, I. R., 151. 
White. Mvron S., 598. 
Wilcox, Dennis C, 579. 



Wilcox. Horace C, 531. 
Williams, Charles M, C5. 
Williams, D. S., 606. 
Wilson, E. A., 250. 
Wilson, Grove H., .579. 
Winslow, C. N., 336. 
Woodley, William, 599. 
Woolley, J. J., 142. 
Worcester, A. M., 151. 

Yale, B. L,.. 325. 

Yale, Hiram A., 327. 

Yale, J. Hobart, 483. 

Yale, John, 579. 

Yale, Levi, 606. 

Yale, Samuel H. W., 109. 



PART III. 



.\becurnos. A., 122. 
Akers, Bessie (Coe), 160. 
.\kers, John, 157, 160. 
Akei-s & Pigeon, 157-160. 
Allen, J. F., 123; James P., 

53. 
Andrews, Andrew, 36. 
Angelus. the Invented, 12. 
Anvil Brand Carvers, 25. 
Aubrey, Albert James, 87, 

89, 90, 92; Alfred John, 87, 

90, 92; Blanche E. (Boom- 
er), 92; Clara May 92; 
John, 92; Gun, 90; Hattie 
L., 125; William H., 92; 
Wm. R., 125. 

Bailey's Steam Laundry, 

125. 
Bailey, Theodore F.. 124. 
Baldwin, Arthur, 48; L. G. 

41. 
Barbour, Silver Co., The, 35; 

S. L., 36, 48. 
Bartholomew & Coe, 59. 
Barton, Clara, Monument, 128 
Bassett, John E. & Co, 72; O. 

W. 123. 
Beach, Henry B., 46. 
Beadle, J. B.. 2 3. 
Beaver Lake, 12 6; Ice Co., 

126. 
Beecher Mfg. Co., 103. 
Bemis, Bertha S (Carter) 

23; Frances (Cheney), 22 

Fred E., 22; Leslie C, 23 

Orlando, 22; Robert C. 23. 
Benham, Thomas A., 25. 
Bergen, Cut Glass. 99; James 

D., 99. 131; J. D. Co., 99; 

J. Val and W. Tracy 100; 

Bergen & Niland Co.,' 133. 
Besse-Boeker Co., 157; Besse 

Bovnton, 155, 156; Besse 

L. W., 157. 
Billard, John L., 5, 25. 
Bird, William E. A., 47. 
Bishop, Dexter L., 140; Dex- 
ter L. Co., The, 140-143; 

Esther C. (Johnson), 142; 

Ethel J. and Wilfred Mer- 

riman, 142; Walter G., 141. 
Black Pond. 49. 
Bliss, E. A., 32: E. A. Co., 

The, 30; W. E., 33. 
Bond Harness Co., 97. 



Bowman. Robt., 93. 

Boynton, A. E., 157. 

Boys' Club, 74. 

Bradley, Abigail Ann (At- 
water), 70; Clarence P., 
50, 65, 74, 76, 99; Harriet 
E. (Peck), 74; Levi, 67, 
70; Nathaniel L., 50 65, 
67, 70, 99; Samuel, 70: Wm. 
L., 70; Bradley & Hubbard, 
76; Bradley & Hubbard 
Mfg. Co. ,65, 70, 76, 99. 

B. & H. Lamp, 67. 

Breckenridge, C. E., 36, 46; 
J. C. 154. 

Britannia Ware, 37. 

Brown, Martin H., 35. 

Canfield, J. H. & Co., 47. 
Carpenter Bros., 59. 
Carter, Bela, 20, 21; Robert 

W., 22. 
Casper, Charles, 47. 
Cassidv John, 154; Joseph 

M., 154; Mary, 155. 
Chamberlain, A., 5, 25. 
Chapman Mfg. Co., 120, 145. 
Cheney, Martha (Brown), 20; 

Samuel T. R., 20. 
Church, George A., 154; 

Robt. G., 154; Church & 

Morse, 153. 154; Church & 

Sprague, 153. 
Clark, C. S., 138. 
Collins, Aaron L., 23. 45, 46: 

B. W., 25; Charles H., 45, 

76. 
Columbia Shade Cloth Co., 

53, 54. 
Coe, Levi E. 45; AVinneld 

R.. 160. 
Cone, S. L., 41. 
Conn.. Breweries Co., 115; 

Saddlery & Bell Co., 120; 

Tel. & Elec. Co., 97; Trap 

Rock Quarries, Inc., 59. 
Conveise, A. J., 110; Pub. 

Co., 110. 
Cooke James H., 61; Stone 

& Ice Co.. 61. 
Coolev, Irving G.. 54. 55. 
Cornwall. I.saac H.. 47; Wm. 

and Julia (Roberts), 18. 
Cowles. George. 40. 
Crow Hollow, 82. 
Curtis, Alfred P., 70; Chas. 



E., 126; E. E.. 40; Enos, 40; 
Emeline Amelia (Bradley), 
70; Geo. M., 36, 41, 44, 46, 
48, 95, 107; Geo. R. 44, 46, 
47, 92; Lemuel J.,' 36, 40, 
41, 56, 93; Curtis & Lyman, 
41; Robert H. 47. 

Curtiss, Homer A., 23, 25; 
James A., 110; Curtis- Way 
Co., 109. 

Gushing, F. H.. 47. 

Davis, G. P., 44. 
Dayton & Sherman, 140. 
De Lamater Studio, 160. 
Derbv Silver Co., 35. 
Dittmer, John, 138. 
Dodd, Samuel, 36, 46, 48, 95 

107. 
Donovan, Julia Cornwell 

(White), 18; Silas, 18. 
Doolittle. E. J., 99, 107. 
Drake, Emma (Handel), 79. 

Excelsior PiMnting Press. 61, 
Eclipse Bread Kneader 95. 
Edgerton, F. C. 62. 
Edwards. George C, 36. 
Evarts, A. H., 138. 
Eydam, Adolph. 81. 

Fairchild, Frederick I.,., 150; 
Goo. W., 150: Henry 10., 
HG. 149: Mary Kllzabetli 
(Bliss). 15(1; Marv Eli/.a- 
bolh (Clark) 15(1; Ralph 
E. and Ralph' H.. 150. 

Fav, Mrs. Geo. A.. 70. 

Flint, George E., 46. 

Foster. Albert, S2 : Foster, 
Belden & Co., S2: Bros.. 
140; Hardware Co.. 124; 
Hiram. 82; Lake, llii: Mcr- 
riam & Co.. 82. 97. 

Frarv, James .A.. 4(i, 41; 
Frarv & Co.. 41. 

Fritz Bros. E. T. & W- F.. I2it. 

p'rveliurg Gun. 9t». 

Furniss, Edw., 93. 

Garlick. Wm.. 126. 
Gehuing. F Ad.. 111. 
Gilder.'ileeve. J. M.. 25. 
Clock. Charles ('. and ("has. 

W.. 137. 
Greotibai-ker, Adolf, 152; 



1 82 



Annie, 153; A. & Sons, 152; 



A CENTURY OF MERlDEN. 



Annie, io3; A. & Sons, 152; I C Xr nr. at t 

Hffin, Francis B 133 ^- L Hommedieu & Watrous, ' ^^■ 

nsvvold Aslm.,.r.7 ..... ^ -nes, H. Wales, 47, 146 • H ""TBxrnesM P'- ^"'^ ^^^^^^ 

Co.,' Ill^-iil- ^^'^' ""^^ ^'l^"f.-..,J- -^ & Co.,'i 

nsley, Charles P., 65 74 

107: Ti^rprloi-i^T^ T , . „' _ ' ^ „ 



G _ 

Cirisvvold. Ashabel,''3 7,"4'l- N T inf.« w ixr, 

i^-, 136; Griswold, Rich: ^'"f^..^- .^ ^^es, 47, 146; H. 
mond & Glock, The, Co., 136 

Grosvenor, J. p., 25. 

Hadley, James A., 107 

Haley & Akers, 157 

Hall, A J. & Co. knd Ar- 

w"n •^■' ^^^' I-ewis, 46. 144; 

Wilbur B.. 143; Hall & 

Lewis Bldg., 15 7. 
Haliam, R. w., 25 , , 

Hai^ilton, Charles A., 36; D. g™G 



James 
ley, Charles P., 65 74 ''' ^''"' 

iiannf I^TgS) '%.'^- 0^«"^«'- ^Has and John. 143. 
ri^et (Poote), 74; Randolf, Page, Benjamin 4 7 

Parker, Bros., 61; Charles 



Lub>', Maurice and Ellen 

(Ryan), 128; Wm. J., 12S 
Lyman, W. W. 40, 41 93 ' 
^ "eo. W., 45, 46, '56; 



Handel. Company, The 79- 

K-r^^^^'^-^Q <-^u"erlinj.' 79; mauKay, William R 47 



Georgre ,79; Jacob and 
Catherine (Wuterich). 79 
Philip J., 79; Ware, 79. 

Harmon, J. m., 44 

Harrison & Bradford, 5 6. 

Hees, W. R., 54 

Heinrich George, 138; John 
br. and Jr. 138. 



Wm. H., 49, "53, 54. 
Mackay, William R.. 47. 



^"^?}."lf {y"\^^; Mfg. Co. and McMuhon, J. H 



Manning, Bowman & Co. 46 

92, 97; E. B.. 93. 
Markham, A. C, 47 
McChesney, T. D., 54. p.,, 

Mclvenzie, Helen M (Kpn. td , 

T. , _ Pntton *• ixr.,n„„_ i a,- 



41, 46 48, 49, 51, 53, 54 
4 he Charles Co., 129 
Charles E.. 49; Clock Co. 
o3; Clock Factory. 51 
Coffee Mill, 51; Dexter W 
49, 53; Edmund, 49; Fran- 
cis W 74; O. A., 86; Shot 
Gun, 51; Snow, Brooks & 
Co., 63; Spectacles, 51- 
SPO?." Shop. 51; Vice. 51 
Wilbur F., 53, 54; Parker 
Casper Co., 46, 47 93- 
Parker & White. 49 ' 



Carl v., 113. 

Hemstead, Mrs. Fred, 152 

Hickey, Wm., 117 

Hicks Novelty Co l")! 

Hinsdale, Mrs. James k.', 76 

Holmes & Edwards Silver 
LO. , 3o. 

Holt, Irving L., 151; Holt & 
Stevens, 151. 

Howard. Pratt & Co 56 

Howell, Geo. M., 23 

Hubbard, Abby Ann (Brad- 
ley), 67; George, 67; Jer- 

e^'S'mi ^'''^^''' '^' ^^• 

Hughes,' E. B. M. 70. 
Huntington, P. l!, 62 
Hurley, John A., II5, 117. 

International Silver Co.. 35- 

Ives, Russell J., 21 

Ivory Enameled Food Pan, 

•^^S"'"f^ A. B., 136; Chas. 
«■• TM, ' Jennings & Grif- 
hn. The, Mfg. Co., 133. 

Johnson, C. G., 142; W. H. 
36. ' '' 

Jones, A. H. Co. and A. H 
1.7. rni®'^"'^ E. (Logan), 
124, Ihomas and Marguer- 
ite. 125. 

Kelsey Press Co., 61; Wm. 

A., 61. 
Kennard, Benjamin C, 5 8- 

/^" ,-^®',^,*^'-°"' l*^: Justina 

C. (Baldwin), 10. 
Kendrick, Mrs. L, .A.. 8 
Kopp. John, 138. 

Lane, Arthur S., 59, 61; John 
b.. 59; John S. & Son, 59. 

Lawn Hotel, The, 154, 155. 

Lawton, B. L., 98. 

Learned, C. A., 107, 109 

Lemke, Martin, 138. 

I-ewis Henry J., 44; Isaac 
C, 40. 41, 44, 46, 56, 92" 



Tohn P'^tten & Wallace, 145. 
John Peck. Seldon and Lucy 
Hooker (Hart), 74. 




Gas Light Co., 105, 107; 
Grain & Feed Co., 64- 
Gravure Co. 122; Ice Co' 
1-6, 140; Malleable Iron 
Co., 87, 97; Silver Plate 
Co., 35, 47; Woolen Co., 45. 

Merriam, Asaph, 82; Geo C 
86; Lauren, 85; Nelson, 82,' 
85; Nelson C. 86; Robert 
J-, 86. 

Meteor Coffee Percolator, 95. 

Middletown Plate Co., 35 

Miller, Arthur E., 8, 10; Bros 
Cutlery Co., 56; Bros. Steel 
Pens, 56; Caroline M 
(Neal), 5; Edward, 5; Ed 



Polsey, C. E. 33, 35. 

Pratt, Julius & Co., 23; 

Pratt, Read & Co., 56; 

Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Co., 

Proudman, Mrs. A. W. 92. 
Reiski, Andreas, 138. ' 
Richmond, John L., 137. 

Rochester Lamp, 3. 

Rockwell, Charles P., 58, 59; 
Charles L, 25, 26, 59; Geo., 
36, 44. 48, 95; Wm. P., 56, 

Rocky Hill, The, Stone Co.. 
61. 




3; Lamp, 3; Samuel 

Watson J., 36. 
Milner, Benj. p., 126. 
Minkmeier, Fred 13s' 
Mirrielees, Wm. L, 95 
Mitchell, E. A., 46. 
Monroe, Charle.s F., 25 113 

122; The C. P. Co.. 25-30,' 



Co, 48. 
Ropes, David, 23. 
Rutherford, J. L., 86. 

Savage, Albert W., 97; 
Charlotte P. (Poster), 97; 
Edwin and Frances Sophia 
(Wilcox). 95; George E, 
86, 95. 



^^ Wi'r.T'r^-^"T'l''^T.n^-' 129; Sche'nck, M. B.. 103; The M. 



Andrew C, Jr., 140; Bros.' 
Co., 139; Charlotte L 
(Smith), 140; Edna Gen- 
eva. 140; Henry L., 139 
140; Robt. A., 140; Walter 
P., 140. 

Morgan, W. P., 43. 

Morse, Chas. P., 154. 

Mosher, W. W., 47 



B. Co., 102; W .A., lOo. 

Schnick, Joseph. 122. 

Schunack, C. E., 129; Elsie, 
131; Emmy, 129; Gustav 
and Louisa (Lange), 12i); 
Mildred, 131; Rhoda (Bald- 
win) 131. 

Sears, Roebuck & Co., 87, 89. 

Sereomb, A. L.. 43. 



4:, 



INDEX, 



183 



Sherman. F. C, 107, 109. 
Silver City Cut Glass Co.. 

121. 
Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co, 

3.5: Nickel Co 3.5; Sam- 
uel, 36, 
Sloper, Andrew J., 5. 
Smith, Florence May (White) 

20; Geo. P., 138; Harry, 

20; Horace T., 138: The H. 

T. Express Co., 138. 
Standard Novelty Co., 143. 
Stephani, F. A., 90. 
Stetson, Albert L., 9.5. 
Stevens, Harry A., 59; Fran 

A., 151, 152. 
Stiles, Mrs. F. W., 92; N. C, 

r,3. 
Stockder, C. E., Jr., 99. 
Sullivan. Michael F., 117. 
Sutliff, James R., 85, 86; 

John, 82, 85. 
Svlph, The Schooner Yacht 

30. 
Symphony, The, 12. 

Teich, Anton, 81. 
Thomas, Samuel, 36. 
Tibbits. C. H., 36, 48. 



Tinker. Irving- S., 61. 
Tredennick, C. H., 139. 

United States Silver Corp., 

35. 
Upham, C. L,.. 76. 

Veit, Robt. J., 117. 

Wallace. Carrie E. (Brooks), 
146; F. J., 145. 

Watrous, Alarison, 85; A. & 
Co., 85; Mfg. Co., 35. 

Wave Crest Ware. 27. 
kWay. Julius, 82; W. H., 110, 
113. 

Wheeler, Alfred Pelton, 64; 
Frank & Son, 63; Power 
Press, 64. 

Wilcox. Britannia Co., 45; D. 
C 36. 40. 41, 43, 44; E. C, 
97. 98: F. B.. 25; F. P., 36, 
44; Georg-e H., 36, 37 44, 
46, 47, 48. 95; Horace C, 
10, 18, 20, 27, 40, 41, 46, 
92, 97; H. C. & Co., 40; 
Jedediah 44, 45; Silver 
Plate Co., 44, 93; Wilcox 
& White Co., The, 10, 23; 



Wilcox & White Organ Co. 
10. 12. 

Wilkins, S. G.. 54. 

Winthrop Hotel, 70. 

Wintler, A., 115. 

White, Allan, 21; Betsy 
(Stickney) (Herrick), 18; 
Edward H.. 10, 12, 14 20, 
21; Frank C, 16, 21,' 22; 
Flora A. (Ives) 21; Grace 
lionise, 20; Heman. 49; 
Henry K 10, 14, 16, IS, 21 ; 
Howard, 10, 21; James H.. 
10, 12, 14, IS, 20, 21; Kate 
(Cheney), 20; Lucy f Corn- 
well). 18: Mary (Carter), 
21 ; Russell I., 21 ; Stan- 
lev, 21. 

Wren, Peter W., 115, 117. 

Yale, Caster, 102; Charles 
and Hiram, 37; College 
76. 

Yenkner, E. F., 138. 

York. Samuel A.. 128. 

Y. W. C. A., 73. 

Zerfass, William, 86. 



ILLUSTRAIIONS. 



Bergen. J. D. Co., Factory, 101. 

Bishop, The D. L. Co. Distributing Depot, 

142. 
Bliss. The E. A. Co.: Factory. 31; Section 

of Factory, 34; Section of Factory, 34. 
I'.radley, N. K. Residence. 73. 
Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co., Factory 
Buildings, 66. 

Connecticut Breweries Co., Meriden Plant, 

116-119. 
< 'iinnecticut Building, St. Louis Exposition, 

148. 
I'onnecticut Trap Rock Quarries, Meriden 

Plant: Part of Main Quarries, Crusher 

Sheds and Storas-e Bins. 60. 
I'urtiss-AYay Co., The, Plant, 112. 

Foster, Merriam & Co., Factorv Buildings, 
84. 

I ireenbacker, A. & Sons, Grenhouses, 153. 

llMll, A. J. & Co.. Factorv. 131. 

Hall. Wilbur B.. Factorv, 144. 

ir:indol Co.. The. Meriden Factory of, 81. 

Turnover Lake Falls, 160. 

Uolmschmied Mfg. Co.. Show Room, 114. 

Hubbard, Walter, Residence, 69. 

'. o Harvesting at Foster Lake, 141. 

International Silver Co.: Factorv A. Meri- 
den Silver Plate Co., 39; Factorv B, Mer- 
iden Britannia Co., 42; Factory H, C. 
Rogers & Bro.s., 48. 

Icnnings & Griffin Mfg. Co.: Factory Front, 
134; Factory Rear, 135. 

l.awn Hotel, 155. 

I'ines, H. Wales Co., Office and Plant. 147. 

M.mning. Bowman & Co.: Factory in 1872, 

9."?: Factorv in 1906, 94. 
\bTiden Britannia Co. in 1863. 38. 
icriden Curtain Fixture Co. Factorv, 55. 
Alcriden Cntlerv Co. Factory. 24. 
.Meriden Electric Light Co. Plant, IDS. 



Meriden Fire Arms Co. Factorv. 88. 
Meriden Gas Light Co. Works. 106. 
Meriden Gravure Co. Plant, 123. 
MiHer Bros. Cutlery Co. Factory Buildings, 

Miller. Edward & Co.: Factory Buildings. 
4: Foundry, 6; Machine Room, 6; Perfui - 
ating Room, 7; Automatic Lathe Ro< • 

Monroe, C. F. Co.: Factory, 26; Office, -7 

Niland, J. J. & Co. Interior Factory, 132. 

Parker Bros. Gun Works. 52. 

Parker, The Charles Co., Main Factory, 50. 

Schenck, M. B., Residence, 104. 
Schenck, The M. B. Co. Manufacturing 
Plant, 102. 

NVallace, F. J.. Factory, 145. 

Wheeler. Frank & Son, Factory, 64. 

Wilcox Silver Plate Co. in 1865, 45. 

Wilcox & White: Factory Buildings, 11 
Action Dept., 13: Polishing Dept., 13 
Piano Dept., 15; Case Room, 15; Music 
Room, 17. 



PORTRAITS. 



Abercunos, A., 122. 
Akers. John, 158. 
Aubrey, A. J., 91. 
Bailey, Theodore F., 125. 
Kemis. Fred E., 22. 
Bergen. James D.. 99. 
Bergen, J. Val. 100. 
Bergen. W. Tracy, 100. 
Bishop. Dexter L., 140. 
Bliss. E. A., 32. 
Bliss. W. E., 32. 
Bradlev. Clarence P.. 77. 
Bradley, Nathaniel L.. 71. 

Carter. Robt. W.. 22. 
Curtis. Geo. M., 37. 
Curtis, Geo. R., 36. 



1 84 



A CENTURY OF MERIDEN. 



Cuttis, Lemuel J., 36. 
Curtiss, Homer A., 115. 
Curtiss, James A., 110. 

Dodd, Samuel, 37. 

Edgerton, F. C, 62. 

Fairchlld, H. E., 149. 

Foster, Albert, 83. 

Fostei', Hiram, S3. 

Foster, Merriam & Co. Group, Founders 

and Former Officers, 83. 
Fritz, E. T., 121. 
Fritz, W. F., 120. 

Glock, Charle-s C. 137. 
Olock, Charles W., 137. 
Griswold, N. F., 136. 

Handel, Philip, SO. 
Helmschmied, Carl V., ll-">. 
Hubbard, AValter, 68. 
Hunting-ton, Frederick L.., 63. 

International Silver Co. Group of officers, 

37. 

Jenning'S, A. B., 136. 
.Johnson, W. H., 36. 
Jones, Augustus H., 124. 

Kelsey, "Wm. A.. 62. 
Kennard, Benj. C, 9. 

Lawton, B. K, 98. 
Lewis, Isaac C, 36. 
Linslev. Charles F., 75. 
Liiby, Wm. J. 12S 
Lyman, W. W., 36. 

■ ii'cn Britannia Co., Group, Founders ol. 

.M-riiim. Geo. C, 83. 



Merriam, Nelson, 83. 
iVlerriam, Nelson C, S3. 
Merriam, Robt J., 86. 
Miller, Arthur E., 9. 
Miller, Edward, Jr., 9. 
Miller, Edward, Sr., 9. 
Miller, L. A., 150. 
Milner, Benj. P., 127. 
Monroe, Charles F., 28. 
Munson, John, 36. 

Niland, James J., 133. 

Phoenix, Percy, 121. 
Pigeon, Ernest W., 159. 
Polsey, C. E., 33. 

Rockwell, Charles F., 58. 
Rogers, B. C, 98. 
Rutherford, J. L., 85. 

Savage. Geo. E., 96. 
Schenck, M. B., 103. 
Schnick, Joseph, 122. 
Schunack, C .B., 130. 
Simpson, Samuel, 36. 
Smith, Horace T., 13S. 
Slephani. F. A., 91. 
Sutliff, James R., 83. 
Sutliff, John, 83. 

Wav, Wm. H., 110. 

Wheeler, Alfred P., 65. 

Wlieeler, Frank, 65. 

White Familv, Four Generation.s, 19. 

Wliite. Frank C, 19. 

Wliite, Henrv K., 19. 

White, H. Foster, 19. 

White, James H., 19. 

Wilcox, Dennis C, 36. 

Wilcox. E. C. 98. 

\Vilcox, George H., 37. 

Wilcox, Horace C, 36. 

Zerfass, Wm., 85. 



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